As always acting as enablers to your expensive passion, we’ve put together this new feature highlighting some of the very best bargains and oddities we’ve spotted on eBay.
This week we’ve got some go-fast wheels, another sick cycling-friendly wagon, a rare groupset, a vintage jersey and a £600 DVD box set.
And just in case you missed our last edition of eBay watch list, you can find it here.
- Six tips to guarantee your bike gets the best price on eBay
- How to buy a used or second-hand bike online
ENVE 3.4 carbon clincher rims on Chris King R45 hubs
If you’re after a super-fast, all-round carbon wheelset for your pew-pew go-fast-bike, you could do far worse than these practically new ENVE wheels.
Recently rebuilt by UK ENVE distributor Saddleback, the 1,416g wheels are claimed to have “only been ridden for approximately 800 miles in good weather”.
At £2,200, the wheels are hardly cheap, but present a roughly £900 saving on RRP, so are a ‘cheap’ way to get some made in the USA fastness into your life.
1984 Ford Granada Ghia X estate
Just get a load of this Ford Granada.
Right now, I’m struggling to think of something that possesses this level of retro cool for the dosh — let alone the fact this estate model’s cavernous boot space could make it the ultimate bike #swagon.
The Ghia X was a range-topping model back in ’84, so you’ll be surrounded by modern luxuries such as power-assisted steering, electric windows and even heated seats.
Its 2.8-litre V6 powers the rear wheels via an automatic gearbox in a combination that’s ripe for some motorway wafting — that or some very childish skids.
Like most cars of this age it has problems, although the owner has been kind enough to clarify a few of those in the eBay listing. But don’t think about that. Think instead about how it will not require another MOT test for at least 12 months and how handsome it’ll look on your driveway.
NOS 1983 Campagnolo 50th anniversary groupset
The year before the world was graced with the aforementioned Ford Granada, Campagnolo celebrated its 50th birthday, releasing this ridiculously lush, limited edition Super Record groupset.
The beautiful groupset is brand new, having never been fitted to a bike in the nearly 35 years years since it was first purchased.
The titanium pedals, gold inserts and luxurious display case separated this from the ‘run of the mill’ Record groupset of the time.
The groupset also harks back to a time when you would get a seatpost, headset and even a seat binder as part of a groupset.
This is remarkable as it illustrates that you could pretty much guarantee any bike of the time would have a 27.2mm seatpost, a 1-inch threaded headset and either an Italian or BSA threaded bottom bracket — a far cry from today’s state of affairs, where navigating bottom bracket standards alone is a nightmare.
Unsurprisingly, such a rare treat commands a serious price, coming in at an eye watering £5,500. At least postage is free.
1970s Italian national cycling team wool jersey
The eBay store selling this jersey seems to specialise in all manner of retro sportswear, but this vintage Italian national cycling team long sleeve jersey stands out as possibly the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
Despite being a little tired, with a big repair to one of the arms, the jersey is still priced at £222, but I personally think the cool-factor it would afford you makes it worth every penny.
I cannot express how much I really, really want this for pre-race warm-ups and general posing, so hands off until I work out how I can justify such a spurious purchase.
Marco Pantani DVD boxset
Continuing with the Italian theme, we have for your perusal this astronomically priced DVD boxset.
Almost 14 years since his death, ‘Il Pirata’ continues to have a curious hold on the cycling world and this six-bloody-hundred pound box set perhaps illustrates this best.
The eight DVDs contain a staggering amount of footage of highlights from Pantani’s career, so is probably one for the most hardcore fans only.
