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news
Wiggins top tube detail (picture - London Cycle Exchange)Sky customer wins Wiggo's Tour de France bike - but has to sell it
A man who wanted to upgrade his Sky broadband speed got something rather quicker than he bargained – a Pinarello bike Sir Bradley Wiggins rode to victory in the 2012 Tour de France. But while some might envy Chris Green’s luck in winning it in a prize draw, financial realities mean he has to sell the Italian dream machine.
According to BBC Sport, Green “absent-mindedly ticked a couple of boxes on a letter about his internet service from Sky.”
To his surprise, two months late a box arrived containing a Pinarello Dogma 2, a signed Team Sky jersey, and a certificate of authenticity signed by team principal, Sir Dave Brailsford.
Green, aged 37, had recently bought himself a fairly decent bike, but decided to jump on the Pinarello for a quick blast on the roads near his home in Surrey.
"It was like going from an Escort to a Ferrari," he said. "It felt so light that when I got out of the saddle it was like there was nothing beneath me."
On reflection, it was a bit too much bike for him to handle, and his suggestion to his wife that it might look good on the wall was met with the response: "It's very nice, darling, but it's not going in the living room."
“I'd love to keep hold of it,” says Green. “But we're a single-income family with two kids. It's a no-brainer, really.”
The bike, equipped with Shimano Dura Ace Di2, Osymetric chain ring and Shimano Dura Ace C35 Prototype wheels, among other things – sadly, Wiggins’ SRM power meter wasn’t thrown in – is listed on pre-owned high-end bike specialists, London Cycle Exchange.
There, it says: “Offers more than £8,000 will be considered.”
The fact the bike is currently showing as ‘sold out’ suggests that a buyer has already met that price.
Anyone buying the bike for £8,000 will get themselves a considerable bargain. A fairly bog standard (okay, we're being relative here) replica would cost more than that. Okay this bike has been used, but it has been used to win the Tour de France by the first ever Briton to do so and has been looked after by some of the best mechanics in the business while doing so.
You can still view the listing, complete with photographs, here.
Part of the reason Green listed the bike on London Cycle Exchange, according to the BBC, is that the UK market for sports collectibles is dominated by football, with cycling very much a niche area.
Sports memorabilia expert from Bonhams in Chester told the BBC: "We have never sold a bike. We did once sell a Lance Armstrong jersey, though. I think it got nearly £600," he added.
Potential buyers are split into three categories; fans wanting a connection with the sport, investors looking for something that will rise in value – unlikely in the case of that Lance Armstrong jersey – and institutions such as museums or clubs.
But London-based Graham Budd, who trades in sports memorabilia, said cycling hasn’t traditionally been a category attracting much interest, although that is starting to change.
"There hasn't really been a market for cycling collectibles in this country, but we are just beginning to see one emerge," he said.
In fact, only last week, he sold his first bicycle: "We sold the bike that Erika Salumae [of Estonia] won the sprint on at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona," he revealed.
"It was a significant moment because the Berlin Wall had just come down and it was Estonia's first Olympic medal as an independent country.
"The auction was front-page news there, and all over the TV as well. She's a big star. It went for £8,000 to an Estonian buyer in the end."
The price that bike fetched, and the nationality of the buyer, are connected.
Salumae’s was the first gold medal won by an athlete competing for Estonia since the Berlin Games in 1936, and the country has only won two Summer Olympic gold medals since then, and four in the Winter Olympics.
The bike therefore occupies a significant place in Estonia’s sporting history. It is unique.
That, Budd said, creates issues regarding exclusivity when it comes to selling Wiggins’ Tour de France-winning bike, given that according to Sky, it is one of three Pinarello Dogma 2 bikes he used during the race.
"All collectors crave owning something that nobody else has," he explained.
Regarding the bike ridden by Wiggins, he said the problem was that “we are not sure how unique this bike is, and wherever you have the risk of multiples, value is diluted.
"It happens quite a lot with football shirts - players get given long-sleeve ones and short-sleeve ones, and some like to change into a fresh shirt at half-time. It can be difficult to prove that your shirt is THE shirt."
Budd himself should know that even when it is unique, Wiggins-related memorbilia may not tempt buyers. Last year, the throne the cyclist sat on outside Hampton Court Palace after winning Olympic Time Trial gold failed to reach its reserve in an auction held by Budd's firm.
One-off bikes can command high prices at auction, however. In 2009, a Trek Madone customised with a butterfly theme by artist Damien Hirst that Lance Armstrong rode in that year’s Tour de France raised $500,000 for the Livestrong charity at a sale at Sotheby’s in New York.
It was one of seven bikes given the custom treatment by famous artists and ridden by Armstrong in his comeback season that raised a combined $1.3 million at the auction.
A prototype Cinelli Laser Nostra fixed-gear bike was expected to fetch up to $20,000 when it went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in New York City last night in a charity auction on behalf of the AIDS charity, (RED).
