I’ve been working on my own bikes for decades. I bought a used bike recently and it’s been a nightmare. I know how to adjust a rear derailleur, but this one just won’t work. I suspect whoever last owned it did something like replace the indexed shifter with an incompatible model. In the past I’ve also had to deal with wheels that were wonky. I have trued wheels before, and I’m pretty good at taking a wheel that’s slightly out of true and getting it back to straight. But, fixing a wheel that’s significantly taco-shaped is a whole different matter. Plus, most people don’t have a truing stand.
I also didn’t realize just how worn some of the parts were on this bike before I got it. The chain just snapped while I was pedalling up a steep hill. I took a closer look and some of the chainrings are pretty worn, so I might have to replace them too. Plus the brakes need a re-work, and the cables should all be replaced.
By the time I’m done with this bike, I probably will have replaced the chain, chain rings, brake pads, cables, tires, tubes, and maybe an indexed shifter pedal. Even after buying all those parts it will probably have been cheaper than buying a new bike, but if you count the hours and hours of labour, I’m not sure I’m coming out ahead. And, what’s really frustrating is that with a new bike you get to feel it while it’s at its best right after you bought it. With this one, every time I take it out, I realize there’s something else wrong with it, and sometimes I end up walking home, like I did when the chain snapped.
I have to disagree with that.
I’ve been working on my own bikes for decades. I bought a used bike recently and it’s been a nightmare. I know how to adjust a rear derailleur, but this one just won’t work. I suspect whoever last owned it did something like replace the indexed shifter with an incompatible model. In the past I’ve also had to deal with wheels that were wonky. I have trued wheels before, and I’m pretty good at taking a wheel that’s slightly out of true and getting it back to straight. But, fixing a wheel that’s significantly taco-shaped is a whole different matter. Plus, most people don’t have a truing stand.
I also didn’t realize just how worn some of the parts were on this bike before I got it. The chain just snapped while I was pedalling up a steep hill. I took a closer look and some of the chainrings are pretty worn, so I might have to replace them too. Plus the brakes need a re-work, and the cables should all be replaced.
By the time I’m done with this bike, I probably will have replaced the chain, chain rings, brake pads, cables, tires, tubes, and maybe an indexed shifter pedal. Even after buying all those parts it will probably have been cheaper than buying a new bike, but if you count the hours and hours of labour, I’m not sure I’m coming out ahead. And, what’s really frustrating is that with a new bike you get to feel it while it’s at its best right after you bought it. With this one, every time I take it out, I realize there’s something else wrong with it, and sometimes I end up walking home, like I did when the chain snapped.