New gears needed. Decorator in Distress Please Help.

[BluesDave]

I need to replace all the gears & parts thereof on my trusty old workhorse and I need your help.
They are now slipping to the point of being dangerous especially when pulling away from Junctions or Traffic lights. Or perhaps the chain is slipping on the teeth I suppose it ammounts to the same thing. They look very worn down either way.
I had hoped to get through the winter with them but sadly this is not to be.

Anyway here is as much information as I can provide about the gears it's all the cogs, derallieurs, chain etc that need replacing. I'd like to retain the thumb shifters because they're really good.
I need to know what to buy then I can take it to the LBS and get them to fit it all. Works out cheaper that way.

13 year old Concept Conquest MTB, no suspension.
L/h Shifter says: H Shimano L LSL-TY-15-A
R/h Shifter says Shimano SIS 12345 SL-TY-15-A

Spider = Prowheel and it's plastic as are the crankarms. I'd like to replace them as well but don't know whether I should get metal or plastic so would appreciate some advice on that as well.

Now onto the cogs. Largest first.
Front chainwheel. Cog No 1= Diameter 200 mm. 48 Teeth
Cog No 2= 36 Teeth
Cog N0 3= 28 teeth

Rear Cassette Cog No 1= 27 teeth Daimeter 125mm
Cog No 2= 22 teeth
Cog No 3= 18 teeth
Cog No 4= 15 teeth
Cog No 5= 12 teeth

Front Derrallieur = Shimano
Rear Derrallieur = Shimano

Jockey wheels cogs 1= 9 teeth // 2= 8 teeth.

I would also like to replace both brake cables and gear cables the brakes are cantilever.
My budget for this is £100 give or take a fiver. I hope thats enough for you to go on. Thanks for your help.

 

[the snail]

If you haven't changed the chain and sprockets in 13 yrs you're doing well, a lot of people on here seem to wear out a chain in 15 mins. I think you need a 5-speed freewheel (not the modern cassette type) plus chain. If the sprockets are worn then you have to replace the chain too, but if you replace the chain earlier the sprockets will last for two or three chain replacements. You can check the chain for wear without removing it, using a ruler or wear indicator tool. If the chainrings are worn too then you might be able to replace them rather than changing the cranks as well.

 

[BluesDave]

If you haven't changed the chain and sprockets in 13 yrs you're doing well, a lot of people on here seem to wear out a chain in 15 mins. I think you need a 5-speed freewheel (not the modern cassette type) plus chain. If the sprockets are worn then you have to replace the chain too, but if you replace the chain earlier the sprockets will last for two or three chain replacements. You can check the chain for wear without removing it, using a ruler or wear indicator tool. If the chainrings are worn too then you might be able to replace them rather than changing the cranks as well.

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately the whole lot needs replacing. They are all very worn down chain and all. You could tell that just by looking at them. Frankly I'm suprised they've lasted as long as they have given what I've read and the fact that I used it every day for years. Perhaps they just don't make things now like they used to.

 

[fossyant]

Sounds like you just need an el-cheapo triple crankset, 5 speed freewheel and a chain. I'd get new gear cables as well.

If both mechs still work then carry on. If the jockey's have gone - just get el-cheapo ones - don't try and get anything fancy.

Do you have any big cycle warehouses / bike shops that sell cheap bikes ?

We've got one where I've bought the kids bikes, but they sell cheap components for them - the stuff that's fitted.

Most Local Bike shops (or specialists) might not have the cheap stuff. Could also try SJS cycles - they stock just about anything you can think of.

 

[BluesDave]

I'm going to give the thing a darn good clean. I can't honestly see that making much difference though.
Those teeth are so worn down the bike needs dentures.

I don't really want the cheapest poor quality though.

Here's a link to Parkers of Bolton. They have pictures and information. If someone can tell me what I need then I can order it from them. I need your superior knowledge and experience on this one guys.

https://parkersofbol...components.aspx

Hope this makes my impertinent request a little easier to stomach.

I might need something called a dropout gear hanger as well but I'm not sure what that is.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Since you are in Morden, if the bike's drivetrain is truly knackered, then if I were you and if I only want to spend £100, I would consider scooting along to Decathlon at Surrey Quays and buy this. It comes with warranty and has decent review here at CC and elsewhere.

 

[BluesDave]

Since you are in Morden, if the bike's drivetrain is truly knackered, then if I were you and if I only want to spend £100, I would consider scooting along to Decathlon at Surrey Quays and buy this. It comes with warranty and has decent review here at CC and elsewhere.

