Upgrading the Gears?

Meldog said:

I've been riding for a long time but very rarely and more the social rider. I have recently become very serious in biking and am working on losing weight by biking, plus I just love it. I have about a 9yr old Scwhinn (SP?) and the frame is in excellent shape but overall has been in storage for a long time. I was wondering how easy is it to upgrade the crankset, cassette, and front and rear derailleurs. They are just really old and a little rusty. I have really spent the last couple of weeks learning how things on my bike work and it seems like a project I could handle but I just was curious if this is something that is quite manageable. My goal eventually is to upgrade everyhting on it since a lot of it is quite old and probably just needs it but those are the big things. Thanks for the advice!!
Adam Metzler

What material is the frame made of?
What is the rear drop-out spacing? If it is aluminum and 126 mm your options are so severely limited that you might want to start with a new bicycle.
If it is steel and 126 mm you can safely spread it to the current 130 standard.
How are your wheels and brakes?
Once you start "upgrading" you must do it becuase you really want to and are going to get the pay back.
I suggest you make a list of items you need and their prices.
I suggest that you decide who will do the work and prices for labor and/or tools if you are going to do the work. As a comparison, look at a new bicycle equipped as you would like it.

Meldog said:

I've been riding for a long time but very rarely and more the social rider. I have recently become very serious in biking and am working on losing weight by biking, plus I just love it. I have about a 9yr old Scwhinn (SP?) and the frame is in excellent shape but overall has been in storage for a long time. I was wondering how easy is it to upgrade the crankset, cassette, and front and rear derailleurs. They are just really old and a little rusty. I have really spent the last couple of weeks learning how things on my bike work and it seems like a project I could handle but I just was curious if this is something that is quite manageable. My goal eventually is to upgrade everyhting on it since a lot of it is quite old and probably just needs it but those are the big things. Thanks for the advice!!
Adam Metzler

How good a mechanic are you? Aside from regular garage tools, you would need special tools for some bike parts. Like Dave said, make a list of the parts and the tools you need. Read the articles at the Park Tool website and Sheldon Brown to know about what you'll be tackling.
If the cost of upgrading (tools, parts, labor (free?)) is higher than a new bike with good parts, then I don't need to tell you what to do.

HTH

Thanks for the tips. I am pretty proficient at doing these kinds of things. I do a lot of inside work on computers and have recently been doing some work on cars so I couldn't see this being too much different in the ability level. Might sound wierd but how do I know what material the bike is made of and how do I figure out what the rear drop out spacing is and what is it. I've figured out what I want to do and have already looked up the prices of everything I need and it is far better to go with upgrading then buying new. Plus this is something I'm going to do in parts due to money. I will definately check out those websites though!! Thanks for the tips!!
Adam Metzler

If there's no label for the material, check it with a magnet.

Meldog said:

Thanks for the tips. I am pretty proficient at doing these kinds of things. I do a lot of inside work on computers and have recently been doing some work on cars so I couldn't see this being too much different in the ability level. Might sound wierd but how do I know what material the bike is made of and how do I figure out what the rear drop out spacing is and what is it. I've figured out what I want to do and have already looked up the prices of everything I need and it is far better to go with upgrading then buying new. Plus this is something I'm going to do in parts due to money. I will definately check out those websites though!! Thanks for the tips!!
Adam Metzler

The maget test for steel +

Sheldon Brown's page on frame spacing:

<http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html>

Meldog said:

Might sound wierd but how do I know what material the bike is made of and how do I figure out what the rear drop out spacing is and what is it.

The magnet works with steel. If the magnet doesn't stick, it's aluminum.