[bikeqld] Bikeshop... "you've flogged it"

[Peter Whittle]

I guess that's up to you Yani, and how much of a financial analyst, home
mechanic and/or consumer you are.

 

Very often, bad gear changes start with dirty and/or worn chain, then worn
out or dry cable. I won't assume you keep these clean and new - so try it
out. If you've left the chain too long and stretched it a lot, then you will
have stuffed the cassette and maybe a chainring or two.

 

If the frame is fine, you can make it a decent bike again, and even upgrade
to better brakes, better gears, or whatever is stuffed. What exactly is
stuffed? Chances are it's brake pads, cables and housing, chain, cassette
and the middle ring only, and these are inexpensive on lower/mid range
bikes, if you shop well - and they are consumables that you should be
counting on replacing periodically anyway (along with oil). A couple of
bearings too maybe, but if you start getting into new headset, new crankset,
hubs or wheels (mostly from lack of maintenance), then the price mounts up
and maybe it's best to turn it over to an enthusiast or someone who needs a
clunker.

 

Do you pay for repairs, or hunt down the parts and fix it yourself? This
will make a large difference to the price, since parts and labour can cost a
lot. Some repairs like a bearing are trickier than others, but websites like
Park Tools make these things much easier to handle than if you have no idea.
Some online shops are really great to deal with, cheap and fast with good
ranges and stock.

 

If you like shiny stuff, I'm sure you can drive a good bargain on a new bike
- my local place is throwing in helmet and shoes and kit at the moment -
always some special on, or just go for 20% off the price.

 

Pete

 

 

From: bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au [mailto:bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au]
On Behalf Of Yani
Sent: Wednesday, 4 February 2009 5:08 PM
To: 'BikeQld'
Subject: [bikeqld] Bikeshop... "you've flogged it"

 

Yani - Can you have a look at why my gear change is impossible to tune?

 

Bikeshop - "You have flogged it, how far have you been riding, it needs new
gears all round, a chain and likely new bearing real soon. It's reached its
duty limit."

 

 

So much for my Giant mountain bike.

 

 

Now the question is do I pass the bike on to someone who wants a cycle for
the garage and get a new one or do I spent $300 on repairs sometime in the
next 6 months?

 

 

It's only 4 years old so it look just fine. If I hadn't asked I'd have
thought it was worth $400 s/h (at a pinch).

 

 

Sell it and upgrade or repair it? Giant Rincon with rim breaks. It's been a
great bike, obviously been good to me. In pretty much perfect condition bar
the miles I've done. Nice black one.

 

 

What is the consensus? Repair bikes or replace them when they get plenty of
use?

 

 

 

Yani

 

 

 

 

 

 

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