Is my bike worth fixing? Will it be easy?

[jon the student]

Is my bike worth fixing? Will it be easy? NOW WITH PICS

Hello everyone,

Firstly may I apologise to John the Monkey and others for awful student cycling nationwide! (I used the search).

Ok, now that's done, my name's jon and i'm a student. I've just started cycling this term (see sig) as money is tight because of the other item in my sig(!). I also wanted to take up cycling because I used to swim a lot but after a shoulder injury and subsequent lack of any time (Engineering degree) I no longer have a vice with which to keep fit. So I've got the bike out and started using it.

Unfortunately, it is quite old. Probably 15 years I'd guess. It's my older bro's hand me down, and has had a long and full life. To show its age, it has Shimano Altus C10 gears (trigger change ones) and they're pretty worn now.

Basically, I had some issues with the freewheel I think ( to be honest, if it doesn't have an engine, I'm not very good) because the crank would free-pedal backwards which is normal, but also forwards about a quarter turn. Also, the chain would jump massively if I ever tried to properly get some speed on - I've spoken to some people and they think the chain is stretched/loose and is jumping off some teeth when pedalling hard. Because of the chain issue, I've resigned to using the top 7 gears which aren't actually that bad, bit slow from start but fine after that. Also my derailleurs are all over the shop. The rear one works fine, but the front rubs on the chain when in use (has been realigned with new cable recently) and sometimes pushes the chain allll the way down to the bottom 7, leaving me pedalling away and not going very far. Oh, and if I just stand the bike up and backpedal it quickly by hand, the chain gets stuck after a few seconds as if it's stuck between gears?

Overall, I think the crankset is worn causing the chain to jump, the freewheel (same thing as the cassette?) is dying as it doesn't take up forward slack well, the derailleurs are past their best and one of the seat springs squeaks. Is this ticking all the right boxes on the New Bike Justification List?

I'm happy to do the work myself, strip it to a frame and rebuild it all up but realistically is it going to be more economic to just buy a new bike?

Thanks for reading this far, it's a bit of an essay.

Jon :-)

 

[jon the student]

p.s. sorry for not reading Andyfromotley's "Advice to newbies" before posting this.

 

[Young Un]

Bit off topic - but how do you find the motorsport engineering - you are doing the same course that I want to do and at the same uni. (mainly want to do it because of our mk1 escort mexico- which is what got me into cars in the first place)

Steve

 

[jon the student]

Hi Steve, I go OT all the time, so no probs!

Yeah, the course is really good. There is a massive leap between first and second year though. I did foundation year too (been out of college for 6 years) but I breezed that easily. First year was pretty much the same, a lot of basic AS-Level concepts retackled. 2nd year (which I've just started) hit me like a train though, tons and tons of coursework from the off, sometimes two from each module(!) and you're just expected to know absolutely everything off by heart from Year 1, so not a great deal is explained. Quite a lot of the notes are in summary form, so you may need to do some reading up on things you're not completely familiar with.

On the plus side, the new motorsport complex at Wheatley campus is awesome, just don't take accommodation there cos you're miles away from town (unless you don't mind that). There are tons of practical workshops and playing with stuff. Last year, we got to dis and reassemble a Volvo 5cyl engine, rebuild a Clio gearbox, cornerweight a Formula 3000 car, the list goes on. Just a few weeks ago I had a composites lab in which we were making up simple objects in carbon fibre which was pretty cool.

If you search UCAS, there's only 10-15 places nationwide which do the course, and I think OB is one of the best, if not THE best one. I've applied to ProDrive for my placement next year, and am waiting to hear back to see if i've been shortlisted, but there's tons of companies like that around Oxfordshire as you probably know.

 

[fossyant]

New freewheel and chain is cheap. Leave the chain wheels for now - just clean the lot up.

Probably worth spending on - you don't want anything too flash if you don't have secure parking, and even with an old bike, get good locks or you'll be walking home.....

 

[jon the student]

cool, thanks fossyant. What are the chain wheels, just all the cogs?

I haven't had the bike apart yet, but am I right in thinking the freewheel goes through middle of the rear wheel, behind the gears? And I need some cone spanners to change it with I think...

 

[fossyant]

Chain wheels - the front ones.... you'll get away with them for ages......

Depending upon the bike - it will either have a cassette and freehub, or a freewheel. If it's a 'cheap' bike then there is a good chance it will be freewheel.....you generally replace the lot - about £10-£15.

If it's a cassette type, then it's about £15 for the cogs/sprockets....then comes the fun - finding the correct freehub (the clicky bit in the middle) - depends upon age !

Can you take the wheel off and take a pic of the rear gears showing the axel and sprockets (cogs) - we'll be able to tell - helps if you can ensure the last smallest sprocket is clean and the axel.....

 

[jon the student]

ah right. yeah i'm hoping the chain wheels are ok, I don't fancy doing the crank bearing much.

I'll try to get a picture of it tomorrow if I can. I'll get some degreasant on them and clean it up.

cheers for the help.

 

[cadseen]

Cant you get someone locally who can see the bike to advise ?

 

[mickle]

Corrado Eh? Do you fancy restoring mine? I'll fix your bike for you!

 

[peanut]

can you tell us what the frame make is ? are there any stickers on the frame? and how many sprockets do you have at the back ?

 

[Dave5N]

No disrespect, but you're an engineer. You don't need a book or lessons to bloody fix it.

 

[peanut]

No disrespect, but you're an engineer. You don't need a book or lessons to bloody fix it.

He's an academic Dave probably never got anything nasty under his fingernails yet.
Give the guy a break .

Welcome to the forum Jon... we are not all grumpy ol gits like Dave lol

 

[Andy in Sig]

A bloke called Rob van den Plas has written some excellent general bicycle repair books. Get hold of one and a lot will become very clear.

 

[Randochap]

What was the question again?