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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63 comments
Whoa, hey, Tim this is crossing a line. I think everyone has made it clear that Keith's ire was misplaced; some people would have loved to keep the bike but nearly everyone agrees the winner has a right to sell it (even as a bike fan I couldn't justify it with student loans still to clear.)
Maybe Keith apology wasn't as fulsome as you would like but you are reading between the lines. This is the internet after all and no matter how 'respectable' you think this site should be a bit of flame can be expected now and then.
I myself pointed out that GK had been one a few 'trips' but we didn't delve into it. However a detailed analysis of his ebay feedback history proves nothing except that you are holding a grudge. We don't know what those items were or if he used his own money; and you have nothing to show that he didn't donate ebay sales to charity.
You really should stop now; not because you are arguing with a forum regular but because accusing people of fraud will get your posts deleted.
Wow, a great story ripped to pieces. What a shame
bikeboy76, I have taken your comments on board and removed the post.
There is no grudge held here. I am just sick of his attitude towards others, the holier than thou attitude and the berating of others.
As far as I am concerned it appears to be acceptable outwards but not when it is received.
As I said previously, it am not proud of my posts on this thread. I would certainly not usually post in this way. However I have made MY opinions clear and only responded in the way we have been spoken to (without the foul language).
Post deleted not to offend others who use this forum!
So the man was fortunate and won a great bike with Tour winning history. It's entirely up to him to decide what to do with it!
If he prefers to sell it, and the buyer mounts it on their wall because they believe it's a piece of history, so be it! Both people will be very happy with the outcome, I'm sure.
This is no different from a family selling an oil painting masterpiece to a museum, just a lot less money at stake...
I’ve got a pair of the great man’s bib shorts (I have, genuinely) believed to have been worn in the 2009 Tour. Has his name in and everything Offers anyone? - not the sort of thing you’d road test before selling on though. Also, as it turns out, not easy things to frame. WRT this bike – leave the poor man alone. It’s his to do what he wants with it. I’d sell it in an instant if I needed the cash and had nowhere to put it. Let’s hope it goes to a buyer that will put it on show rather than ride it under a dump truck. I’m glad that interest is developing in iconic cycling memorabilia. My LBS had one of Pantani’s tour winning climbing Bianchis on show last Christmas and I saw in the flesh one of the three Wiggo 2012 Pinarello s and a bunch of other famous rider’s bikes at an expo at the hotel I was staying in for the Maratona this summer. Both occasions it was a real buzz to get up close to them and reflect on the achievements of the people who rode them. Good luck to this bloke. Let’s hope he gets to spend some of the cash on a great bike that he’ll love being out and riding on.
I'd sell it and buy a Cervelo
I wouldn't ride it if my intention was to sell it. That would be the ultimate 'puppy dog sale' - You wouldn't be able to give it back once you'd got used to it.
FWIW, I'd ride it.. a lot.
Commenting on a personal capacity but - this reminds me a lot of this story from a story not far away about Cav's bike - I had completely forgotten it until you quoted me Simon (hope you and your son are well!)
http://road.cc/content/news/46241-cav-fan-flies-canada-collect-his-prize...
He can afford Sidi's too.
Also, isn't Wiggo basically a lanky streak of.....erm, 6 foot + tall.
Maybe the winner was five-foot f-all and couldn't get any SPD-R compatible platform shoes........
Philippe Gilbert is 6 foot yet rides a 51cm frame. Chances are that this isnt a huge frame.
As for getting ones knickers in a twist about what someone else does with a prize they have won is neither here nor there, unless its specifically written into the rules of the comp that they cannot transfer the prize.
For those that would sell, would you keep the jersey?
Probably raffle it off to a good cause, maybe chuck it in with the bike, maybe give it to a local bike shop or youth cycling club as "inspiration".
A bike is simply a tool to do a job. I don't get the adoration. The original pop-up Rapha shop/cafe in London (way before they opened in Soho) had a basement with about 15 bikes throughout the ages, including Indurain's and Armstrong's Tour-winning bikes and various other notable bikes, I think Cipollini's Cannondale was in there too.
It was interesting but if I miraculously won a "significant" bike like this chap has, I'd rather it went to a collection like that instead of hanging on my wall getting covered in dust.
How special is it really? Is the frame custom built or off the peg and adapted?
Did Wiggo win a stage on it? It's not his TT bike so I doubt it
I'd agree that Cav's title winning bike, Wiggo's or Hoy's Olympics winning bikes, Froome's Ventoux winner and Wiggo's yellow bike he rode across the line on the Champs Elysees are part of cycling history an should be preserved as such but this one? Not so sure. Can it be DIRECTLY linked to an iconic moment in the sport?
Im equally unsure what I'd have done with it either.
