(9 October 2012, 09:22)Scythe13 Wrote: Thanks LS, that's good feedback indeed!
What bike are you using? Misses has given me a sexy old Trek road bike. Skinny tyres and all that. Not sure it's going to be a great load bearer, what with me weighting about the 15 stone mark now.
My bike's a 30 year old Diamond Back. True temper steel frame and heavy duty steel forks.
So many components changed over the years that it like Trigg’s Broom.
Your road bike if steel will be a thing to hang onto, and certainly it'll be good for keeping you fit. But it'll not have the load carrying capability of a mountain bike.
TIP: check e-bay / carboot sales / refuse tips for good brand really old school mountain bikes. Straight ( not bent) steel frames with braze-on's for racks and mudguards, and steel handlebar and stem are what you need. . Old thumb shift gear changers are good to look for as they will operate forever and are highly fixable.
Very often really good bikes get purchased for Christmas with an intention of getting fit and then get put in the back of the shed after it is found to be too much hard work!!! ( Bit like Gym sign-ups)….so ther are many as new bikes that show up.
Check that the saddle post and handlebar stem are not seized with rust / corrosion before proceeding.
Assunming you find a good candidate frame you'll need to overhaul it completely
Consider doing the following: remove and grease steerer, seatpost, and all braze on bolts ( Coppaslip is good for long life regreasing of these parts. Replace braze-on bolts with SS if you can) . Fit new bearings to headset and bottom bracket. Rebuild the pedal bearings or replace with good quality pedals. If the wheels are true re build the wheel bearings, fit new rim tape, tubes and tyres. Replace brake pads. Remove brake cables and gear change cables with good quality replacements. This will prob end up costing as much as a budget bike from Cycle King or Halfords but will give you a strong and reliable Bug out Bike and also the knowledge and tools needed to keep it running when there are no more repair shops…
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