Used Bikes

Used kids’ bikes

Trek Mt 200 $219

Trek Mt 220 in red

Norco Storm $239

Hotrock 24

Used Giant 16 $129

Haro X16 $149

MT 200 $219

Used Mystic 16 $129

Used Cleary 16

Hotrock 20

Burnout 20 $159

Coop 12 $89

Giant Liv 24 $219

Precaliber 24 $249

Trek Jet 12 $99

Trek Mt 220 in Orange

Used Trek Mystic 16 $129

Used Trek Jet 20 $144

We have a trade-up program for kids’ bikes, therefore we have used kids’ bikes for you to buy.

The selection varies, so check in here or visit the store to see what we have on hand.

Bikes with 12” wheels are for the littlest kids, usually 3 year olds. Bikes with 16” wheels work for the 4 to 5 year age range, 20” bikes for 5 to 7 year olds, and 24” wheeled biked take 7 or 8 year old kids all the way to 12 years (usually around 4’10” in height, at which point they graduate to adult bikes that are measured by frame size, not wheel size.

These bikes are usually ones that we originally sold, and lots of them even come with the original warranty.

We tune-up each bicycle to make sure that they are safe and ready for the next child to enjoy. Some bikes have new parts, and we stand behind all of our used bikes with a one year warranty.

Used Lemond Victoire titanium

Used 60cm LeMond Victoire Ti

How would you like a nice 18-pound titanium road bike for only $1349?
You’ll have to be fairly tall, this LeMond is a pretty big 60cm size with a 58cm top tube. Let’s call it ideal for a rider between 5’11″ and 6’3″ tall.
The components are all in really nice shape. Highlights include a Shimano Ultegra 6500 group, an FSA carbon seatpost, Cane Creek headset, Bontrager Race Lite wheels, Specialized saddle, a Bontrager carbon fork and an FSA aero (flat top) handlebar.

Used Commencal Absolut dirt jumper

Commencal dirt jumper

Do most of your wheels leave the earth on most of your rides?

Pump tracks rather than ski slopes?

Broken rims more common to you than flat tires?

Two gears seem like one too many?

This is a new-condition used Commencal Absolut 1, and it’s only $899.

Used fun (and reliable) transportation

Okay, this section doesn’t contain the most exciting bikes (if you judge bikes by current marketing buzzwords) but they have a lot of fun features to offer:

Novara $319

Raleigh $199

Raleigh flat bar $199

1986 Bridgestone

Used Trek 1420 $379

Used Specialized Hardrock

Used Crossroads $379

Trek 4300 $379

Trek hybrid $349

These bikes are easy to afford! The bikes in this section are mostly less than $350 (or what you used to spend on Uber and Lime rental bikes in three months)

These bikes are fast and easy to ride (again, these bikes average about half the weight of a Lime bike).

Nobody is likely to steal one of these (paint chips and old styling save the day)!

These bikes work! All of our used bikes get a complete overhaul before we sell them. Worn-out parts are replaced, and we stand behind our used bikes with a full year warranty.

Used LeMond Alpe d’Huez road bike

Used 55cm LeMond Alpe d’Huez

This will be a beloved road bike for somebody out there.
It’s a 55cm LeMond Alpe d Huez (named after a monster French climb in the Tour de France) from about 10 years ago. This LeMond is a sporty model, a mid-level road bike with some nice features like wide-range gearing, Shimano 105 components, Mavic wheels and Continental tires. The bike is built around a sweet riding Reynolds 853 cromoly steel frame with a carbon fiber fork. You can have it with standard pedals or SPD-style pedals. It’s a great bike for commuting, road riding and light touring.
The frame is springy and comfortable, and the wheels (which like the rest of the bike have only a few hundred miles on them) are robust and really light.
This is a 55cm frame size, which should fit a rider between 5’8″ and 5’10″ tall really well. All yours for only $559.

