"You've got to know when to hold 'em,
know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
know when to run."
-Kenny Rogers, "The Gambler"
If you're familiar with the snippet above, the old Kenny Rogers song is also probably playing in your head. Those of us old enough to remember when everyone listened to AM/FM radio in the car rather than podcasts, streaming music, or God-knows-whatever-else, certainly had the song stuck in our heads at one point or another...
But that brings me to the lesson of the day - know when to fold and walk away from a vintage bike or bike purchase. I reflect on this because last month I finally scrapped the half-dozen or so dead bike frames in my garage. They went to the recycler.
There are those people who will keep everything, broken, useful, or neither-of-the-above. But there is a fine line between the eccentric collector or accumulator of stuff, and the true hoarder.
These frames were scrapped because these were all damaged in some way: warped bottom bracket, badly bent front triangle, smashed head tube, etc. All saveable parts were stripped, cataloged, and bagged away in my stockpile.
"Know when to fold 'em". You cut your losses, save the parts, and scrap the frame (or turn it into a wall hanger). You're not going to save or revive every single bike you find. This goes for every experience and every skill level in the hobby. I have been doing this for around 30 years now and even I find there are some bikes that are beyond saving. Don't risk your safety (or someone else's) on a bike that has been too damaged to ride. Beyond that, don't waste your time and money on a black hole of a bike that needs all kinds of special repairs, and which may not even function properly when you are done.
Likewise, walk away from sales where you think the seller is being dishonest or the bike has a serious problem you'd like to avoid. Yes, you've just driven 60 miles one-way to see the bike and it's a frigid Sunday at 5:30 a.m... but remember, "know when to walk away, know when to run." Don't sendcompound your woes by driving all that way, so early in the morning, only to end up over-paying for a bike that can't even be properly fixed. Don't keep talking to a seller that may be misleading you or misrepresenting a bike or part. Save your money for the next bike that comes along... because eventually one will... maybe a much better one.
And always remember: your time is the most valuable resource.
