Author Topic: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .  (Read 5348 times)

GuitarStv

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When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« on: October 12, 2012, 09:06:27 AM »
My trusty old big box store mountain bike has been used/abused over the last twelve or so years that I've had it.  My old approach with biking was to use the bike until stuff broke, then replace it as best I could . . . so I didn't really maintain the bike much per se.  While I'm taking much better care of it (and noticing incredible improvements in it's performance . . . holy crap did it make a huge difference applying WD-40 and then wiping it off and greasing the chain) I'm likely going to have to replace a bunch of stuff on the bike over the next year or so . . .

The front derailleur (broken when I was hit by a car a couple years ago), front and rear brake levers (years of rust and neglect are starting to take their toll), rear shifter (won't hold position properly no matter how hard I screw it down), right pedal (broke a chunk and the reflector off of this . . . it's still workable, but likely numbered in the days I can use it), rear rim (bent out of true . . . I've adjusted the spokes so that it's a lot closer to straight - and is no longer rubbing the tire against the frame, but there's still an annoying little wobble I can't quite get rid of).

I'm wondering how you tell if it's worth putting the money into replacement parts for these things, or if I should just buy a new (or used) better quality bike and start fresh from there.  The frame that I have still seems solid, but (having never used a bike worth more than 200$) am I just throwing good money after bad?

Bakari

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2012, 09:31:47 AM »
Having worked as a bike mechanic for 5 years (and mind you - this was in a tiny commuter oriented publicly funded shop, so its not like we were bike snobs or racers or anything) it is my opinion that a big-box store bike is not worth its cost when its brand new.  You could get a used bike as old as the one you have now, and it will ride better than your current one did when you first got it.  Further, it would probably be cheaper to get a new (to you, but actually used) bike than what a shop would charge you to get a neglected big box bike into good condition again (if you can find one  to do it at all - most shops I know would refuse to work on the bike you described - they don't want the legal liability of having been the last one to touch it!)

I wrote this for you: http://biodieselhauling.blogspot.com/2012/01/buying-bikes-from-craigslist.html

HumanAfterAll

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2012, 11:17:02 AM »
I agree with Bakari.  Trade in that BSO (bicycle shaped object) for something that was originally sold in a bike shop.  It's not worth repairing big box store bikes.

YK-Phil

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2012, 01:12:14 PM »
I guess it really depends on your use for a bike. If you need a high end bike for whatever sports you are into, then you would probably need to invest in a new one. On the other hand, if you are like me and use your bike as a tool, to commute or run errands instead of using a car, investing in a little time to fix your bike by yourself is worth the effort. In my case, I basically stripped down an old 1970s 10-speed bike and retrofitted it into a single-speed, coaster-brake workhorse, which I use summer and winter alike (I live in Calgary, winter is already here as of yesterday...). A single-speed bike has very few components that will require maintenance and adjustments, and is a great way to bike effortlessly around town if you gear it properly for the type of environment you live in, plus it is a cheap way to add the cool factor into your commute. It takes a little time to get used to it but after a few weeks, you will surprise yourself passing people riding 30ish-speed bikes, even on long hill climbs!

GuitarStv

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2012, 02:05:12 PM »
Having worked as a bike mechanic for 5 years (and mind you - this was in a tiny commuter oriented publicly funded shop, so its not like we were bike snobs or racers or anything) it is my opinion that a big-box store bike is not worth its cost when its brand new.  You could get a used bike as old as the one you have now, and it will ride better than your current one did when you first got it.  Further, it would probably be cheaper to get a new (to you, but actually used) bike than what a shop would charge you to get a neglected big box bike into good condition again (if you can find one  to do it at all - most shops I know would refuse to work on the bike you described - they don't want the legal liability of having been the last one to touch it!)

I wrote this for you: http://biodieselhauling.blogspot.com/2012/01/buying-bikes-from-craigslist.html


Hmmm . . . interesting article.  My bike doesn't have a once piece crank, but I'm pretty sure that it's got the flat metal arms and rectangular brake pads you mention.  After skimming through the local craigslist ads, the whole process of finding a new bike promises to be long and frustrating.


I guess it really depends on your use for a bike. If you need a high end bike for whatever sports you are into, then you would probably need to invest in a new one. On the other hand, if you are like me and use your bike as a tool, to commute or run errands instead of using a car, investing in a little time to fix your bike by yourself is worth the effort. In my case, I basically stripped down an old 1970s 10-speed bike and retrofitted it into a single-speed, coaster-brake workhorse, which I use summer and winter alike (I live in Calgary, winter is already here as of yesterday...). A single-speed bike has very few components that will require maintenance and adjustments, and is a great way to bike effortlessly around town if you gear it properly for the type of environment you live in, plus it is a cheap way to add the cool factor into your commute. It takes a little time to get used to it but after a few weeks, you will surprise yourself passing people riding 30ish-speed bikes, even on long hill climbs!

