In the last couple of years there were a few times when I wanted to leave a bike somewhere for a week or two. Generally low risk areas, but still when a bike is left for that long, some people think it is abandoned even if it is locked up. This is not for bike touring, it is for shuttling a vehicle before or after a backpacking trip. And I have used an old Bridgestone bike I got at a garage sale for $5 USD a decade ago for that purpose.
The Bridgestone had been stored outside for over a decade when I bought it, it looked like this.
After I put a couple days of work into it, and maybe $50 in parts, it looked like this.
But, I would hate to lose it, it has been my errand bike for the past decade. So, I get a bit nervous about leaving it somewhere for a week or two.
Last summer someone discarded this for the garbage. This is pre-index shifting, and old enough that there is not a single bolt on it that uses an allen wrench. Has a five speed freewheel. I am guessing late 1970s or early to mid 1980s for vintage. Chromed steel rims. One piece steel crank. Three piece hubs.
I brought it home, sent photos to a friend that volunteers time at a charity and asked if they might want it. He said bikes like that get recycled for the metal.
So, this will be my new throw away bike for when I have to leave a bike somewhere for a week or two where someone might steal it.
I had to replace two cables and the rear derailleur. I am not sure if I will trust those tires or not, so far they do hold air, but I would hate to pick up speed on a downhill and have a blow out so I will probably put other tires on it, which unfortunately will make it more valuable.
I still have to decide if the chain is recoverable or if I need to buy a new 5 speed chain.
But I think this will be my new throw away bike. Unfortunately, the saddle will be about two inches too low for me, so don't want to do any really long rides on it. I might have to buy a used seatpost for it if it is too uncomfortable.
When I leave it somewhere for a week or two, it will have a really inexpensive lock on it, I would hate to come back later and find one of my more expensive locks was cut.