B
BORT
Guest
I've been thinking about riding again after years. My bike is 15 years
old and hasn't seen daylight in at least 5 years. I'm wondering about
the tradeoffs of buying new components for this old frame vs. buying a
new, low-end bike from the bike shop. My antique is a hybrid Trek
chro-moly something-or-other (I've forgotten the model! ...but it was
3 digits).
Here are my options:
1. The local bike shop's entry point is in the $250~$300 range.
PRO: new tech, new bike
CON: wife's against spending, I'm not keen on full-blown research
2. Re-hang old frame with new parts.
PRO: new quality parts, possible on $75~$150
CON: need to research
3. Give in and buy a department store POS bike for $80.
PRO: probably OK for around the block with wife and kids
CON: oh the shame!, how long will it last?
My preferred choice is #2 -- ESPECIALLY if I can come in around the #3
budget!
Can anyone recommend a decent-quality components list that totals under
$100? Here's what I would most likely replace (in order):
1. derailleurs (front and rear)
2. all cables
3. brake pads
(up to here is essential. Following would be if I had money left)
4. front chainring (it came with those horrible eccentric chainrings.
I replaced one or two of them years ago.)
5. tires (since I'll have a good sized order if I go mailorder... but
probably buy local anyway)
better yet..
5a. tires and rims (but that seems like a budget-buster for sure)
I can find components from catalogs and online, but I would sure
appreciate your advice on what the smart money purchase is. Also, I'm
out of date on frame geometry and construction. Anything wrong with
the antique (I saw some guy on ebay selling a bike kinda like mine. He
was saying how great the chro-moly frames were and how "they just don't
make 'em this anymore!" Is there a reason?)?
TIA,
BORT
old and hasn't seen daylight in at least 5 years. I'm wondering about
the tradeoffs of buying new components for this old frame vs. buying a
new, low-end bike from the bike shop. My antique is a hybrid Trek
chro-moly something-or-other (I've forgotten the model! ...but it was
3 digits).
Here are my options:
1. The local bike shop's entry point is in the $250~$300 range.
PRO: new tech, new bike
CON: wife's against spending, I'm not keen on full-blown research
2. Re-hang old frame with new parts.
PRO: new quality parts, possible on $75~$150
CON: need to research
3. Give in and buy a department store POS bike for $80.
PRO: probably OK for around the block with wife and kids
CON: oh the shame!, how long will it last?
My preferred choice is #2 -- ESPECIALLY if I can come in around the #3
budget!
Can anyone recommend a decent-quality components list that totals under
$100? Here's what I would most likely replace (in order):
1. derailleurs (front and rear)
2. all cables
3. brake pads
(up to here is essential. Following would be if I had money left)
4. front chainring (it came with those horrible eccentric chainrings.
I replaced one or two of them years ago.)
5. tires (since I'll have a good sized order if I go mailorder... but
probably buy local anyway)
better yet..
5a. tires and rims (but that seems like a budget-buster for sure)
I can find components from catalogs and online, but I would sure
appreciate your advice on what the smart money purchase is. Also, I'm
out of date on frame geometry and construction. Anything wrong with
the antique (I saw some guy on ebay selling a bike kinda like mine. He
was saying how great the chro-moly frames were and how "they just don't
make 'em this anymore!" Is there a reason?)?
TIA,
BORT