Bicycle Mechanics - What should I do with my old bike

OK, when I upgraded last April, I intended to keep my old bike and use it for all the **** rides that I didn't want to use my new bike on (i.e. shopping etc). However, my old bike has a few problems that now seem to make it hell to ride. Basically, the only things that won't need replacing are the frame and the rims. To be honest, an emotional attachment is the only reason I've kept it this long.

So what should I do? Should I spend the money on replacing all the crap, worn out components and get some new ones so I can use it? Or alternatively, should I just punt it? Either way, I'm not leaving it sitting in the garage taking up space.

Chris. Do you have more than one bike.? It is good to have a road, touring and hybrid bike. I use them for different things.. The newest road bike is used for speed oriented, light weight rides. The touring bike for touring and commuting.. The oldest road bike I have kept up for airlines to bang about and have attached a rear rack to it for carrying more crap.. I find in cooler winter/night rides I carry more stuff. So each bike has its own purpose..
I have an old Scott Road bike, I have gradually kept in good repair.. If the airlines did to my best road bike, what they did to damage my Older road bike; I'd been so ++++++ they would have probably had to have arrested me at the airport.. So I think it important to have a second bike in decent repair, in case you need it or for kicking it about..?
And yes, I have an attachment to my old Scott, It was the bike I got addicted to cycling on and it has seen a goodly part of the world.. It's decals testify to that..

i agree with Cyclzealot: that's you should have more than 1 bike.

i have never sold any of my old bikes - i've had a few stolen.

i still have my original MTB - an '89 Stumpjumper - that i only ride maybe 200km/year, but i still like having it. aslo use it if people visit.

i guess it's a matter of space and how much you ned to spend to make it rideable. i had the same choice with the old stumpy about 4 years ago b/c the bottom bracket died: spend $$$ to fix it or get rid of it. i've kept it and been happy about it although it is a matter of space.

when i bought my new MTB, my old hardtail replaced the old stumpy as my commuter and i added rack and light mounts, etc.

i currently have 4 bikes: new FSR Full Suspension for off-road, "old" '97 Norco hardtail now commuter, aluminum road bike only used for recreational riding and racing, and the old '89 stumpy with canteleivers.

whenever a bike is broken i am happy i have the others in the lineup b/c i can ride one of the other bikes for commuting or the hardtail for MTB if the FSR is broken (it's new, but was OOC 2 week total this summer)

you should definitely have at least 2 bikes (Chris, i know you ride a lot too)

Well, if you find that you never ride it, then you might want to sell it or donate it.

But, I agree with the others, having another bike around for some other purpose is well worth it. Sure, you might have to put some money into it to keep it running, but that is surely less than buying something new for the purpose.

I have an age old road bike and I want a new one. I will be getting a new one someday soon. Perhaps I'll leave the winter fenders on the old one add use it for wet days. Maybe I'll switch it over to a fixed gear. Maybe I'll ride it once in a while for nostalgia's sake or to remind myself about why I got the new one.

But, if you really and truly never ride it, then say "adieu."

Cheers,
Jamie

I agree with everyone else, fix the things that NEED to be fixed. If you dont' want to deal with the hassle sell it.

It's always great to have a 2nd ,3rd of 50th bike. You could never go wrong :D

Fixed gear!!!....Allow body and bike soul to become one...Use the old horse to start your year with fixed gear training.

Spend a few bucks to get it running.

The newer bike may have downtime in the future and you'll need it.

No wife to complain at you for having it around and you still want to ditch it?

If you get rid of it donate it to D.A.V. Goodwill, or Salvation Army. That way it will find its way into another persons heart and who knows maybe they will upgrade too in the future. And all because you donated your bike which got them into riding in the first place.

If you keep it turn it into a fixed gear or single speed.

Sell it Chris L, :beer: :beer:

You can probably find most of the bits you need to get running second-hand - try putting a wants list on here, I know I've got bits in perfect working order that I'd happily give away if someone paid the postage.

Richard

Every year I build a new road bike and give last years bike to the neighbors son.

If you haven't particularly missed it or needed it since it's semi-retirement, then how much do you really need it? That's the conclusion I came to after realizing that I had only ridden my "rain bike" once in 1.5 years. I made an e-bay buyer very happy, and I recovered from my sentimental attachment quite nicely.

Sell it, e-bay it, donate it, whatever. But don't put a lot of money into something that's just going to take up space and collect dust. If you really will use it, fix it up.

Ah hell, Ill take it. But you have to pay postage!

Originally posted by mrfix
Every year I build a new road bike and give last years bike to the neighbors son. Now that's cool! I'm moving to your neighborhood!

Personally I'd keep it. You never know what could happen to your new bike.....

Originally posted by TLN
Ah hell, Ill take it. But you have to pay postage!

I doubt you could ride it in it's current state.

Some interesting opinions here. The thing is, it really is in an unrideable state right now. Even if I wanted to sell it, I reckon I'd have to fix it up at least a little, something I won't be able to afford to do until after Christmas anyway. I now realise that simply throwing it away is pretty pointless. As far as the other options go, I'll think about it some more.