I'd like the option to get a faster bike for longer rides/commutes, but since the wife and I work at the same place and both carpool a commute is not likely to become a common occurrence for me for a while.  Here in Scarborough (Ontario) we've got some pretty bumpy roads and a fair number of hills to climb, but I'm using the three hardest gears on the rear derailleur about 90% of the time (partly because the rear gear shifter slipped ages ago and I haven't got around to adjusting it back).  I've been using the bike to haul our groceries and do all of our errands so that the car is only for work/costco trips for about a month now.  Maybe I'll give it another couple months and see if I can make due with what I've got.  Probably wouldn't want to be dragging an expensive bike through the slush and salt anyway.

Bakari

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2012, 04:43:55 PM »
If you need a high end bike for whatever...

...I basically stripped down an old 1970s 10-speed bike

I wasn't recommending a "high-end bike".  I was recommending something more along the lines of an old 1970s 10-speed, which I think would still probably be better quality, lighter, faster, and last longer than a bike from WalMart or ToyRUs.

GuitarStv

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2012, 12:47:05 PM »
Well, it's been a week of looking and I can't find a bike like you recommend for anything near 200$ on craigslist.  It seems like 350 - 600$ is the range that decent used bikes pop up at, and cyclocross / touring models (which I would really prefer) are relatively rare.

I'm leaning more towards trying to find cheap parts to fix up my old mountain bike.  A few hours of messing with the derailleurs has yielded me the use of 10 gears, and I'm hoping to have the full compliment of 15 by the end of the weekend.

Bakari

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2012, 04:39:15 PM »
From what I've heard, it depends a lot on the local market - some places CL sellers think their bikes are worth more than they really are.
Its CL, so you can always try negotiating (within reason) - Perhaps tell someone something along the lines of "I know you asking price is $xxx.xx, but if you don't sell it within the next week or two, let me know, I am willing to pay $yyy.yy"

Yeah, cyclocross and touring models are rare (everywhere), and you shouldn't expect to get one of those for $200 - but it would be worth the price premium as long as you really ride it

wagonwheeljr

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2012, 06:27:45 PM »
Nashbar is having a sell. They have a couple nice "Fixies" for about $200- $350 as long as you don't mind partial assembly.

GuitarStv

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2012, 06:38:58 PM »
Bike shipping/customs to Canada eats a lot of the savings unfortunately.

capital

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2012, 12:02:00 PM »
For all-around fun and utility, something between a cyclocross bike & a touring bike is nice, and for low-maintenance fun, a fixed-gear is great. I have both because biking is a hobby of mine. Ten-speeds are great, but vintage road bikes have gotten quite fashionable and aren't nearly the deal they were a few years back, and there are far less of them out there fresh from 30 years in the basement or garage.  The brakes, derailleurs, and rack mounts can be wanting as well, especially when you get down to the sub-$200 level in a big city.

The real bang for the commuter or utility cyclist's buck is in the vintage rigid mountain bike. You can get really high quality components at a great price because today's mountain biker generally wants disc brakes & suspension, which these bikes lack. But they still have great brakes, wide-ranging drivetrains, and a sturdy lightweight frame. Knobby tires can slow them down, but you can get slicks for cheap, and one often wants to replace the tires on a used bike anyway.

Here's an assortment of nice used mountain bikes at very low prices in the Toronto area:
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3337690857.html
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3294547956.html
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3356265154.html
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3340028955.html
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3294389648.html
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/bik/3338482167.html
I found them by searching for "mountain" or "MTB" or "hybrid" on Toronto Craigslist. They're all from good-quality brands, generally have Chro-moly steel or aluminum frames and have mid-to-high-grade Shimano parts. A major consideration when buying a used bike is how it fits-- does the seat go high enough for you, and are the handlebars in a comfortable position?

If you want to ride through the winter, get a set of full fenders to keep most of the slush & salt off the frame & drivetrain. They're around $30. Here's an example:
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Hardcore-Fender-Black/dp/B003GM309W/ref=sr_1_27?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1351101674&sr=1-27&keywords=mountain+bike+fender
« Last Edit: October 24, 2012, 12:12:50 PM by ehgee »

jawisco

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Re: When to get a new bike vs replacements . . .
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2012, 07:09:04 PM »
It won't hurt you to learn to fix your bike - those skills are good to have.

But I think Bakari is right on about finding a better bike - it really is more fun to have a decent bike.

Ehgee is also offering great advice - those bikes he is talking about will last forever and offer a good ride - you can even put on drop handlebars and have something approximating a touring bike...