1986 Fat Chance mountain bike (now “Gravel Bike”)

1986 Fat Chance Mountain Bike updated for 2021

Give this bike another chance (to be ridden).

Thirty years ago this was a custom high-level mountain bike from one of the best builders on the East Coast, Fat City Cycles. Don’t let it die a dusty death simply because technology and what we call a “mountain bike” has evolved.

This wonderful vintage steel mountain bike is back, only now we’re going to call it a “gravel bike”. The hand-built steel frame and terrific ride quality is still there only we’ve updated the components that matter most.

This hot-rodded old mountain bike now has 30 speeds thanks to a modern Shimano Deore XT rear derailleur and new thumbshifters.

Vintage Magura brake levers, modern thumbshifters

Modern Deore XT drivetrain

A Hite-Rite and the Selle Italia Turbo “Bonnie” saddle

The vintage Saturae rims have been rebuilt with new Velo-Orange hubs, Panaracer Gravel King tires and fresh spokes. The new Velo-Orange Grand Cru crankset looks just right on the vintage bike but with modern chainrings the shifting is precise and smooth. The vintage Magura brake levers have always had an insane amount of stopping power but now with fresh Kool Stop pads in place the brakes will work quietly and reliably in the worst conditions.

Topping off this new old bike is a quilted remake of the classic Selle Italia Turbo saddle, an original Blackburn rear rack from 1986 and a Nitto front rack from 2021.

This is a medium size 19” frame and will be most comfortable for a rider between 5’7” and 5’9” tall. $1799.

Davidson retro road bike

Vintage 1976 50cm Davidson road bike

Like the vintage vibe?

This retro-cool Davidson is a 50cm (small) steel road bike from 1976. Hand-built by Bill Davidson here in Seattle.

Now, we like vintage road bikes probably more than anyone, but we hate vintage components for everyday use. Technology has made riding safer and more comfortable. To that end, this bike has modern parts. A 2021 Campagnolo Centaur component group. Campagnolo Khamsin wheels. Velo-Orange Gran Cru brake calipers (that really stop), a compact crankset (that really helps you go), a sealed cartridge bottom bracket.

Campy Khamsin wheels

PDW rack, Centaur drivetrain

Velo-Orange Drillium crankset

You get 28mm-wide Vittoria Rubino Pro tires for awesome traction and comfort, and some fun accessories that really accentuate the vintage look.

This is a 50cm size, good for a rider 5’1” to 5’5” tall. Only $1599.

Pinarello Vuelta vintage 1996 steel road bike

Pinarello Vuelta $2899

This might be the bike you’ve been waiting twenty years to own.

A Pinarello handcrafted steel road bike. Made in Italy, at the height of Miguel Indurain’s domination of the grand tours. To say Pinarello is a big name in the racing bicycle world is an understatement. Besides winning the Tour de France five times with Big Mig, Pinarello had wins with Pedro Delgado, Bjarne Riis, Jan Uhlrich, Brad Wiggins, Chris Froome, Gerraint Thomas and Egen Bernal. You may not care about any of that, but all of those wins wouldn’t have happened on bikes that didn’t perform well.

The frame is made out of custom butted cromoly steel, the component group is a new Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed one with Campagnolo Khamsin wheels. The bike has Continental Gatorskin tires for a little bit of puncture protection to go along with all of this speed and efficiency, and while it looks like a vintage steel bike, every functioning part is the latest available.

This is a 54cm size, and it will fit a 5’7” to 5’9” tall rider who prizes comfort, performance and getting the bike they always wanted (even if it’s a decade or two late). Only $2899.

1975 Hugh Porter Bantel Team Replica

1975 Hugh Porter Bantel Team Bike

This is a vintage Bantel team replica road bike, a Hugh Porter made in Britain. It’s a British bike, so of course it’s made out of Reynold’s 531 tubing.  The wheels are made with Campagnolo hubs and Super Champion rims with new Panaracer Pasela tires. Like most serious racing bikes from the early ‘70’s, this one is equipped with a complete Campagnolo Nuovo Record component group, a Cinelli stem, bars and Unicanitor saddle. Some nice added touches include the Silca pump, vintage bottle cage, red rubber covers for the downtube shifters and the red Bullseye derailleur pulleys.

