In a fit of apartment cleaning on a rainy Saturday, I posted an ad on Craig's List to sell my 1993 not-ridden-since-the-2002-bus-strike bike that was taking up valuable space in the kitchen. I got a few bites, but no takers. I re-posted the ad this morning and got five replies in one hour. Not surprisingly, people browse the internet looking for used bikes during the work day lull from 2-3pm.

A novice to Craig's List, I was surprised that most of the email responses were less than ten words:

hi. still have it?
women's mountainbike, still available? thanks
When can I see the bike? I live in Astoria
interested in bike

And this email is from the person who bought the bike (the first respondent):

please call me at (phone number), I am in woodside, can go get it any time you want.

I bought the bike shortly after college, making it my first big purchase with money from my first full-time job. It had a good life. I took it trail riding, over miles of bike paths on the streets of St. Paul and around the lakes of Minneapolis. When my car was in the shop in Richmond, it transported me to a cat-sitting obligation a couple of miles away. I wanted to see my Specialized Hardrock Ultra go to a good home.

Because of the bike's small frame, I was expecting someone who looked like me to buy the bike: woman, under 5'2", youngish, sporty. But when the first interested party called in, it was a guy who said he had a van and could come right away. My first thought...chop shop. My second thought...my poor bike! But a little cash and more space were good motivators. I told him to come by at 5:00.

I'm pretty sure I sold my bike to a Chinese food delivery guy. And in the end I am actually quite proud to contribute to his livelihood. Like typical New Yorkers, my husband and I order takeout several times a month. And I'm always amazed how quickly it arrives. No doubt due to good bikes.