Bicycle Mechanics - newbie, back to biking...

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Aemon_
04-15-03, 01:26 PM
hey guys,

i havent really done any biking since i was in middle school, but i'm trying to get back into it. i never really learned any mechanics of the bike, so my first question is:

are there any sites that have a good breakdown of a good bike (mountain preferably) and how the parts work together?

also, my parents are giving us (my wife and i) thier old bikes, most likely walmart type mountain bikes. i'd like to upgrade them some due to the fact that we just cant afford to buy new bikes right now. question 2:

can i use a new shifter/brake lever on a stock derailleur, or do the shifter/derailleur have to match?

thanks

(long first post, sorry)

later

AndrewP
04-15-03, 03:44 PM
These sites are great for fixing up bikes:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harart-repair.html

http://www.uidaho.edu/~baile934/

A dept store bike is probably not worth upgrading, but properly adjusted and lubricated can give you plenty of fun. If the cable housings are plain steel spirals, it will give better braking if you replace them with housings with plastic liners.
Aemon_
04-17-03, 01:14 PM
i just figured using a set of shifter/brake levers would be easier to shift than the stock grip shifters.

thanks for the links, the http://www.uidaho.edu/~baile934/ doesnt work.

anymore like basic tune-up, "getting a bike up to speed" type links.

later

tFUnK
04-19-03, 10:58 PM
i dont think you should be upgrading dept store bikes... buying a single component to upgrade can cost more than the value of the bike. about the shifters/brakes you can get those replaced but the cost of a new system will probably be at least $30. doesn't sound like much but the upgrade bug will probably bite you and before you know it, you'll find many things wrong with the bike (lower end bikes tend to leave a lot to be desired) and you'd want to upgrade... i say do like andrewP said and make sure all the screws are tight so they don't fall apart on you!