FROM EMAILS I RECEIVE PERTAINING TO MY BIKE COLLECTION I CAN TELL THAT THE IMPRESSION IS THAT I AM "LOADED" SO TO SPEAK. THAT COULDN'T BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH AND BECAUSE I HAVE INVESTED IN THE COLLECTION I AM USUALLY BROKE. I HAVE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TRYING TO FINISH UP THE BIKES I HAVE WITH AN OCCASIONAL DETOUR TO ADD ANOTHER BIKE HERE AND THERE WHICH TRANSLATES TO LEAN TIMES. I MENTION THIS SO NEW COLLECTORS WILL KNOW THAT RESTORING OLD BIKES CAN BE AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION AND THEY SHOULD LOOK AROUND TO GET AN IDEA WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO BEFORE INVESTING A PART OF THE FAMILY WEALTH. KEEP AN EYE ON PARTS VALUES AND CHECK AUTHORIZED PARTS SITES LIKE BIKE BANDIT SO YOU WILL HAVE AN IDEA JUST WHAT THEY COST. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT CONDITION LEVEL YOU CAN AFFORD WHEN YOU DECIDE TO GET THE BIKE.