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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

2/15/21 3:58 PM

Bike Biz

Dropped off my Checkpoint at the shop today for a tuneup - I just let them do it as it needs chain and cassette and I don’t really mess with disks or install tubeless (need a rear). Anyway, the owner said they still can’t get bikes and some people won’t be able to get a bike until Fall. This is a big shop carrying Trek, ‘Dale, Seven, etc.

Still strange times we are in.

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dfcas
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 2815
Location: hillbilly heaven

2/15/21 6:45 PM

I wonder how many bike shops will survive. Depending on service mostly seems like a rough way to go. Surely all the cobweb bikes have been serviced.

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Brian Nystrom
Joined: 26 Jan 2004
Posts: 5096
Location: Nashua, NH

2/17/21 12:29 PM

Actually, service is by far the most profitable part of the bike biz. Bikes are bigger ticket items, but the profit margins are low. Basic repair parts have high margins and labor is also highly profitable. If you ever want to get into the bike biz, start with a repair-and-parts-only shop, then add new bikes later once you're established.

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

2/17/21 12:59 PM

Parts

Even the OE Bontrager tires are not available until May so they’re putting on a similar Conti.

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lrzipris
Joined: 04 Mar 2004
Posts: 532
Location: Doylestown, PA

3/30/21 5:27 PM

I wanted to throw some business at my LBS to help them out, so, several days ago, I stopped in to talk about either an overhaul of my Surly Cross Check touring bike or getting a new bike (manufacturer to be determined). Nope, nothing doing, probably until 2022.

Even "depending on service" may not be enough for shop survival, if you can't get parts.

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

3/31/21 8:28 AM

Bike draught

There was just an article in the Portland paper about the shortage of bikes. Basically any bikes a shop may get are sold before they arrive.

One shop owner (whom I used to ride tts against in the deep past) made a good call and ordered everything he could get last year and sold 3x his normal volume. Now he gets inquiries from out of state and even out of country.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

3/31/21 9:39 AM

I'll be raising my offerings 25% I guess...

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

3/31/21 10:28 AM

I called my LBS...

They're taking people into the shop by appointment only. When I called to find out about getting a helmet for my child (finally!) they told me there was a 2-week wait for appointments.

Fortunately, because I do some work for them, they got me in. Unfortunately, they didn't have a helmet that would fit child, so suggested I try a shop a few blocks away.

THAT shop was closed due a COVID exposure, so...

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

4/1/21 4:49 PM

Fortunately.....

At least I don’t need a bike (understatement)....:)

Andy, I know you patronize Devil’s Gear, but last time I was there my brother and I went out to D’Aniello’s, which is a cool shop run by old school, hard core bike folks.

Actually in ‘73 I bought my PX-10 at a well-known shop in New Haven, but I don’t remember the name (pretty sure it’s no longer there). I’ll ask my brother who will know.

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Nick Payne
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 2625
Location: Canberra, Australia

4/3/21 5:50 PM

The bike drought is bad enough that people are being relieved of their bikes at gunpoint (in spite of the article being dated April 1, it seems to be genuine):

https://www.berkeleyside.com/2021/04/01/bike-robberies-grizzly-peak-berkeley-oakland-east-bay-hills

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/6/21 7:07 AM

D’Aniello’s

Dan:

I know the place well (it's next door to a wonderful Thai restaurant).

I think the thing I like most about Devil's Gear is that they do a lot of work for people who ride low-end bikes, and they're never snobby about it. That's their market. The Amity shop is quite a bit more--as you say--hard core. Example:

A few years ago I went in to find an utterly gorgeous used Bruce Gordon touring bike in there, beautiful condition, fully equipped. (I wrote on the iBOB list: It is a Bruce Gordon in what appears to be near-mint condition. 57 cm, frame, racks and stem are by BG, panniers (SIX OF THEM!!!) by Robert Beckman, include rain covers. 3x7 gearing with barcons, presently wearing BG Rock'n'Road tires.) Unfortunately, I had loans to pay off at the time. I put out the word on a couple of lists and someone found love with it and took it home for $1,500.

I like the shop, though it's a bit off my beaten path. the family has been pushing lately to get a velodrome built in New Haven, about which I have *somewhat mixed* feelings (living in Greater New Haven, my first reaction is that it would be wonderful, but my second is that NH needs other things so much more).[/i]

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/25/21 9:45 AM

Following up...

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a listing on Craigslist for a box of miscellaneous bike parts for $25. It had what looked like a Brooks saddle in it, so I bought the lot. I had bid sight unseen, and I figured $25 was a small loss. And there might be something in the junk that I could use.

Good deal.

I'd been driving around with the box in my trunk when I decided I needed to get some (new) parts--essentially, neck pain had convinced me it was time to consider a different cockpit, so...

I realized that my LBS could use the stuff in the box better than I could. I phoned in an order for the new parts for a quick pickup, then when I went to get them, hauled in the box of stuff, intending to gift it to the shop.

One of the owners looked at the box, looked at me, and handed me the $70+ worth of stuff that I had ordered, no charge.

Better deal.

But it goes to show that bike shops are having trouble not just with getting bikes, but with getting the parts they need to fix and maintain bikes.

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

4/25/21 3:35 PM

A great deal or...

The box contained a priceless Huret deraileur or something....😂

What is your cockpit adjustment, higher and less reach?

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/26/21 6:48 AM

Adjustment

I decided on a radical change, since this is my "practical" bike--a tall stem, a narrow SOMA Sparrow bar ("inverted") with reverse brake levers, and MicroShift pods. Let me see if I can get images into this thing...Apparently I can (at least I can see them), but I have forgotten how to resize them (sorry).