If it's a roadbike (I suspect so), then an op shop will not be interested in it, even in a going condition (they are out of fashion).

personally if I loved the bike Id keep it and make it my official UTILITY BIKE. RIDE ON PEOPLE!

If you get rid of it donate it to D.A.V. Goodwill, or Salvation Army. That way it will find its way into another persons heart and who knows maybe they will upgrade too in the future. And all because you donated your bike which got them into riding in the first place.

yeah, if you do get rid of it, DONATE IT. in the US there are tons of programs where they build/fix old bikes for people who can't afford them, or for kids (maybe they could use your parts?).

not sure if they have them in Australia, but Goodwill and Salvation Army would be my choices in the US -- or also the "Yellow Bike Programs" like in Portland and other cities also need donations.

Because I rotate between 3 bikes, not quite sure how many miles I have on my olderst road bike.. As a minimum, it has to be 40,000 miles.. By keeping it up over the years, the one time costs were spread out.. With all of those miles, it rides like new.
A new bike can always be out of service. I could not tolerate being w/0 a bike for several days.. Multiple bikes seem like a necesity to me... Always keep them up, so are ready for their different uses...
I would not ride my best bike in sloppy weather or at night. At night I carry lots of extra stuff, so I would not hang all that crap on my best race bike.. My best road bike is for "Sunday rides,' or faster rides.. Can't imagine being limited to one bike..

Some people insist that we should have at least one of each: touring, road, mountain. Well, I have 2 touring bikes (a 1980 and a 2000), and if I had a third bike, it would also be a touring bike -- different, maybe recumbrent, but still touring.

Now Chris, for your old bike, there are reasons to keep it and reasons to get rid of it. It is certainly easier to adapt to a single bike than it is to adapt to two different cockpits. When I got my second bike, I found that inetuning my position on both bikes was a challenge. But it was also quite interesting, because I instinctively solved some minor fitting issues on the new bike... even issues that I had not solved in 20 years on the old bike. When I translated these solutions on the first bike, I discovered even better solutions, etc. Let's say that for 2 months, I always had my Allen key to readjust the saddle and handlebars... and now, both bikes fit wonderfully.

Pros for having 2 bikes. Not as much as a rain bike (I have fenders on both bikes), but for going to places where I need to park the bike a long time outside. The old bike has a bit less appeal and could be replaced a bit more easily (pricewise... and fitting is not crucial).

Now you say that it's basically frame and rims that are good. You might ask your LBS to repair, replace bearings and/or regrease headset and bottom bracket. The reast is relatively easy to do by yourself. A rear derailleur is also a relatively cheap item.. As for replacing a fair number of components, you have a few options:

- Visit a goodwill shop, do the garbage run before the truck, visit garage sales... and buy another used bike. Discarded low-mileage bikes often have bad wheels (yours are OK), but the rest is good.

- If both bikes are compatible, look at parts you wish to upgrade on your new bike. Buy the new part and ransfer the old one on your old bike.

reading your post, i almost couldn't finish...I wanted to blurt out so bad...MAKE IT A FIXIE!!!!

but alas...1oldroadie beat me to it...

One thing about having different bikes. I like the variety.. My main bike is aluminum. SOmetimes, I like to get back to my older road bike and feel the solid feel of steel. As for commuting. I definitely need the carrying capacity of my touring bike.. I know the touring bike could do it all, but I like variety.. Plus, I know there would have been times, I would have been without a bike. Could not tolerate that..

cyclezealot,
The solid feel of steel? There is no such thing. You may like the feel of steel, but the feel of steel is anything but solid. Every steel framed bike I have ridden I can flex the crap out of. And they werent cheapos either. My road is aluminum and I my Mt bike is steel. I hate riding my Mt bike on pavement just because of the flex but on trails and downhills I think the flex helps me a bit more than if it were aluminum.

Another thing...probably since before I was born I have heard the phrase "Steel is real". Real what? Real flexible? Real crappy?.. just kidding.

i say singlespeed..

The Klein is aluminum.. It's ride is great. Whatever the result, on bumps- the feel of steel is more forgiving- seems to me.. The steel bike is an old Scott. A medium priced frame..

Whew...a narrowly avoided fame material debate...

Then again, we haven't had one in a while...

I can keep it for you

Originally posted by Phatman
Whew...a narrowly avoided fame material debate...


"fame material"? Were you going to start a debate on the relative merits of looks vs talent?

:D

Hey Chris.

I'll take it.

What kind of bike is it dude? Got any pics?

I could use a basher bike...

Chris,

I'd go with the emotion. If you like the bike, slowly, as your $'s allow, fix it and keep it. I have very similar situation like yours now as well, and I am ugrading and fixing my old bike. I have sold and given away some of my bikes in the past, but I still remember them like my old friends and am sorry that I didn't hang onto them. If I'd find someone who would really appreciate them, I'd possibly give one away (not sell it). I have no interest in being practical about bicycles.