How to buy/sell strange bike

Buy:

I got into biking late in life (well, I grew up on bike in the kibbutz, but that was for everyday use, not for sports), only after my back gave way to soccer/windsurfing/horseback riding and my knee gave way to jogging.  In late 2007 my back gave way a second time, forcing me off my hybrid bike.  I was looking for an alternative to stay active but also pain free.

When I purchased my first recumbent bike in 2008, I drove 2.5 hours to see this wonderful guy, Art, who sells bike out of his garage in Signal Mountain, TN.  Art hosted me a full day teaching me how to ride recumbent, showing me different models, adjusting different bikes, talking, talking, talking with a lot of riding in between.  I explained to Art about my many injuries and body limitations and he did his best to find what would suit me the best.  He and his wonderful wife, Ann, even fed me two meals.  When I left their house in the evening, I was well fed and had a lot of bike info to process - but I didn't buy anything from him because I'm a person who has to check everything from a 1000 different angles.  The price tag also intimidated me.

Indeed, in the next several weeks I test ridden several more bikes all around the southeast.  Eventually, after 6 weeks of research both online and in person, I went back to Art (for another meal, of course) and bought the bike from him.  

Sell:

Today I sold the bike.  At 10 am I received an email showing interest in the bike.  Even before she came the lady already started bargaining with me over the price.  Now, I'm not a slaseman - not even close to it.  But I was able to explain to her why this bike might be a better choice for her over other used bike that she mentioned, at $200 less.  Within less than an hour I met her and her husband on the Belline.  The conversation was rather brief.  The lady sat on the bike - she have never ridden a recumbent in her life before; she didn't know how to pedal or how to brake.  You see, in recumbent you really need to learn a new balance.  Anyway, she rode the bike for less than a 100 yards, got off, look at her husband and said "I like it....honey, can we get it?"  Shortly after we closed the deal. WOW!  I mean, maybe I'm over-learning everything, but talk about fast (and shallow)! Oh well...

Bye-bye bike.  You served me well, but now I'm happy to see you go.

2013 Spin for Kids

When Liam was still with us, one of her favorite things of all was Focus family weekend at Camp Twin Lakes.  (Must clarify immediately:  I do not care to sleep in the same cabin and share facilities with two other families.  My kibbutz and military days are long gone.  On top of that, no alcohol....what the hell?  What kind of camp is this anyway???)  But back to the subject:  For the girls it was a blast - all the different activities, the dining hall, the food (ok, maybe I got too carried away here...), and mostly, the altogether happy atmosphere of the weekend.  

Ever since we learned of CTL, I made it a habit to help raise funds for their camp program every year.  That's the least I can do on my part to help kids with special needs.  The deal is this:  I'll be riding my bike for so-and-so miles, and I'm asking you to support me in that effort.  (Some would say I do it all for the free beer at the end of the bike ride.  Obviously, such poor souls don't know how much of a beer snob I am.  I don't drink ANY beer just because it's free....) But again, we got off track.  It takes a lot of money and effort to send kids with special needs to such camps.  It requires a full medical staff (including specialists), special medical equipment (think oxygen machines, heart monitors....the list is too long), special sleep accommodations, and much, much more.  The list is long and expansive.  Things that you and I take for granted in our everyday life, are tall mountains to climb for such kids.  I know it all too well.

So here we are again, 2 months or so from this year Spin For Kids.  My knee is far from being a 100% but nevertheless I signed up for the 50 miles.  If those special kids - not special need kids, just special kids - can do all the special things they do every day - from holding a toothbrush to attempting a walker - I don't have the heart to complain about my ailments.  (And truly, regardless of my lame attempt to make excuses for myself already, the campaign is waaaay more important than myself here.)  So I'm asking you to please support me.  Here's my donation page.  

And remember, the money is not for me personally but to help send those special kids to camp.

Thanks!  

(If you already donated, many many thanks.)