Flat Bar Upgrade - Bang Per Buck?

[John the Monkey]

I have an old Raleigh hybrid that Mrs. Monkey has decided will make an ideal shopping bike for her.

Currently it's 21 speed, with the equipment being Shimano CX-200 (never heard of it either).

It needs to continue being a flat bar bike, but I'd be happier if it had better equipment (changing the plastic brake levers to metal, slightly knackered old shifters to new 'uns). I'm a bit out of my depth with flat bar kit, and wondered what might represent a good value upgrade for this old bike?

I've not looked at the rear OLN distance yet, but suspect I may be able to get an 8/9/10 speed wheel to go on it, or could keep the existing stuff and stay with a 7 speed cassette at back.

Any recommendations for a cheapish upgrade?

 

[4F]

Any recommendations for a cheapish upgrade?

Take all the gears off and make it a fixed

 

[HLaB]

The tyres and or wheels are usually the 1st place to start.

 

[Tel]

How is your mrs with gears? Mine doesn't ever change gear so I'm thinking of converting her old stead into a single speed, she would hate fix wheel. If you did the same all you'd have left to upgrade are the wheels and brakes. Other than that just replace any steel parts with alloy i.e bars, seat post, etc and that would probably do it.

 

[fossyant]

Leave the gears - get some new thumb shifters - don't go too technical if she's not interested...my wife doesn't really 'do' gears......

 

[John the Monkey]

Take all the gears off and make it a fixed

Blimey, you REALLY want me sleeping in the garage, don't you.

This is the shopping bike, so imo it needs gears really, as it will be lugging stuff around. Thanks for the suggestions folks.

 

[4F]

Blimey, you REALLY want me sleeping in the garage, don't you.

This is the shopping bike, so imo it needs gears really, as it will be lugging stuff around. Thanks for the suggestions folks.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

I've done similar upgrades to my winter commuter.

I changed the brakes from the rubbishy pressed steel cantis to Deore Vs with alloy servo-wave brake levers. Then the original tyres went in the bin, replaced by WTB All-terrainasaurus.

The original 3x5 fifteen speed gearing gives me a spread from around 28 - 95 gear inches, so I don't see the point in changing it on a runaround.

A good lube of the cables, a regrease of all the bearings and topped off with my Brooks B66 and it's made a great runaround for very little outlay.