Just put my first bike up for sale...

My Marin. It's been properly serviced (and had a wheel trued :o) and has been listed on ebay with everything crossed that it will go for a reasonable price. Not too sure about that last one as prices seem pretty low at the moment. Anyway. I want to buy the mixte I posted about on the Mixte thread. It feels really odd selling it, I suppose also because I sold Small Girl's balance bike too last week and I'm rather more used to bikes coming in than bikes going out. The Mister reasonably pointed out that 4 bikes would probably be one too many, so the Marin has to go to make room for the mixte (and to help pay for it). It's not ridden that much any more, most of my rides are on the Vita.

Tell me about when you parted company with your first adult bike, please.

Hmmm - my first, first real road bike, a steel Trek 420, was stolen when I in college :mad:

The replacement, which was identical in everything but color, saw many years and several countries of riding before I really realized it was too big for me. I donated it to a children's group home that was occupying a house at the end of my street.

The next one, an alu Fuji, the one I started racing on, I had for only a couple of years before I decided I needed a newer lighter bike with a double :p I sold that one to a man for his teenage daughter to ride in a local double century ride (2 days 200 miles)

Had dinner about three months ago with a friend who said her friend had just posted on Facebook that he was looking for a bike the same size as mine for his girlfriend. I told my friend the details to text him and my friend's friend ended up buying my Felt ZW5 for his girlfriend. That meant his girlfriend now had a nicer bike than his so within maybe two weeks he upgraded to a carbon bike after getting some advice from my husband. The new owner of my first bike is younger and faster than me and I'm glad my bike found a good home. We've seen them riding out in the country where we ride so I know it's being put to good use.

I'm not sure I understand the 4 bikes being too many.

Thanks for the replies. It's lovely to read about bikes going onto new homes and being ridden still. I know there are a lot of miles left in this bike.

4 bikes wouldn't be too many if I had more time and skill, in the meantime 3 is plenty. One for errands and pottering, one for fitness and leisure road rides and one for off-road and towing. Perhaps one day I'll add in a road bike or a cross bike, but for the moment one in one out is fine.

There's quite a few watchers and a handful of bids now, so I'm a bit happier about my bike going.

A Giant road bike was my first adult bike. I loved everything about it, but the color. I always hated the blue. When I sold it, it went to a young girl just getting into triathlon, and she was over the moon thrilled with it, so I was OK parting with it. I did cry, tho, when she drove out of my driveway with it. ;)

LOVE that you're getting the mixte!! It's a beautiful bike, and I'm sure you will just adore it!! :)

I stripped my first bike of most of its parts (which went on my red Eddy) and the frame just sat for a long time. I eventually brought it to my lbs and told them to find it a home. It ended up going to a fisherman's wife, and I got fish in trade. I could probably still be cashing in on the fish, but it never occurs to me to ask.

I was the second owner, and with no parts, I was just happy to see it rebuilt and used. I heard she loved it.

My first road bike went to another member in our club. She has a daughter on the west coast so she wanted a bike there for when she visited.

I'm sure this will be bittersweet, parting with a trusty friend, however there is the allure of the new bike to offset ;)

Ya, three bikes is about right. Tho I do have a couple more old old steel ones hanging in garage that don't count since they are not rideable without alot of work lol but I digress:rolleyes:.

I sold my first real road bike thru my lbs. The shop got a new owner that I really like. He gave me quite a good deal on my profit return on the bike. It went to a man cyclists looking for a good first road bike for his newly cycling wife. So that was a happy home. Not a huge profit for the shop. But I send him business and spend all my lbs money with him. So, pays off in the end I guess.

That bike was however WAY too big for me. I majorly got screwed over by the shop that sold it to me. It was painful still to let it go. Thinking of the sickening fnancial mess it caused, and pain in my body. Tho the good thing was I found TE as a result. So that part was happy. Still a pretty bike tho.

Btw, my three bikes are: carbon Orbea roadie, not super light, but plush for the road distances; Trek hard trail mtb, perfect for technical stuff; and Nashbar brand special xc bike, LOVE this little bike, part commuter urban some trails road all around work horse fun pony... and to be the lowest on the food chain, I would never have guessed how much I adore her.

Good Luck!