I am a 'cycling fan' but regularly enter competitions knowing I might cash in. Probike kit were offering their top 100 products, about 10 of which were pairs of tyres; would I be wrong to sell 9 of them? I entered a comp for a 7 grand bike, imagining the feather like elan of riding it knowing that I would probably sell it, get a £2K bike and pay off my overdraft; how cynical of me!
As many have pointed out it is a lottery and the winner did not have the justification to keep it; what good is memorabilia without the passion? If you want to see the tipping point between money and sentiment just watch Antiques Roadshow. The TRUE value of the bike is whatever someone will pay for it; buy it and donate it to a museum if you think it is truly significant.
GK I am glad you didn't 'hold back' because you have certainly stirred up some debate, at least. For someone how is very skint you do spend a lot of time going to cycling events. Wonderful example of self-trolling. Shame the comments don't start with GKAM said: anymore.
Do I? That is news to me....I've been to one sportive this year and I can't think of any other cycling events I've been to
That seems astoundingly cheap. At an auction I would assume it would go for double or triple that price
It's his bike and if he wants to sell it, that's his choice. Personally I think he's making a mistake, as much for the fact that it'll most likely appreciate in value as for this being a peice of cycling history. But then he'd need to insure it separately and if his wife really doesn't want to see it stuck on the wall, I can understand why it'd be easier just to sell it to someone with the money and the interest to invest in it.
He's a family man, not a mamily man.
I vote "Sell" and I hope he gets a damn good price for it.
Cost issues aside, I'd be thinking about the practicalities. Would I want to ride it or admire it?
Ride it: Would it fit? If so, would I be happy riding it, or would I feel like a learner driver farting around in an F1 car? If I rode it, then it's going to be subject to the usual wear and tear, not just remain pristine.
Admire it: Where would I put it? There really isn't anywhere to hang it on the wall in my 3-bed semi. I won't be selling the signed Netapp-Endura jersey I have, but that's because it will fit on the wall. I wouldn't just stash it in the shed, because then what's the point? If I was still single and had a big flash apartment with lots of wall space, then it would be a very different matter.
Ultimately, this would drive the decision for me. I do 'get' the history, but if it didn't fit me and I couldn't just hang it up, I'd sell it and buy 2 or 3 awesome bikes for £8k.
as a fan of cycling i'd sell it immediately to someone that cares about that that kind of history, buy a £4K bike and spend another £4K going to nice places with it and infuse it with my own memories and experiences and history
would that be ok?
I hope he murders it out with a proper shitty rat job, sticks some stunt nuts on it and starts busting out some BMX skills on it right outside Gkam's house.
And then sells it at Cash Convertors fifteen quid.
New societal moral code:
If you have valuable things you must never sell them because other people like them and want you to keep them.
Unusual.
I just won Guernica in a Picasso giveaway competition I entered in the Radio Times. Bugger. My house is about to be repossessed. Not that the canvas will fit in it anyway.
No house. My wife, a kid, a dog and a big painting worth £300M quid living in sheltered accommodation. Ace.
guernica_pablo_picasso.jpg
The best bit is that it is used, so doing a few miles on it won't devalue it (unless.... imagine binning it!) before eventually selling it, well that's what I would do
talk to anyone that gives away bikes on a regular basis and you'll learn that most of them end up on ebay
Sell it...I'd rather spend the money on doing things with the family and kids than have a bike up on the wall!
Quite happy, none of my relatives would fit any of my bikes never mind ride them so yes, I'd actually expect them to sell them off! The money they made could be used to better their lives in other ways - maybe buy a bike that fits them! Bad analogy.
And if I won Wiggins' bike, it'd be straight on ebay (well maybe not ebay, more likely offer it to a museum or a collector), I can't stand Pinarello! Fugly bikes.
It's a competition, he won it fair and square, he can do what he wants with it. Get over yourselves. It's not really any different to Team Sky auctioning it off themselves.
Wait a second here... its his bike right? He won it so its his right? So he can do with it what ever he damn well pleases... he doesnt need your approval to sell something he legally owns.
Sure it would be nice to have a bike like that but I personally dont think Pinarellos look actually that good (these forks man!) and if I could get an extra 10 grand out of it... hell yeah Id sell it! (and then buy myself a bike I actually want to ride)
Competitions are run for a reason.
Marketing.
This fella entered the competition and in return Sky get a marketing opportunity. They have got a damn sight more than 8 grand of marketing/ promotion out of the competition or else they wouldn't have run it.
Its a competition and this fella won a prize in a game of chance and as in almost all competitions 'the house always wins'.
Boo hoo for Sky if this fella wants to sell - my heart bleeds for the multi gazillion dollar mega corporation.
Im sure if this bloke was a rich single man he would have kept it but at the end of the day the cash is more important to him and his family than some bits of carbon and metal.
He and his family get the cash, some rich person gets a bit of history, Sky get their marketing opportunity.
Everyone is a winner.
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