Should I Get a New Bike or Fix Old One?

Ljustaguy21 on 18/12/2015 - 15:57

hey there ozbargainers,

Since this is my first post pls don't judge me though I have had a thought in my mind for quite some time and was wondering I should do? you see, I have a bike at home that I bought about 3-4 years ago. Since then i have used it about 10 times. in those 10 uses much has happened. for instance, I accidentally ran into my mothers roses once when i was riding and one of the spikes and the wheel went flat though I managed to get it fixed. The stand has also broken in a way where it just doesn't sit still it keeps sliding. The plastic that was located above the chain has broken (I'm scared about that because my pant might get caught in the chain like it once did and ruin the pant from the bottom). Not only this but the body is rusted in some parts due to the lack of care i have given to it. At this stage i have spent about $25 on buying a bike pump and new tire for the bike which is about 1/3 of the bikes cost (I think it cost me about $80 to buy).

current bike: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=cyclops&safe=strict&espv=…

Now i want to tell you about my situation. I am a student about to come into year 11, and not being one of the smart ones, to compensate I have decided to do tutoring which will take up most of my weekends, meaning that I don't really know whether i will have time for riding a bike and also about to get my L's this holiday once again pushes the idea of riding a bike further, but i'm also someone who hates sports and since I don't have time for my weekends I choose not to join some sports team. A bike will allow me to get some sort of exercise, but as my parents put it so will running or playing in the park. Though this thought of a bike started a couple of moths ago when I was invited by a friend to something called the Spring Cycle which is a 105km cycling event from Sydney to …. . Anyway since the day my friend invited me the idea of a new bike with gears and what not has envied me. Now the thing is that my parents are willing to spend the money on a new bike as long as i use it but idk if I'm gonna use it after these summer holidays.

So the question is whether i should get a new bike ( and if so what one?) or should i repair the old one even though its old and rusting?

BTW the current problem with the bike is once again an unknown source of a flat tyre. fixing cost is estimated at around $10.

Any suggestions for a new bike must be gear and should not exceed $200 also good quality not like this one.

Thank you.

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • BoyGotSkills on 18/12/2015 - 16:12
    +1

    Here's what you need to do.

    1. Deflate tyre, by holding in the valve where you put air in the tyre.
    2. use lever from your dad's toolbox to remove innertube from tyre.
    3. inflate innertube using a bike pump.
    4. submerge inner tube in bucket of water, watch for bubbles.
    5. use puncture repair kit as shown on youtube video : youtube.com/watch?v=1wEsQz6pcc0
    6. check tyre for sharp stuff with your fingers - it won't hurt, trust me.
    7. check wheel where inner tube meets the wheel for sharp stuff, add a layer of tape around the wheel if needed.
    8. put wheel back on bike, inflate tyre.
    9. generously cover chain and gears in WD-40, go for 60 second ride. - WD-40 removes crap from gears and chain.
    10. pour a couple buckets of water over chain / gears to wash of wd-40.
    11. Put lubricant on chain / gears. I use this stuff : supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Castrol-Chain-Oil-250g.aspx?pid=4466#Recommendations

    Then if your brakes work okay, continue riding your bike.

    All bikes need basic maintenance, the same thing will happen to your new bike if you don't maintain it.

    ** DISCLAIMER : I take no responsibility for anything, ever if you read my advice.

    • Euphemistic on 18/12/2015 - 17:22
      +1

      9 WD-40 is not the best stuff for use on bike chains. If it is dry, skip this step. If it is a greasy mess you can use degreaser which doesn't have the lubricants that WD-40 has and won't leave it greasy.
      10. Do not put water over a chain that is covered in WD-40. Rub it to almost dry with a cloth if you have to use WD-40.
      11. The best lubricant for a chain is a bike specific one. They tend not to be greasy/oily like motorcycle chain lubes and then don't attract and catch dirt. They are also lighter weight and penetrate the links better. Bike specific lube should cost around $10 and you only use a small amount.

      If you are worried about getting yo pants caught either don't wear long pants or tuck em into your socks. It doesn't happen very often anyway. Just take the chain guard off.