It’s a 56cm size, a good fit for a rider between 5’8” and 5’10” tall. $1299

More photos in the 1966 to 1985 museum section

Vintage 1971 Cinelli Speciale Corsa (S.C.) road bike

1971 Cinelli Speciale Corsa 57cm

This is a wonderful steel Italian road bike from the 1970’s.

The frame comes from Cinelli’s dream factory in Milan and is made from Columbus SL cromoly steel tubing. You get a Campagnolo Nuovo Record component group including the rat trap-style pedals with alloy toe clips and leather straps. Other goodies include Cinelli Giro d’Italia handlebars, a Cinelli 1A stem, Mavic Super Champion rims and new 25c Vittoria Rally tires. There is a period-correct bottle cage, a Silca frame pump and cotton handlebar tape.

Cinelli front end

Campagnolo Nuovo Record

Cinelli Unicanitor

This bike is all set for one of the Eroica retro-bike rides (hopefully they’ll get rescheduled after the pandemic).

The Speciale Corsa was really one of the finest road bikes ever crafted. If this bike speaks to you but you don’t think that you’d ride it much given the vintage parts, let’s talk. There is really no reason a bike like this can’t be modernized with a new Campy Record component group or even (gasp!) Shimano Ultegra.

Cinelli badge

downtube details

Seat tube

This is a 57cm size with a 56cm top tube and a 12cm stem, it has 172.5mm crank arms and a 42cm wide handlebar. All of those numbers mean that it’s a good fit for a rider between 5’9” and 5’11” tall. $1971.

Used Motobecane road bike

56cm Motobecane $799

This is a used road bike from Motobecane. It’s light, comfortable, fast and user-friendly. It comes well equipped with reliable Shimano 105 parts as well as Shimano SPD pedals. The frame is designed so that it feels fast, but not too fast. Like most good sport bikes you can expect predictable and stable handling. The 105 components give you ten gear choices with the rear derailleur, and the bike has two chainrings up front on the compact crankset. Light weight materials in the components and the front fork give you more speed with less effort as you ride than with other entry-level bikes.

This is a medium/large version designed for a rider between 5’8″ and 5’11″ tall, and it’s going for $799 with a full year warranty and one free tune-up.

Used Trek 5500 OCLV carbon road bike

Trek 5500 $1099

This is a 60cm Trek 5500 road bike from 1997.

The frame is made from Optimum Compaction Low Void carbon fiber tubing that is bonded into carbon fiber lugs.   The fork is also carbon, and you get a Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 component group that is in great condition.  The wheels are perfectly true and the tires are basically new.  The saddle, cables, brake pads, bar tape, chain and bottom bracket are in new condition.  The bike rides great, is super-light, and looks cool.

The bike doesn’t have very many miles on it, and was recently traded in for a mountain bike.

This Trek weighs 17 pounds as it sits.  It will ideally fit a rider between 5’11″ and 6’3″ tall and it’s only $1099.

1997 Bontrager Privateer Comp

1997 Bontrager Privateer Comp

Take a trip back to 1997 on this Bontrager Privateer.

This is a light, nimble and efficient mountain bike. Nimble and efficient aren’t attributes ascribed to many mountain bikes these days. New mountain bikes have gone the way of the monster truck, with suspension and tire sizes that simply crush trail obstacles instead of making it fun to pick your way around and over the rocks and roots.
Consider this bike like you would a new “Gravel Bike”. Think of yourself riding out of your driveway, down the street a mile or so to the trailhead. Logging roads and “easy” trails are still in play on a bike like this one, not boring stretches that have to be endured until you get to the downhill (like on your 6″ travel full suspension enduro bike). When you do get to the stretch of technical trails you can relive the white-knuckle exhilaration that we all used to feel while riding our ’90′s era mountain bikes OR you can simply slow down and take the park trails at speeds that won’t get your (or the bike’s) abilities overextended.

