Upgrade old or buy a cheap new one?

[TheSoulReaver03]

Hey.

I bought a retro road bike a few years ago. After about 500KMs, it became undriveable. It's been sitting for roughly a year now, so I'M in a dilemma between saving up money, buying a new bike or fix this piece of crap.

I have 350$ for this task.

This is what I'd need to buy to make it acceptable :

- New rims with hubs (old ones are deformed and low quality, also 630size, so I'd need to convert to 622)
- New tyres
- New tyre tubes
- New front derailour
- Possibly a new monoblock (It drew itself out of the body of the bike while riding it, IDK if I should replace it)
- Possibly a new rear derailour (I currently have a Simplex)
- Possibly a new set of brakes after a while
- Spacers for the fork (or a new fork)
- Bandage
- New gearset for the rear wheel
- New brake pads
- New pedals (somehow I succeeded in bending one of them so now it won't turn easily)


Or should I just buy a new entry bike or try to find a used one that's in good condition? What bike brands do you recommend?

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[mjr]

Some of that isn't cheap and I'd be surprised if all that really needs doing (rather than being nice to have, such as the derailleurs as you don't say about them being broken) but some of it is and if even half of it needs doing, I'd sell that as a refurbishment project to someone (or keeping it for such for yourself when you have money), take whatever learning you can from it and play the used bike lottery again.

 

[davidphilips]

theres always the carlsberg option buy a really good bike second hand get cycling again and spend some time repairing your old bike.

 

[KneesUp]

The heart of the bike is the frame. Does the one you have fit you? Is it on good condition? Is it good quality?

The answers to those questions might help you decide.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It depends if you like tinkering with bikes or if you find it a chore.

If you enjoy doing that stuff, then refurb is the way to go. It'll be fun, and satisfying. (Provided that you have time. Otherwise you'll just end up with a half finished project on your hands, and no bike)

If you don't really like doing that kind of stuff but just do it to save money, then replace it. Because it probably won't work out any cheaper, and you'll resent spending your time doing something you don't really like.

 

[TheSoulReaver03]

Thank you for the help, everybody!

The heart of the bike is the frame. Does the one you have fit you? Is it on good condition? Is it good quality?

The answers to those questions might help you decide.

The bike frame itself is an RWC Weekend Fahrrad (the name suggests it's a cheap as hell frame, which it very well may be. It's made from steel, obviously).
Position-wise, it feels like my knees are very far back from the monoblock. The bike itself actually felt like it's harder to pedal than my MTB and I got less speed out of it.

I've had my eyes on Btwin Triban 500s. Although it may be a year or two until I make my mind up and maybe save up some more money.
I'm a hobby cyclist. I don't live for it, but there are times where I can become obsessed with it.