Repair or replace whole bike?

[Werehatrack]

On Sat, 09 Dec 2006 10:09:19 GMT, Michael Press <[email protected]> may
have said:

>* Smidgeon: the smallest increment allowed by the
>mechanism.

I thought a smidgeon was the stain on the pavement resulting from the
compaction of an incautious rock dove by a flock of SUVs.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Bellsouth Ijit 2.0]

"Donga" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 wrote:
> I have a '71 Raleigh Record I love, but just about
>> had it with the crappy original Huret Alvit shifters and derailleurs.
>> They
>> can be replaced, and thought about replacing the original cottered cranks
>> as
>> well, but I've decided to turn the bike into a singlespeed, and get a new
>> bike.
>
> Snap! Is it the grey colour still? This was my first 'racing' bike,
> that I bought with my own hard-earned pennies at the age of 11, and I
> loved it so much. I'm struggling to remember what happened to it -
> stolen I think and replaced with a custom jobbie about 8 years later -
> but I don't believe you are still riding it!
>
> Donga
>

I have an "electric blue" one. Actually, I think it's '70, and it's made in
Ireland.

 

[Bellsouth Ijit 2.0]

"Bellsouth Ijit 2.0" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Donga" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 wrote:
>> I have a '71 Raleigh Record I love, but just about
>>> had it with the crappy original Huret Alvit shifters and derailleurs.
>>> They
>>> can be replaced, and thought about replacing the original cottered
>>> cranks as
>>> well, but I've decided to turn the bike into a singlespeed, and get a
>>> new
>>> bike.
>>
>> Snap! Is it the grey colour still? This was my first 'racing' bike,
>> that I bought with my own hard-earned pennies at the age of 11, and I
>> loved it so much. I'm struggling to remember what happened to it -
>> stolen I think and replaced with a custom jobbie about 8 years later -
>> but I don't believe you are still riding it!
>>
>> Donga
>>
>
> I have an "electric blue" one. Actually, I think it's '70, and it's made
> in Ireland.
>

Sorry, "Competition Blue" is the color.

 

[wiscojohn]

Do what your heart tells you, if it's your favorite and has a classic
feel you don't think you can get from new bikes, I'de say do what you
can (within reason) to hold on to it!

-J



Rex Kerr wrote:
> The bike in question: (a slightly out of date description of the bike
> in question)
> http://www.twowheels.us/bicycles/nishiki.html
>
> The bike is a mid 70's Nishiki Olympic 12.
>
> I've been having problems lately with alignment issues, spoke tension,
> and bending axles, and I'm now out of spare parts and cannot ride the
> bike. I've scoured the bike shops and thrift stores to find a bike to
> part out, or just a 126 mm alloy wheel, without luck, so now I'm
> considering buying a new wheelset from Sheldon Brown.
>
> Harris Cyclery has a 27" 126mm wheelset with cartridge bearings (side
> question, how much harder are they to maintain -- will I need special
> tools?) or the same hub with a 700C rim (which I know the brakes will
> reach, I've done it before in a pinch). Either way it's still a
> freewheel, so I still risk bending axles. Another option is to just
> fight it and put a 130mm wheel in with a 9 speed cassette (which I've
> also done before, so I know that it can be done -- though 9 speed
> spacing is a bit close to accurately shift with the existing Suntour
> friction barend shifters and 7 speed tourney megarange derailer) , but
> I'm starting to lose clearance for the bolt heads from my fender and
> rack mounts (the holes are not threaded, so the heads are inside of the
> dropouts).
>
> So, what do I do?
>
> Pro for fixing it:
> * I ride this bike far more than any of my others, it's by far my
> favorite (though my new fixie is getting a lot of love lately),
> it's the most comfortable, etc.
> * A new bike wouldn't have the same ride quality and geometry
> as the old steel road bikes that I like so much
> * Total cost is cheaper
> * I still get to pretend to be a retro-grouch with my friction
> shifters,
> cotton tape, etc -- wouldn't look quite right on a modern frame.
>
> Cons:
> * It's gonna cost me about $300 (including the new freewheel
> I need, tires, which I probably need anyway, if I go the 700C
> route, etc) by the time I get all of the parts I need to get it back
> into good riding shape.
> * It's still an old bike that still won't have or accept modern
> components
> * What else is about worn out? Will probably want a new BB soon,
> how long is the crankset gonna last? Recabling is probably not too
> far in the future, how long will the old diacomp center pull brakes
> last? Is the straddle cable on the verge of snapping? Those are
> hard to find!
>
> If you suggest fixing it:
> * Should I go 27" or 700C? I'm inclined to say 700C to allow for
> more tire options, but that'll make it harder to replace the brakes
> (if needed) in the future since they'll need to have even more
> reach than they already need.
> * Would you stick with 126mm and freewheel, or go 130 and
> cassette? The local framebuilder didn't respond to my query
> about spreading it to avoid difficult roadside tire repairs. 7
> speeds
> is plenty for me, but how much longer will I be able to buy these
> things?
>
> If you suggest replacing the whole bike:
> * What model would be similar to what I've got? I've lusted over the
> Trek 520 in the past, but $1200+ is a bit much. Even more so the
> Rivendell and the like (though Grant may disagree that there are
> any that qualify as 'and the like'), but they're even MORE
> expensive.
> * How much should I expect to spend? Anything decent for < $1000
> that has good clearance and braze-ons for big tires, fenders, racks,
> etc?
>
> Thanks!
> -Rex

 

[Donald Gillies]

"* * Chas" <[email protected]> writes:

>I replaced and repacked the bearings on one of my Campy Record front hubs
>last night. The threads are partially stripped where the locknut meets the
>washer. I priced new axles today - $30 to $40!

These prices only make sense if they are NOS Campagnolo. Wheel
mfg. makes these axles, and the price should be $15 for quality
similar to campagnolo (you'll need to file away a tab from your lock
washer, however.) If your LBS is charging $30 for wheels mfg axles,
you don't just need a new axle - you need a new LBS.

For a rock-bottom price, try :

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...nd-Axle&tc=Hollow-Axle-Sets&item_id=AP-10136S

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA, USA

 

[* * Chas]

"Donald Gillies" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "* * Chas" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> >I replaced and repacked the bearings on one of my Campy Record front
hubs
> >last night. The threads are partially stripped where the locknut meets
the
> >washer. I priced new axles today - $30 to $40!
>
> These prices only make sense if they are NOS Campagnolo. Wheel
> mfg. makes these axles, and the price should be $15 for quality
> similar to campagnolo (you'll need to file away a tab from your lock
> washer, however.) If your LBS is charging $30 for wheels mfg axles,
> you don't just need a new axle - you need a new LBS.
>
> For a rock-bottom price, try :
>
>
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...nd-Axle&tc=Hollow-Axle-Sets&item_id=AP-10136S
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA, USA

None of the half dozen or so better LBS that I called or visited had any
Campy front axles in stock. A number of places had Campy rear axles but
not front ones. They all said that they could order them - for a price.
The $30-$40 prices were for original Campy axles off the internet. AFAIK,
these axles are still being used in many recent Campy hubs, maybe even
current front hubs.

I have a bunch of cheapy axles but they're 9mm x 1.0mm not the Campy 9mm x
26 TPI threads. The old NR hubs are the are the only Campy components that
I really like so I want to keep them original.

I picked up several Campy front axles on eBay. Front axles rarely go bad
but for what they cost new I figure it wont hurt to have some spares.

Chas.