XTR drivetrain

Turbomatic!

This old Bontrager is in great shape. It has fresh brakes and drivetrain parts (Shimano XTR), and the wheels and tires look new.  The fork is a rigid Tange Switchblade, a rare bit of ‘90’s cool that still fetches $500 on Ebay today.  You get an XTR seatpost, a Chris King headset, and a Selle Italia Turbomatic saddle.  My favorite.

Anyway, this is a medium size bike (18″) and will work best for a rider between 5’6″ and 5’8″ tall. It’s all yours for $1399

Pinarello F4:13 carbon

Pinarello $1799

Do you like to go fast with minimal effort? No. Don’t buy an electric bike, that’s cheating. Get an efficient road bike like this Pinarello and you’ll be amazed by how fast you can be on your own.

This Pinarello F4:13 was just traded in for a new touring bike. This one is about ten years old. It features an all carbon fiber frame and fork (made in Italy), a new Campagnolo Centaur 11 component group, Campy Khamsin wheels, a carbon seatpost and a Fizik Arione saddle.

This bike is just a hair under 17 pounds as it sits.

The details: this Pinarello is a 60cm frame size, and it will fit a rider between 5’11” and 6’4” tall the best. The frame is from one of the last years that this model was still made in Italy, and we’ll give the whole bike a one year warranty. When this bike was brand new it would have cost you $3800 to walk out of the door with it. Today, it’s only $1799.

Vintage Eddy Merckx

62cm Eddy Merckx

A mid-‘1980’s vintage ride that’s modern enough for everyday use.

The heart of this bike is a 62cm (59cm top tube) Columbus SL steel tubing frame from Eddy Merckx cycles. This one was new in 1984 or ‘85. Instead of sew-up tires you get Mavic MA40 clincher rims and brand new Vittoria Rubino tires. The components are mostly Campagnolo Record from the era but you get the long-cage Rally rear derailleur that supports a more rideable gear range. There’s a Cinelli handlebar and a Nitto stem that will hold those bars in the right spot for someone extra tall.

Record & Rally

San Marco Regal

Centaur calipers

This being a bike for a tall (and probably heavier than average) rider we have brand new Campagnolo Centaur brake calipers which have lots more stopping power than vintage brakes and they still look just right. The chain, freewheel, cables and handlebar tape are all new.

This will fit a rider between 6’ and 6’4” tall the best. $1799.

Logan Owen’s Track bike

Leader Track Bike

Two gears seem like one too many? Really like taking left turns? Hate coasting down hill?

If you answered “yes” to any of these stupid questions then a track bike is for you!

This one is a 56cm size, good for a rider 5’8” to 5’11” tall. Dura-Ace cranks, double-sided Surly hubs, no brakes. Only $799

Seven Resolute steel road bike

Used Seven with Sram Red $1750

This Seven road bike is a prize that Logan Owen was awarded when he won his race at Star-Crossed cyclocross a number of years back. It’s a new Seven Resolute steel frame and it hadn’t been put together until just recently. Logan decided to outfit it with the Sram Red drivetrain, a Zipp crankset, FSA handlebars and stem, new Fulcrum wheels, a Selle Italia saddle and Vittoria Corsa tires.

This is a 56cm size, good for a rider between 5’8” and 5’11” tall. $1750.

1994 CarbonFrames (Calfee) Tetra-Pro

CarbonFrames (Calfee) Tetra-Pro

This is an early Calfee carbon fiber road bike made in 1993 or ‘94.
It has a 53cm seat tube with a 54cm top tube, a 100mm Syncros stem and 40cm 3TTT handlebars. The frame was handmade out of carbon fiber by Craig Calfee. The components are Shimano Dura-Ace 7400 (8-speed, with integrated brake/shift levers), the saddle is a Selle San Marco Regal, the seatpost is an American Classic titanium model and there is an SRP titanium and aluminum bolt kit spread around the bike. The rims are Mavic Open 4s and the tires are new Specialized clinchers. We’ll include the working Avocet Altimeter 50 cycling computer in the sale.

