How much will it cost?

[louise]

I have just bought myself a new bike and I was telling a good friend and she then went onto say that she would love a bike but I know that she could never afford a new one, she is only able to work part time and her husband is in poor health.

What I was thinking of doing is giving her my old coventry eagle MTB, its a bit of a BSO but I know she would really appreciate it it was hardly used and it has sat in my shed for 8 years how much do you think it would cost to get it "service" and back up and running

 

[Dayvo]

If you had a bit of time, interest and inclination, you could do it for next to nothing (apart from new accessories such as tubes, tyres, brake blocks etc.) if you did it yourself and followed this:

http://bicycletutor.com/

But a basic overhaul at your LBS shouldn't cost too much.

 

[marinyork]

It'd be a few quid at my LBS. Other LBSs seem to charge absurd amounts like £20-60 for a service with wildly varying results. P.S. Good for you

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

If they run a car I'm sure they could afford a bike!! Good luck with getting her bitten by the bug.

 

[swee'pea99]

Is there anything actually wrong with it? Not much happens to bikes that sit still apart from the tyres going down. For a first step, why not just pump up the tyres and see how it goes?

 

[Soltydog]

I recently bought an old MTB for £16 from an auction. It was a bit neglected, but everything worked ok. A couple of gear cables had seen better days, along with the chain, so they were replaced, but it worked as it was & was better than nothing
You could end up going to town with a 'full service' & replacing parts & spending more than the cost of a new bike

 

[louise]

Thanks, they don't run a car.

I will drag it out the shed tomorrow (eeekkkk!!) and have a look at it, when I last looked the twist shifter gears were rather stiff, it would be lovely if I could get her bit by the cycling bug.

 

[Dave5N]

Where are you, Louise? I'm sure someone here would lend a helping hand.

 

[marinyork]

Yes, there must be someone up there able to help. I doubt it needs too much work (if any). Just a checkover that isn't going to cost the earth.

 

[louise]

I am in Gateshead

 

[swee'pea99]

Sorry Louise but Gateshead would be a bit of a trek for me. I think you'd probably be able to do most of what needs doing with a pump, a can of 3-in-1 and a look at bicycletutor.com. Bikes don't really 'go off', at least not if they've been under cover. There's probably nothing much wrong with it. (Stiff gears more than likely is nothing more than needing a bit of oil running down inside the cable housings.)

 

[louise]

Thank you all same for your offer, its been in the shed so it should be ok will a good look tomorrow

 

[punkypossum]

Or there might be something suitable on freecycle?

 

[Dave5N]

FFS you need to move.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Asda do a Gear and Brake cable kit for around £3.70 and pretty good brake blokes from £2.70ish. Inner Tubes can be picked up from the £2 mark and tyres vary from £15 and upwards. I reckon very worst case scenario you are looking at £40 (thats assuming two new tyres, tubes cables, oil, the works)