My Bicycles

From: John Bailo (jabailo_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 12/05/04 

Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 05:36:40 GMT

I wanted a bicycle, so I ordered one for $59 from Sportsline.

It had to be assembled.

It was the worst piece of crap ever.

The brakes and cables were falling off.

A spoke was bent.

The threads for the pedals on the crank weren't cut so I could only screw
them in half way.

Then, I was walking home, and someone put a bike in front of their house
with a sign that said /free/ on it. The bike was in excellent condition
and nicely tuned. So I took it.

But when I got it up the stairs to my apartment, I realized the frame was
large -- not the standard 26" mens frame -- to large for me!

Then I went to Value Village and found a Fuji bicycle in perfect condition
-- but with a bit of rust here and there -- for $12 dollars and I have been
riding it all day today.

I bought a helmet for $20 and a lock/cable for $10.

I bought a front and rear cat's eye light combo for $30.

I bought a 13-in-one screwdriver for $8 and a chain and cable spray
lubricant for $3.

I will cannabalize the big frame bike for parts.

So, it took me $59 to learn, not to trust a deal that looks too good to be
true.

I found out that free doesn't always work.

I found that you can spend a very, very small amount of money, and get
almost exactly what you want.

You can spend five times that, and get almost nothing.

I found that it's the add on costs to the base that tend to drive up the
costs the most, and that those are the same whether you spend a lot, or a
little on the basic item. 

-- 
http://www.texeme.com

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