Good fit for a rider between 5’6” and 5’9” tall. $3499

More photos are in the 1986 to 2000 museum section.

1985 Guerciotti road bike

1985 Guerciotti with Dura-Ace parts $1799

This is a steel Guerciotti road bike made in 1985.

It has a 61cm seat tube with a 59cm top tube, a 100mm stem and 42cm Cinelli handlebars. The frame is made out of Columbus SPX tubing, which is slightly stiffer for tall bikes like this one than the more common SL or SLX pipes. The components are Shimano Dura-Ace 7400 (6-speed, with downtube shift levers), the saddle is a Cinelli Volare, the pedals are Dura-Ace with XL cages, and the tires are new Continental tubulars.
Good fit for a rider between 6’ and 6’3” tall. $1499

More photos are in the 1966 to 1985 museum section.

1990 American M-16

American M-16

A groundbreaking mountain bike from 1990.

American Bicycle Manufacturing’s M-16 (designed with 16” chainstays), in new condition right out of the box. There’s the raw aluminum frame and the Spinner cromoly fork, Shimano’s Deore XT component group (with thumb shifters and round chainrings), Interlock racing handlebars and an American stem, Mavic M231 rims, a Hite-Rite, WTB tires, all of the old goodies.

Just right for a rider 5’9” to 5’11”. $990

Used Trek Pilot Road Bike

Used Trek Pilot $699

If you’re looking for a good road bike and you happen to be between 5’2 and 5’6″ tall, we have a deal for you.
This is a Trek Pilot, which is a really versatile and well built road bike. It’s comfortable like a good touring bike, it’s light like a racing bike (17 pounds) and it has room for fenders or 32mm wide tires like a good commuter.

Brand new this bike would cost around $2400. Since this one is used, we’re selling it for only $699.

This particular bike is about ten model years old and it’s the 52cm size. It has been tuned-up and comes with Shimano Ultegra drivetrain parts. The chain, cassette, bottom bracket and rear derailleur pulleys are fresh. Underneath the custom paint is a frame made from carbon fiber tubing and you get a matching carbon fork.

Trek Equinox

Used Trek Equinox TT bike

We have a slightly used Trek triathlon/time trial bike for sale.

This is the same model that Lance Armstrong used in the middle years of his Tour de France (cough, cough) domination.  It is a medium size, appropriate for a rider between 5’8″ and maybe 6′ tall.

It has a full carbon fiber frame and fork.  The wheels are Rolf Vector aero models and they have Continental Ultra 2000 tires on them.  The bike is equipped with Shimano Ultegra components with a Bontrager (Sram) carbon crankset with FSA triathlon chainrings.  There are Vision aero bars and the Selle San Marco Aspide Triathlon saddle is pretty comfortable.

Vision aero bars

Ultegra/FSA drivetrain

San Marco saddle

New, this bike would have cost you around $4500.  We are selling it today in (barely) used condition for only $1199.

1989 Merlin titanium

54cm Merlin Titanium

This is a titanium Merlin road bike made in 1989.
It has a 54cm seat tube with a 54cm top tube, a 100mm stem and 42cm Modolo handlebars. The frame is made out of 3/2.5 alloyed titanium. The components are Campagnolo C Record (8-speed, with Ergopower shift levers and Delta brake calipers), the saddle is a Selle Italia Flite, the wheels are Campy Shamals and the tires are new Continental tubulars. The Time Racing Magnesium pedals are included, but we won’t reduce the price if you want the bike without pedals.
Good fit for a rider between 5’6” and 5’9” tall. $4000

More photos are in the 1986 to 2000 museum section.

