31st January 2015 (No Comments)

It’s been a while since LuxLow has been on the road swapping and picking bicycles, but with this years Cheap Gas Prices we had to take the show on the Road. Previously we had abandoned swaps due to High Gas Prices and the INTERWEBS and the Salty Swappers they Produce. Come on People, You can get value from ebay if you take out the 15% for fees, the 20% for your time listing and shipping, 5% for cash, and throw in another 5% for being Social and getting off your ass. We sell a ton on ebay. yet this is a good formula for local swap sales. Enough with the Rant, whether swaps are a dieing breed or not, they are fun, and my favorite shopping, bike people are characters and we are always amazed to see something we have never seen before. Good Times.

  Our Journey Started with Family in Atlanta, and then a trip down South to  Central Florida to Visit Friends and Pick up a Schwinn B6. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Bill Triplett and seeing most of his Amazing Collection. Bill is heavily into Ballooners and I saw on lonely 1898 Dayton sitting there, that soon became mine. This is a Full Circle of Trading since when Bill entered the Hobby he bought a few of his early bikes from me when we were Luxury Lowrider in Orlando in the 1990s. Thanx Bill and Great to see you again. My next stop was in Baltimore to visit Friends and Family. While in in Baltimore I got a Invite from Sweater Sam to to visit his “Total Chaos” ( aka his Shop and those were his words ) WOW and  Yes it was, Bikes everywhere, It was overwhelming to a OCD total hordanizer like me, But instinct kicked in and after the tour I pulled out a 1899 Spaulding Shaft Drive and a 1900 Sterling Frame to return to Colorado with me. Thanx Sam for the Hospitality and letting me pluck a few feathers from your Plume. Keep Piling them in, I will be back. Next we did the Jeff Rapp Butler, Pa. Bicycle Swap Meet,a cool little swap in a Days Inn Banquet Room, Great Social Event but felt it lagged a bit in action and no major purchases . The Next Day we went to Craig Morrows Bicycle Heaven Museum  in Pittsburgh, Pa. I Highly Recommend Seeing this Museum, It is Amazing, More Krates than you can shake a stick at. Tons of Bikes and Should you Need your Nails Done, Craig’s Wife has a Nail Salon in there too, Interesting what sticks out to me. After Pittsburgh I headed to Mahomet, Il. to see long time bike Cronie “Chop” ( aka Todd Morfey ). Now I would have to say it was a first time I ever sat by the fireplace telling stories of old times, slugging down coffee, and swapping bike parts. Pretty sure that’s how it should be done, Thanx Todd and your Family for the Hospitality. Next its off to Indy to Pick up my help Alex or DBR  and do the Hoosier Swap outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. This is a Cool swap, I have traveled to this swap multiple times with good results. Alex Manned the Full Lux Low Spread while I shopped for the Goodies. Picked Up a 1898 Pierce and  Banana Tank Shelby and lots of smalls.  Oddly the Shelby did not make it back to Colorado. The Next Day was the Midwest Bicycle Expo and Swap Meet in St Louis, This is a Great Show with Vintage and All Bicycle Enthusiasts, It’s in the Gateway Convention Center Collinsville, Il. We had a Great Day Selling and I Picked Up a Hibbard Badged Teens Schwinn, a 1900 Cleveland Rolling Chassis, and a Silver King Flow Cycle. This a High action swap with many attendees and deals to be had. After the St Louis Swap , The Truck was loaded and sitting low,  time to head  Back to the Lux Low Ranch and unLoaded  the Bounty.  If Gas Stays Low Hope to See you Next time on the Road.