Erm OK. I've clicked the link and seen the bike and I like it. Only thing is I have a pannier rack on the back and sometimes carry quite a bit of weight me, my tools etc. Up to 25 kilos not including myself sometimes at 13 stone.
Would that lovely machine be able to handle that?
Also do they let you try the bike on a test ride to see if it's suitable for me?

Thankyou so much for this.

I'd still like the advice on gears though as my current bike which I've had 13 years is very special to me.
It's been my outlet through all the good and bad times in my life and it was the first ever brand new bike I bought with my own money.
I've kept it clean and had it serviced every year and I'd like to go on some tours on it. It's got a carbon steel frame.

Then I can actually save up for all the parts it needs whilst riding a new one.
Theres a bike shop in Teddington which I forget the name of and they do a massive service for £80 even down to washing the inside of the wheel rims not that I've ever paid that much though. I've got a new wheel on the back, new p.r. tyres, new inner tubes and new rim tape. If I consider the racks, bags, clothes etc I've already spent a small fortune on it.
Seems to be getting a few rust spots on the frame though. I could probably get some touch up paint for those.

In fact I gave it a damn good clean and got loads of gunk off all the cogs & teeth (forgot they were silver) then re-lubed the whole thing with a genorous helping of WD40 so I'm kinda hoping that it makes a slight difference.
Might have been all the dirt causing it I just dunno time will tell. In the meantime...

 

[Red Light]

I'd be inclined to go down the local skip and look for a bike that's been damaged & thrown out as a donor bike. Depending on what's been damaged you could just swap the whole rear wheel over or just the gear freehub.

 

[PpPete]

I'm going to give the thing a darn good clean. I can't honestly see that making much difference though.
Those teeth are so worn down the bike needs dentures.

I don't really want the cheapest poor quality though.

Here's a link to Parkers of Bolton. They have pictures and information. If someone can tell me what I need then I can order it from them. I need your superior knowledge and experience on this one guys.

https://parkersofbol...components.aspx

Hope this makes my impertinent request a little easier to stomach.

I might need something called a dropout gear hanger as well but I'm not sure what that is.

Appreciate the bike is worth a lot to you emotionally - but it is not worth putting anything other than the cheapest components on it. Doesnt have to be poor quality because it's cheap - pretty much everything Shimano is adequate for the price.

In some ways the easiest option would be to buy that £99 bike and transfer all the drive train, controls, maybe even the wheels, across on to your old frame if you are that attached to it. Then sell the Decathlon frame in pristine condition on Ebay.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Hi I have a wheel with a 6 speed cassette 28 - 15 the wheel is hardly used but does look its age with a spindle and nuts. yours for the cost of postage if you can use it

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

First thing first, the Rockrider from Decathlon has a Hi-tensile steel reinforced frame. I would be very surprised if it can't handle your 25kg luggage - the reason being with your 13 stones that adds to about 107 kg. Even Dahon's light alloy folders have official carrying capacity of 105kg.

With a small cog of 24T up front, it is likely that it has lower gears than your current bike. Decathlon let customers ride their bikes up and down their warehouse.

The one thing to watch out, for carrying 107kg on a new bike, is that the rear wheel must be well built with spokes well tensioned - I suspect you know that very well given your 13 years riding experience.

But let us park that option - since I can fully appreciate why you would want to renovate your current bike - my 30 year old bike I have owned since new is still my favourite!

This article should help you ascertain which/whether drivetrain components are worn.

It is a little unusual for a 5 speed freewheel to have a small cog of 12T, perhaps you should check that.

Once you have ascertained what need to be replaced, it is worthwhile adding up roughly what they cost. You should be able to achieve these approximate figures (by mail order, all incl p&p):

Chainset £25
Bottom bracket (which is dependent on the chainset) £10
Freewheel £10
Chain £5
Brake and gear cables including housings £10
Front mech £10
Rear mech with or without integrated hanger £10

You can come back and ask which specific components are suitable replacement for your bike if you are unsure.

You should also ask your LBS what is the labour cost for replacing what need to be changed.

An alternative is of course to diy. You should factor in the cost of tools, if you don't have any, of £50. You will have to do a lot of reading, asking and perhaps making some mistakes, if you have never done it before. The upside of diy, is firstly you might never need to pay labour cost for work done again, and secondly the satisfaction of being able to do it oneself is, imho, priceless!