1990 Specialized Allez Epic

Specialized Allez Epic

Re-ride the ‘90’s!

This is a Specialized Allez Epic from 1990. It’s a 54cm frame (54cm top tube, 100mm stem, 40cm bars). The frame and wheels are Specialized carbon fiber, the components are Shimano Dura-Ace 7400 (with dual-pivot brake calipers), the saddle is a Selle Italia Flite, the pedals are Time Equipe models, and the tires are new 23c Continentals.

Good fit for a rider between 5’6” and 5’9” tall. $1999

More photos are in the 1986 to 2000 museum section.

1988 Vitus Carbone 9

1988 Kas – Canal 10 Team Replica Vitus Carbon 9

Team Replica Kas-Canal 10 Team bike.

Want to pretend that you’re one of Sean Kelly’s teammates? This is a Vitus Carbone 9 1988 team replica. The carbon frame is a 52cm size (with a 53cm top tube, 90mm stem and 42cm bars). All of the components are period-correct Mavic parts except for the tires (which are new 25c Vittoria Rally tubulars) and Look pedals. The saddle is a French Reydel GTI model.

Good for a rider between 5’3” and 5’6” tall. $1999.

More photos are in the 1986 to 2000 museum section.

Used and Vintage Parts

Trying to restore older bikes with original equipment can be tough. Trust us, we know.

’82 Super Record rear derailleur $100

53cm Surly frame $299

We have a variety of random old parts here at the store. We’ll show off some of the cooler items here. If you need something but don’t see it here, come in or call. We may have the part tucked away in a box somewhere, or know where you can go to find it.

We have only a couple of rules concerning old equipment: First, there is no warranty. Bike parts typically only have a one year warranty from their manufacturer, and some of the companies involved have been gone for decades. Second, you have to be patient. If we offer to look through our personal stash for you, it takes a bit of time.

While we would prefer to sell these items to you in person, we can also send them to your door. We use U.S. Postal flat rate shipping and will ship only within the United States. Postage for small items run $10, medium size flat-rate boxes run $15 and larger items are $20 and up.

Available parts

175mm Campagnolo Chorus Crankset $150
New old stock Dura-Ace 7700 rear derailleur $100
Bontrager Aeolus 9 carbon rear wheel $300
Zipp 909 carbon front wheel $300
New early ’90′s Timec pedals $100
Assorted vintage freewheels $20-$100
New Cinelli Spinacci clip-on aero bars $40
Assorted Cinelli model 64, 65 and 66 handlebars $20-$80
Assorted Cinelli XA, Grammo titanium and 1A stems $40-$60
New XTR M950 front derailleur 31.8 clamp $95
Used ’87 XT M730 front derailleur 29.8 clamp $50
Used ’92 Shimano 600 (Ultegra) rear derailleur $50
Used ’82 Campy Super Record rear derailleur $100
Used XTR M950 rear derailleur $150
Used XT M739 rear derailleur $40
Used Dura-Ace 7400 29.8 clamp front derailleur $40
Used ’92 Campy Mirage rear derailleur $80
Used XT M750 rear derailleur $50
Used XT M730 rear derailleur $75
Rare Mavic SSC 501 rear derailleur $250
Used Scott Aero bars (Drop-ins, LFs, ATBs, all kinds of them) $20
Used Campy Victory rear derailleur $40
Used vintage 1986 Campagnolo C Record components $25 to $400
Used Campy Victory 29.8 clamp front derailleur $20
Used Campy Mirage braze-on front derailleur $40
Used 2001 Campy Record crankset 172.5 53 x 39t $100
Used late ‘90’s Campy Record Crankset 172.5mm x 53t x 39t  $120
25.0 Campy Super Record seatpost (vintage 1983) $75
25.0 Campy Chorus aero seatpost (vintage 1988) $75
Used Girvin alloy 1″ quill flex stem $50
Used Softride alloy 1 1/8” quill suspension stem $80
Used ’89 Campy Record threaded 1″ headset $100
Used mid ’80′s Shimano 600 brake calipers $40 pair
New Paul components chain guides $30
Used Fox Float R rear suspension can 6.5″ length, 1.5″ travel $90
Used Fox RP23 with boost valve rear suspension can 6.5”  length, 1.5” travel $99
Used Shimano 6400 Ultegra crankset w/b.b. 170mm x 52t x 42t $40

