[CR]Dilemma: Too many wheels! (longish)

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From: "David Bilenkey" <dbilenkey@sympatico.ca>
To: "'CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:27:23 -0400
Thread-Index: Acdn35gkDt8FPVPmQZOmf2zVwLyg2Q==
Subject: [CR]Dilemma: Too many wheels! (longish)

I've been spending the last couple days doing an 'inventory' (Microsoft Access database and all) of what I have, and although I'm probably only 25% done I've now begun the wheels portion of the assessment. Last night I counted 54 vintage tubular wheels (some in sets and some unmatched), another 13 vintage clincher wheels as well as a half dozen more modern clinchers wheels. These are all wheel without bikes, this doesn't include the wheels that are under frames. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do...

I have two specific goals right now: Clear out my very overcrowded basement, and generate some cash flow. The question is how to achieve this? Some of these wheels are pristine, others well used but still usable. Do I sell them whole? Do I strip them down to hubs and spokes and rims? Many of the complete and pristine wheels are rather heavily built for my tastes (at 150lbs I don't need too much) so I'm inclined to sell them or perhaps rebuild a couple pairs with much lighter spokes and keep them on some of my nicer riders as show wheels.

Shipping whole wheels seems to be expensive given the often limited value of the wheel, but shipping a used rim seems likely to be even less cost effective given the space required is similar and a used rim (even if straight and usable) would likely be less appealing to a potential buyer than a complete wheel. What do listers think is more useful or appealing? A complete wheel or hubs and rims? The latter allows more flexibility, but does require that I pull them apart. Not to mention I've already got a couple bins of hubs and dozens of used but usable tubular rims hanging in the shop...

I'd guess that all of these wheels will need at least the hubs to be pulled apart and cleaned, lubed, polished and then a minor truing, and I can't really sell wheels or hubs in good conscience without at least opening them up to confirm that cups and cones are unpitted and usable, at which point I wonder just how much time is this going to take me... :-P

Thoughts on my dilemma appreciated.

David -- David Bilenkey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada dbilenkey@sympatico.ca

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Bilenkeys-Bikestash/