Most Ridiculous eBay Sale Ever

Someone just paid $500 for this Repco RT sport. How bad? Let's see.

It's a crappy mass produced 10 speed frame from 1970-1980 something with sloppy welds, a rear derailer cable boss that sticks out like Chopper's partially amputated ear, and cup and cone bottom bracket bearings - the kind that sound like a large pepper mill full of malteasers whenever it rains.

The seller proudly proclaims it to be 1020 high tensile steel. Steel, he says, is real. Yes, and in this case steel is real friggin' heavy too - 1020 the same stuff from which $89 K-Mart bikes are made.

It has a freewheel (it's not a fixed-gear or a coaster brake bike, so pushing back on the pedals will not slow it down) and yet it only has one brake - an old, single pivot caliper brake on the rear wheel (where braking power is at its least effective). He says he will add a front brake before shipping, but why it was ever anywhere other than on the goddamn fork where it belongs is a mystery.

The seat post is the kind where the clamp is held to the post with a band rather than molded as the one piece. Another sign of its bargain basement heritage.

The rims are budget, and 27", which is an outdated size. Nothing wrong with them, but not worth more than $80 a piece brand new from a good manufacturer (and these aren't either).

The chain is a 9-speed chain, and will fail sooner than a track or single-speed specific chain. I know from experience.

Speaking of not single speed or messenger, look at the frame geometry! I mean, most SS road bikes share with their track bike forebears the common goal of speed, and therefore the common features that facilitate hauling arse - rear wheel tucked right up against the seat post, short chain stays, high saddle, low bars, a wheelbase so short you'll clip your toe if you even think about turning. You couldn't achieve toe overlap on this bike with clown shoes. Frankie wasn't this relaxed.

And then there's the flat bar. Why? Was the prospect of three hand positions too mind-boggling? And where did those grips come from, your kid's trike?

I hope that Pro Max lever is non-linear compatible, or your braking power just halved again...

$500? Why not just save an extra $100 and buy an SE Lager brand new?

eBay is the devil people. Restoring old bikes is a noble thing, but to pay $500 for a bike that bears the kind of tenuous resembelance to an actual single-speed that a cave painting does to a gazelle is just plain dumb.