Synchros 31.6 x 420 post

Ringle 1” x 135mm

Dura Ace 7700

Scott MTB bars $20

Mavic SSC rear derailleur

Aeolus 9

Mavic levers $75

Zipp 909

Mavic brakes $100

Cinelli bars and stems

New vintage freewheels

Slingshot tri frame $100

N.O.S. Cinelli Spinacci bars

Cinelli Frog 110mm $79

Deore XT M739 rear derailleur $50

650c w/Mavic hubs $200

XT M730 29.8 clamp front derailleur $50

Campagnolo Victory 29.8 clamp $20

650c fork $79

Paul components chain guides $30

Campy Mirage braze-on der. $40

Campy Mirage 170 53×39 crank $80

Mavic 501 29.8 clamp front derailleur $30

Black ITM 100mm quill stem $40

Dura-Ace 7400 29.8 clamp front der. $40

Fox Float suspension can 6.5 x 1.5 $90

Alloy quill Girvin Flexstem $40

Ultegra 6400 crankset 170 52×42 $40

’92 Shimano 600 rear derailleur $50

2nd gen. Grip Shifters $50

’91 Campy Chorus 1″ headset $50

Used LeMond tri bike

Used LeMond Limoges

A great deal on a fast tri bike.

This is a LeMond Limoges triathlon bike from around 2004.  A super aerodynamic design that still climbs well, it features a mix of carbon fiber and hydroformed aluminum tubing.

The bike is outfitted with Shimano 105 components, FSA cranks, Vision carbon aero bars, and Bontrager Race X Lite wheels with DT hubs.

This is a medium-sized 54cm frame, and will fit a rider between 5’5″ and 5’10″ really well.  New, this rig would probably run you around $2500.  Buy it now for only $979.

1940′s Colson Flyer

1940′s Colson Flyer

The restoration project.

Everybody loves good before and after photos.  A bicycle restoration project is great at showing the damage that the decades can do, and you get to watch as that damage is erased with fresh paint or new chrome.

A while back, this balloon-tire cruiser came to us as a rusty old relic.  The years were not kind to the old Colson.  While the rust was not deep, it was everywhere.  The owner, a fellow named Gerald Taylor, had a history with the bike and wanted to return the Flyer to its former glory.

Colson Flyer “before”

Gerald’s father had purchased the bike upon returning to the Seattle area from the second World War.  Affordable cars were hard to come by in the months following the end of the war, and Gerald’s father figured he could get around on these two wheels just as well as he could with four.  The bike served as a trusty commuter for a number of years before transitioning to recreational use, and finally retiring to the back of the garage.

The crankset “after”

The crankset “before”

The wheels were beyond repair.  By removing the head badge and the reflectors, we were able to find clean bits of original paint, so the new colors would match.  Parts were stripped off of the frame, and the dents were rolled out of the fenders.

Off to the painter (CycleSmith) went the frame, fork, fenders, and chainguard.

Into the recycling went the chain, pedals, and wheels.

The fenders “after”

The fenders “before”

Rusty bits like the chainring, seatpost, fork struts, handlebars and stem made their way to the chrome shop (Art’s chroming in Bremerton).

Some of the parts that you find on old bikes are still made today.  No problem getting a Wald kickstand, and the reproductions of the pedals and saddle are well worth the price.  Appropriate fasteners are just a quick trip to the hardware store (no allen bolts or torx heads on sixty year old bikes, thank you).