      Don't spend a lot of money on a bike that cost $80 (assuming that was new price). Bikes of that value are not built well and tend not to last very long unless you are an accomplished bike mechanic and can repack bearings etc.

      Don't buy another bike of the same value either, it won't last any longer, save up and buy a bike that was worth $3-400 new, even if you get it cheaper second hand it will be a better bike all round.

      • BoyGotSkills on 19/12/2015 - 02:29

        Good advice,

        I've found wd-40 to be more effective against rust than degreaser, but the defacto method for bicycle chain maintenance has been subject to debate for the last 100 years, and I've no doubt it will be for another 100.

        I would never advise to use wd-40 on chains with o-rings, such as motorbike chains. I remember using used engine oil and olive oil out the kitchen to lubricate my bicycle chain when I was younger, didn't have spare money for specific chain lubricant. The most important part is to apply it when it's necessary imo, rather than which one you choose.

  • supnigs super skids on 18/12/2015 - 17:15
    -2

    Man, when I was your age I was scourging garbage collection days for bikes and built up my own you see I was like Charlie from the chocolate factory poor. Back in those days the internet wasn't abundant and I walked to the local library (3km) and borrowed a book on bike maintenance. Tools, I borrowed from my rich friend.

    I loved that bike- it was fun riding. I even had a milk crate but no E.T at the front handlebars.

    I wasn't all that smart and didn't have tutoring after school, but I was hard working.

    Now I drive my car in my own house . Life is tough. Fix your bike and stop being wasteful.

    If it ever gets hard for you remember that takumi took on a r32 Godzilla in an ae86 and won! Godzillas beat every v8 there was and got banned for being too good even with all the increasing handicaps.

    If you could be anything, Be like takumi my friend.

    • tryagain on 18/12/2015 - 21:37

      $200 will not get you a good quality one, get on youtube and learn how to fix the flat tyre and any other issues, You will end up with some skills, a better understanding of your bike for when things go wrong in the future and if it doesn't get much use then not much $$$ wasted. Alternatively ask you friend who asked you to ride if he knows how to fix it and ask him to teach you, maybe you could also then do some riding with him as its more interesting doing it with other people.

      • frostman on 21/12/2015 - 10:54

        @justaguy20

        Don't forget to "get on" youtube to learn how to fix your plumbing and other house-related problems. Youtube is full of informative videos. Just stay away from the experts like a proper Bike repair shop

        • tryagain on 21/12/2015 - 11:11

          Just stay away from the experts like a proper Bike repair shop

          Oh dear, need a expert to fix a bike puncture now do we.

  • tryagain on 21/12/2015 - 11:30

    Find a youtube for that one ay?

    thought maybe for a the split second that it took me to do the search you might have me as removing the old one and putting on a new one is more basic than repairing a puncture but alas here you go.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMGwS5XE6b0

  • 2ndeffort on 05/01/2016 - 15:53
    +1

    Good advice above. Whether you ride an $80 bike or the latest Trek Madone you still need to know how to fix a flat tyre. If you do the 100 km ride your friend mentioned you will need to know how to fix a flat at the side of the road in case you puncture on the ride. Unless you have one of those Skodas from the tour de france with 8 spare bikes on the roof and 3 mechanics hanging out of the windows following you around, changing the flat tyre will be down to you! Some $2 tyre levers, a patch kit or a couple of spare inner tubes in your pocket should be enough.

    You can get some cheap 2nd hand bikes if you know where to look and cycling is an excellent sport for fitness. $200 is not going to get you a lot of bike though, even 2nd hand. I bought a 2 yo Giant frame to try and get my 15 yo son into cycling so he could come on rides with me and then spent the next 5 months researching and buying bits to build it up into a whole bike again. It is now all together and OK to ride but my son prefers to play NBA on the PS4!! I am sure it cost me much more than $200 in the end

    If you are on Facebook look for the group buy/Sell road bikes and ask in there if anyone has an old bike they are looking to get rid of. You might find somebody there with an old aluminium bike (formerly top of the line racing bike) they havent ridden for years just wanting to move it on. There is also another FB group where you can ask questions about bike maintenance. Being able to do the basics yourself will save you loads.

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