OLD:

<img src ="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/bc316540890d02193485299fb78062705dec03071011bfc3ba865ec58bd0d184.jpg" width=1000>


NEW:

<img src="https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/295f03843fd996e0e615f0904918814f90452c0b84218e5020d6a3dc854c1b50.jpg" width=1000>


Last edited by Andy M-S on 4/26/21 12:09 PM; edited 2 times in total

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/26/21 6:54 AM

FWIW...

This bike became my all-around commute/cargo/all-weather/dark-of-night ride, but in the process, it got heavy . I'm kind of thinking about building a simple road bike, if I can find a cheap frame. I have all the goodies I took off this one, so if I can find frame in my size (ideal: a mid-'80s Trek), I'll have something for "fun" riding.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 10:51 AM

My rendition, used some 'Mary' bars, turns out I quite like them. Also have a AME CX fork, but decided the bulk steel sits well on this, and for the use the ample heft of the IRD is lost...

Grand Prix 32mm ALl Seaons, and got fenders shortly after that pic for wet covid rolling in Feb.




<img src="http://coupekiss.host-ed.me//images/pics/Double-CX-Mary%20Bars.jpg" width=314>


simple code pic resize below, note folks not logged in/on the TTF won't see it due to php version here [or lack of]

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 11:14 AM

I have some frames laying about. Post size and cost window that will work for you. And if only steel and or lugged required etc.

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/26/21 12:18 PM

Cheep, cheep!

Sparky:

Thanks! That's much more manageable! I knew there was a special sauce, but I could not for the life of me remember it.

I'm looking cheap, so shipping across the Northern Tier may not be ideal ;-).

My ideal "fun frame" would be a 58 Trek 560 (if I want to get REALLY picky, 1984 edition; even the purple paint wasn't bad). I was riding one when a driver took me down and my hip out in 2012.

But I'm really looking for just about anything that will take a 130mm rear hub and an English-thread BB. Aside from that, I'm not picky as to material. I prefer 1" threaded forks and DT shifter bosses, so I guess I'm looking at late last century stuff. Ideally, I'll set it (whatever it is) up with friction shifting.

I have wheels, cockpit, etc., lying around...

Please let me know if you have anything near about there!

:Andy

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 1:10 PM

"I could not for the life of me remember"

you shouldn't assume that I did. ;) I had to look in my email stash of CRS stuff....

I have a Cresent that could be a 58, I have a cool Kobe that is HiTen, but interestingly has forged suntour dropout above what you'd expect on a HiTen frame. That one may be too big for you, have to check either. Cresent uses a french BB, not determined if one in it is serviceable, could do before you committing if you wanted it.

I rolled the Kobe, it sure is heavy, but feels just like a good steel bike.

I test roll every frameset I get as SS 25-30 mile ride. I know in short order if a keeper or not. I liked the Kobe better than the Cresent rolling if memory serves. ;) The Cresent is longer in the tooth, but has a certain coolness sorta. Could be my love for orange, but chrome fork is also near mint, or was when it got stuck in the rafters out in the shop.




Can't find a pic of the Cresent, but tell me stand over and TT windows and I can measure either or both if a tickle occurs.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 1:31 PM

Or remove the cheap from the requirement and how about this restored Corsa with Alan Want resto paint I got from Walter. Although might be a tad big for you, like the Kobe Probably is.

It is actually a SS now. ;) The Merckx that is...

The Cresent is 531 BTW...



Last edited by Sparky on 4/26/21 7:59 PM; edited 1 time in total

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 1:51 PM

I should probably consider letting this frame go. Not super cheap by any definition, And maybe to big for you anyway. It awaits a repaint hanging in the shop on the rafters next to the Kobe and Cresent. Although much better finish condition than the Cresent or Kobe paint wise.

This is a 90s Reynolds 753 all Henry James fittings custom built frame/fork. It could be a touch stiffer for my weight planing if pushing is desired. But one of the sweetest lively not too flexy bikes I have ever rolled. But rolling a fast double century be a dream. Remember those... [I only dream of that for a while now]

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/26/21 2:49 PM

Oh, that copper 753!

I hate to ask—how much?

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 8:00 PM

What is your inseam?

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

4/26/21 8:14 PM

Clothing-wise, 34. In reality, closer to 32. For reference, I've ridden everything from a smallish 55 (too small) to a tallish 61 (too large).

My current frame is in theory a 57, but feels closer to a 55.

Dang, I wish I had a decent place to host photos. You'd see the range. Point is, I'm pretty sure I could fit that thing.

BUT.

On the other hand, I worry that I'd be so worried about the nice frame that I'd forget to have fun!

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

4/26/21 8:38 PM

Well, I took it down before paint issues got worse. The top edges of the HT lugs and BB edges are starting to chip back. There is lots of touch ups and some chip drive side dropout. It also had some blistering at the TT internal brake cable inlet/outlet like the flux had not got neutralized. I used some rust freeze that turns rust to carbon and stops it dead. Oil base primer and some teardrop wheel decals to cover the site, not blistered up again in 4-5 years. I was not about to sand the spots with tubes with the kind of wall thickness 753 is.

You want precise measurement?

I'd want 375.00 net or I will hold on until a few others are gone and decide on paint for it...

It fits me really well and I find 58s all small. 34.25" inseam. I can usually go 57.5 to 60 TT. But the 60 would have to be a short stem/bar reach friendly bike. And the 57.5 would have to be long stem and old school bar reach friendly...

Most of my bikes are 60-61s. My most ridden last two years is the 62CM Domane Classic Team Issue beast. The utter edge of the long and low window for me. ;) If that offers any prospective.

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