There are two bicycle recyclers near where I live. One is privately operated by someone who is often erratic to say the least. I no longer visit that shop, which is too bad because there were many interesting finds there. I got myself a Syncros Powerlite fork for $10. The place is full of little gems if you take the time to sort through it all. I think most of the bikes come from police auctions. It has been in business for many years, but is in decline due to cantankerous the behavior of the proprietor.
The other one is professionally run with municipal assistance. It operates as a charity to help people do their own repair work, and to help unemployed people develop skills in bicycle repair. I really like the place and the people, but occasionally I have to deal with the organizational politics of the place. The two different organizations share the same stock of donated bikes, and use them for different purposes. I was accused recently playing one side against the other and now I am in their bad books. They have some real gems that they sell for next to nothing. You have to go in their regularly to catch them as the stock turns over very quickly, especially in the summertime.
Even if I don't buy anything, I enjoy just poking around to see what I might find. They currently have a 1986(I think) Rocky Mountain Sherpa with original components, in very nice condition. It's not a real collectible, but it is still a nice old machine at the right price.
