Bob Hovey wrote:
"Let's see, does a second-hand yard sale story count? About four years ago Steven Maasland was awakened at 3AM by a friend who had been dragged to a yard sale by his wife. The yard sale the guy was calling from was in Italy, and the bike he was standing in front of was a '68 Masi Special. He asked Steven if he wanted it, and to make up his mind quick because his wife was tugging at his sleeve. Thankfully, Steven said yes and the bike eventually made its way into my grateful and sweaty hands:
http://bhovey.com/
That is pretty close to how it happened. In Italy there are no yard sales per se, it was actually a "mercatino" or "jumble sale" where they sell antiques, pseudo-antiques and excess merchandise. My friend was also actually straddling the bike as he called me on his cell phone to prevent others from buying the bike from out under him. I was actually very lucky to get the call at all, as this friend is the husband of one of my wife's friends. Had it been somebody else calling at 3 in the morning about bikes, my wife would likely have hung up.
I suppose one of my best 'deals' was:
a 1951 Campagnolo Gran Sport rear derailleur at a swap meet for 40 euros. It should also be pointed out that I only got to the swap meet as it was breaking up so the derailleur had sat there all day...
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ
USA