Repairing old bikes, some questions since it's been a long time for me
02-07-24, 08:27 AM
#26
Senior Member
Zaroba...you need to go to the Classic and Vintage section of Bikeforums. The "for sale" section will provide you with plenty of low cost options for fixing up your bike.
My Peugeot UO-8 with wider handlebar and $20 swap meet wheels. And a very used Brooks saddle that I brought back to life.
My Peugeot UO-8 with wider handlebar and $20 swap meet wheels. And a very used Brooks saddle that I brought back to life.
02-07-24, 08:32 AM
#27
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Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
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The frame certainly is big for me, I need the seat all the way down to ride it properly.
Based on my possibly outdated knowledge, when the pedal is all the way down my foot will sit flat with my knee only slightly bent.
Seat vs handlebar position is comfortable for me. Only issue is how narrow the handlebars are, but that's because I only started riding again 6 months ago after being off a bike for over 20 years so still getting used to things. So far just using my bikes to commute to/from work a mile away. Hopefully this year I can start riding more. I miss my younger days when I could (and loved) riding rough trails for dozens of miles on a mountain bike (and I still have that mountain bike, 30 years old now and still works great, but riding it on roads is like pushing a boulder).
Based on my possibly outdated knowledge, when the pedal is all the way down my foot will sit flat with my knee only slightly bent.
Seat vs handlebar position is comfortable for me. Only issue is how narrow the handlebars are, but that's because I only started riding again 6 months ago after being off a bike for over 20 years so still getting used to things. So far just using my bikes to commute to/from work a mile away. Hopefully this year I can start riding more. I miss my younger days when I could (and loved) riding rough trails for dozens of miles on a mountain bike (and I still have that mountain bike, 30 years old now and still works great, but riding it on roads is like pushing a boulder).
I had tried to do what you're doing with my 1970s Sears Free Spirit in the mid-1980s, but at that time, there wasn't really any upgrades I was capable of making that would have improved the bike. Ended up getting a Centurion Sport DLX for about $299. And yep--it was way better than anything I would have been able to do to my Free Spirit.
02-07-24, 09:57 AM
#28
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You would be better off working on your mountain bike than spending time and money on a bike that is probably too big and has been badly neglected. Sometimes it does a world of difference to go through an old MTB and clean and re-lubricate the bearings in the hubs and bottom bracket. Switch from knobby tires to city tires with a smooth tread. Replace rubber parts like the brake pads. None of that is very expensive. Both of my decades old mountain bikes are far better than any entry level bike sold today but they were quality, lightweight bikes to start with. I've refurbished many bikes, even ones scavenged from the trash, but would not have give that bike more than a glance because of its condition.
Likes For wheelreason:
02-07-24, 10:25 AM
#30
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How tall are you?
Last edited by alcjphil; 02-07-24 at 10:47 AM.
02-07-24, 09:47 PM
#31
Newbie
Thread Starter
Realized today that the trash picked bike I got that rear derailleur from in the above pics also has a front derailleur that might fit this bike, so will try that tomorrow.
And worst case scenario is that I spend money on modern parts for this bike and end up with spare parts if I do get a new road bike, so not a major loss.
Last edited by zaroba; 02-07-24 at 09:58 PM.