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

A Giant road bike was my first adult bike. I loved everything about it, but the color. I always hated the blue. When I sold it, it went to a young girl just getting into triathlon, and she was over the moon thrilled with it, so I was OK parting with it. I did cry, tho, when she drove out of my driveway with it. ;)

LOVE that you're getting the mixte!! It's a beautiful bike, and I'm sure you will just adore it!! :)

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Poor you! I don't think I'll cry when this one goes, but who knows, I sobbed at my 4-year old carrying a cardboard Olympic torch at her sports day this afternoon. I am looking forward very much to getting the mixte :D

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

I stripped my first bike of most of its parts (which went on my red Eddy) and the frame just sat for a long time. I eventually brought it to my lbs and told them to find it a home. It ended up going to a fisherman's wife, and I got fish in trade. I could probably still be cashing in on the fish, but it never occurs to me to ask.

I was the second owner, and with no parts, I was just happy to see it rebuilt and used. I heard she loved it.

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I LOVE this story. Bikes for fish, way cool :)

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Originally Posted by Jo-n-NY

My first road bike went to another member in our club. She has a daughter on the west coast so she wanted a bike there for when she visited.

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I do like these happy ever after bike stories.

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Originally Posted by Bike Writer

I'm sure this will be bittersweet, parting with a trusty friend, however there is the allure of the new bike to offset ;)

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:D Yes!

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Originally Posted by Miranda

Ya, three bikes is about right. Tho I do have a couple more old old steel ones hanging in garage that don't count since they are not rideable without alot of work lol but I digress:rolleyes:.

I sold my first real road bike thru my lbs. The shop got a new owner that I really like. He gave me quite a good deal on my profit return on the bike. It went to a man cyclists looking for a good first road bike for his newly cycling wife. So that was a happy home. Not a huge profit for the shop. But I send him business and spend all my lbs money with him. So, pays off in the end I guess.

That bike was however WAY too big for me. I majorly got screwed over by the shop that sold it to me. It was painful still to let it go. Thinking of the sickening fnancial mess it caused, and pain in my body. Tho the good thing was I found TE as a result. So that part was happy. Still a pretty bike tho.

Btw, my three bikes are: carbon Orbea roadie, not super light, but plush for the road distances; Trek hard trail mtb, perfect for technical stuff; and Nashbar brand special xc bike, LOVE this little bike, part commuter urban some trails road all around work horse fun pony... and to be the lowest on the food chain, I would never have guessed how much I adore her.

Good Luck!

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Thank you. I love that you adore your all-purpose bike :)

I think my Ruby is next to get sold. I find my Amira not only to be fast but was so comfortable on a recent century ride that I did. I will keep the Dolce for the trainer, but I now want a Vita for an all around bike to just go out for the heck of it. I think this will take care of my itch.

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Originally Posted by Jo-n-NY

I think my Ruby is next to get sold. I find my Amira not only to be fast but was so comfortable on a recent century ride that I did. I will keep the Dolce for the trainer, but I now want a Vita for an all around bike to just go out for the heck of it. I think this will take care of my itch.

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I think the Vita would be perfect for that!

Well, the bike realised a decent price, and is being collected and paid for tomorrow evening. It will be two days short of two years since we bought it. What a great life that bike has introduced me to :) Hopefully I'll be able to buy the mixte later this week :D

That was a lot more pleasant than I imagined! The buyer was a delightful woman who hadn't ridden in years, but had promised herself a new bike for her birthday. As the bike was originally bought for my birthday, almost 2 years ago to the day, it really felt like it was meant for her. She went for a spin down the road and the grin on her face on her way back was absolutely joyous to see. That bike is going to be loved. She even liked the comfort saddle. I had a moment of sadness when she closed the boot, but it was impossible to be anything other than happy for her. And for me, since the mixte can now take its rightful place in my garage :D

Hebe, that's great.

I had a similar experience today -- sold my bike to a friend. She hasn't cycled in years because of significant health issues, so this was a big step for her.

She looked so happy when I left her with the bike (which she has named Blue Jay) this afternoon.

Yay! SO glad she's going to a woman who will love her just as much as you did. It's sad to let them go, but nice knowing they will be loved and treasured! :)

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

I remember seeing a Marin in Charleston. A female college student was riding. Made me think of you. :) Happy you found a new home for your baby.

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Thank you! Happy days to everyone who's been made happy with a cherished bike.

I went to put a deposit down today, and......... the mixte's on sale! I'm going to pick it up on Friday :D