Somebody dope slap me, please....N + 1 strikes again.

[Crankin]

No, I don't need a smaller bike. I sold the Jamis when I got my custom ti Guru. We've whittled down our stable to 4 bikes (2 each), down from about 9, which included a couple that my older son now has.
Quad Cycles is in an area that is comparable to Newton as far as driving, maybe less busy on a weekend. I don't drive in Boston, either (I moved away from here 2 months before I got my permit, to a place where everything is on a grid), but since I grew up in Newton, I do drive there, as well as in Brookline (right up to the border of Boston), since I generally know my way around. However, as I say, the level of azzhole type driving increases as proximity to the city grows. You could take 495 to Rt 2, right to Arlington, or take a scenic detour through Concord and Lexington. Although Quad is know as a racer's shop, they had a large supply of commuter type and touring stuff and they were very nice.

[Kubla]

Hmmm...That sounds pretty painless-even by my wimpy driving standards. I much prefer Route 495 over Route 128. I used to drive to Concord - and later Harvard -for my Collies' ophthalmologist appointments, so I think I could handle that route.

[Kubla]

Wow. This was the creepiest CL experience I've had to date-and a classic case of things not being as they might appear. The seller had been pleasant and articulate throughout the Emails back and forth to arrange the bike viewing. He did seem prematurely convinced that I was going to love the bike and buy it without a second thought. I was prepared to decline politely if that was not the case. He seemed knowledgeable about bikes in general, and said he had a 'bike shop' in his home.

Was I in for a rude awakening. The house was rundown, with junk and litter strewn all over the place. The man-who met me in the driveway-was dirty and unshaven, with bushy eyebrows. Add a crazed look in his eyes, and all the flags went up.

First, he wanted me to follow him into the cellar to look at the bike. <"NOooo I'm not going in your cellar...how about bringing it outside? I'm going to be riding it anyway."> I never go into anyone's home for a CL purchase, and if I'm selling something I arrange to meet them somewhere in daylight in a public place.

I asked him why he was selling it, and he said it had been intended as a gift for someone he was 'courting', but the relationship didn't work out and he didn't give it to her. (Um...Is she buried in the cellar, by any chance???)

He finally brought out the bike and proudly announced, "Here it is! This is a nice custom bike." Frankenbike would have been more appropriate. It was supposed to be white (frame, seat, tires, handlebar tape)-but it was filthy. It had Sora in front and Ultegra in the rear. (Why, I don't know-but that was apparently the "custom" part.) The pedals were at least 30+ years old and caked with dirt. He also had installed a vintage rear rack on it; it looked out of place...and crooked. I never would have paid $600 for it. After I rode it I went with my prepared line, "It's a nice bike, but it's similar to what I already have and not quite what I'm looking for." For what it was worth, I did tell him that he would be more likely to get what he's asking if he cleaned it up a bit before showing it. He seemed surprised that the dirt would be an issue. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

[Catrin]

Glad that it worked out the way it did, yikes!

I got another "want to see your @ item" response to MY CL ad, I didn't bother responding to this one. At least the first "guy" made an effort to make the first email sound semi-normal.