Got handed a 1993 Bridgestone RB-1 last week and it still had the original tires

I was swapping out tubes for a regular at my shop when he rolled in with this dusty RB-1 he found in his dad's garage. Those old Panaracers were cracked so bad they looked like alligator skin, but the frame was immaculate. How do you talk a customer into keeping a classic ride without sounding like you're trying to upsell them?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin2281mo ago

Dude that Trek 520 was a 520. You're thinking of a different model, the 520 is an old touring bike, not a road frame. Heavy as hell but yeah, bombproof. Close call though, easy to mix up.

jessej231mo ago

You ever have one of those moments where you just point at the bike and say "that thing's worth more than my car"? That's how I handled a similar situation with an old Trek 520 that came in. I told the guy straight up, "look, those tires are toast, but this frame is a tank. You put some fresh rubber and cables on it, you've got a bike that'll outlast both of us." Then I showed him how the old Shimano stuff still shifted smooth after a little clean up. Worked out great, he ended up spending about $80 on parts and rides it every weekend now. What did you end up doing with the RB-1?

park.miles1mo ago

Wait you actually talked a guy into keeping a 520? Those things are absolute boats but yeah the frames are bombproof. For the RB-1 I ended up doing almost the same thing. I showed the guy how the old 600 group still clicked through the gears perfectly after some lube and pointed out that the Tange frame was WAY better than anything you get new for under a grand. He dropped $120 on tires cables and a chain and now he texts me photos from his Saturday group rides. Honestly the best part of this job is saving good bikes from the dump.

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