Another Bicycle Sold!

We bought Nana’s Liv Alight Hybrid bike back in November 2020, right in the smack of Covid. That was when everyone was buying bicycles and cycling and so did we. We paid $560 for the 2nd hand bike, which the seller claimed that she had bought it just a few months ago. While it had been 4.5 years since we bought the bike, Nana probably cycled on it less than 20 times. The bike did go for a RI trip though, bcos a cyclist friend loaned it once. 

Trying to cycle as a family is a big logistic task and even more difficult as the kids grow older and have colorful social lives. Our last family cycling trip, which we amazing did 50km was sometime back in 2024. Ever since then (and a long time before that), Nana’s bike has been sitting locked outside the house. We sold Zaky’s hybrid bike for $70 in March 2025, when we bought his bike (also 2nd hand) for almost $200. He outgrew the hybrid and it was also in a not great condition due to the lack of maintenance. 

Given that we will be moving in a few months’ time, Daddy Lim and I are commencing our decluttering mission. We had recently sold our stock wheels for $30 and $45 (my and his). We changed to the Hunt wheels shortly after we bought our roadies and that was back in 2018. While the prices are on the lower side, we figured that we will just keep storing them in the storeroom and do the same when we bring them to the new house and eventually throw them away. A little money is better than nothing. 

With the same mindset, I thought of selling Nana’s hybrid bike bcos it is so underutilised. Keeping it longer will just lead to bigger depreciation. I listed it on Carousel for $380. I didn’t think that it would fetch such a high price given that it is almost a 5 YO bike. Yet again, it is one of the “cheaper” bikes on the platform. 

There was little interest and some lowballers. Then, a serious buyer asked if I was willing to let go for $300. He is intending to buy the bike for his wife and ask about the condition of the paint work. I said ok to the offer and he asked to view the bike.

While it is not obvious in the pictures, there were quite some marks/ stains on the bike frame. I didn’t even know if they were stains or scratches. Bcos he asked, I became conscious and made an attempt to clean up the bike on Sunday night.

Armed with degreaser, then some car wash spray, then added on the hand soap and finally down to Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner, I was wiping and cleaning for a good 30 mins. At 1st, I couldn’t remove many of the marks and half suspected that those were scratches. Eventually, Mr Muscle turned out to be the winner, alongside an old toothbrush. By the time I was done, I was so impressed and told Daddy Lim that I should charged $350 - the extras would be my labor cost. It was seriously hard work.

The buyer came to view the bike and bought it. My hard work didn’t go to waste! This $300 will go into my foldie fund. I am intending to get a new foldie to ride to work when we move. Hohoho. 

Mummy Lim