The head tube “after”

The head tube “before”

Jeff, who started collecting balloon-tire bikes decades ago, dug up some great matching wheels and tires from a “donor” bike.  Fresh grease for the hubs and some new spokes made them roll and look just right.

Now, I’d like to say this was a quick project.  But it wasn’t.

Sometimes it takes a while to find the right parts.  You have to get on a painter’s schedule (some have months-long backlogs), and it takes a while to get chrome done (Art’s is actually quite fast).  You may have seen the car and motorcycle restoration shows on television where things move lightning fast.  They use an editor.

The headlight “after”

The headlight “before”

I truly wish we were able to finish this bike sooner, as Gerald missed the opportunity to see his beautiful bike all spruced up.  Gerald fell ill and passed away a few weeks before we were able to finish the project.

The “After” photo is the way this bike would have looked when Gerald’s dad first brought it home.

This bike is for sale from the museum collection.  It can be yours, fully restored, for $1500.

About our website…

Buy it now

You may have noticed that many of the bikes on our website are lacking prices.
We also seem to be missing an “add to shopping cart” button.
These omissions are purposeful.
We like bikes. We like you. We want you to ride a bicycle that works well, fits you correctly, and is appropriate for the kinds of riding that you like to do.
We can’t make all of this happen through a website.
If you want a new bike, come in to Classic Cycle. Talk to us. Touch the bicycles. You can ride around Winslow, and see what the different models have to offer.
Come in to the shop and try out the bikes that interest you. Ask for our opinions and get some concrete facts. With us you’ll know who is behind the product review.
Sit at our bar and watch bike racing on the television or experience a bit of our little museum.
Spend some time here so Jaime can show you clothing and accessories that will resolve the little issues that nag at you while you ride.
Paul will assemble your bike with the same attention to detail that went into building bikes for two Olympic Games and countless professional racers.
Leave the UPS guy alone. He can’t help you put that mail-order bike together…

Bike Appraisals

Have an old bike that you’d like to get appraised?

We can help, but you should know a few things before we start.

First, there is no “Blue Book” value for bicycles. Bikes are simply worth what someone else is willing to pay for them. Bicycle values tend to be highest when the weather is warm, in places where it’s pleasant to ride, and wherever there are a lot of people who like bikes.

Take a photo from the “drive side” in front of a neutral background

Second, we have no idea what your bike is worth without seeing it. We’re just not that smart. Don’t call us and try to describe it over the phone. Serial numbers do not help. Instead, you can send us an email (please use complete sentences, we don’t do well with abbreviated texts) with some pictures attached or bring your bike in to the store.

You can to hire us to do an accurate appraisal for an insurance policy or a charitable donation, but we charge for this service and you will have to do some prep work:

You’ll want to take photos of the bike like you would if you were going to sell it. Clean the bike, remove any broken or rough-looking accessories and put some air in the tires.
Take pictures straight on in front of a blank background, and take close-up photos of areas that may generate interest (or confusion).

Badges or labels on the tubes help with identification

Close-ups of the parts tell a lot about your bike

By the way, you probably know more about your bike than we do. If you just bought a bike for $50, you have established the value of the bicycle (and you are not likely to be able to sell it for $2000 to somebody else). If you or a relative are the original owner you probably know when you bought it, so you have a good idea of the bicycle’s age. If you remember purchasing the bike you also know if it was a high-end racing model or a basic bike from Walmart.

Rarity rarely helps determine value. If you have a one-of-a-kind bicycle, it may mean that no one has ever heard of it and/or nobody is looking for one.

Popularity is no indicator either. Bikes that were sold in large numbers could fall into one of two camps. You could have a bike that will never sell (a vintage Schwinn) because there are still thousands of them out there, or you could have a bike that will cause a bidding war (Bridgestone MB-1) because people rode them into the ground and they want another one.

If what you’re really after is to get rid of an old bike, keep us in mind. While we don’t buy bikes outright, we’ll likely take your old bike as a trade-in for something new….