Bicycle Mechanics - Just started cycling, looking for advice on old bike

Hello all, just looking for some advice.

I have this pretty crappy bike that is around 2yrs old and has been left out in the rain for almost all of those 2yrs. I think it was only around $100 when I bought it so it is no great loss, but I was wondering if anyone could take a look at some of these pictures (below) and tell me what you think.

I am trying to get into cycling (everyone I know thinks I'm crazy), and I am a little nervous about riding this bike. It has given me some problems in the past (brakes are a little weird, and the handlebars want to turn. I finally got a metric hex wrench to fix that though. The gear shifting function is also completely stuck. The gear it is in right now works fine, but if I try to change it to anything else it makes a really bad noise.) It's just I don't have the money to get what everyone here seems to consider a beginning bike ($200+).

So ultimately, would it even be worth it to try and repair this bike? I want to eventually get a new or used bike (either road or a hybrid), but I am trying to loose some weight on this one first to better pick out a new bike.

http://mambo.leetgameservers.com/public/Bike/P1000437.JPGhttp://mambo.leetgameservers.com/public/Bike/P1000440.JPGhttp://mambo.leetgameservers.com/public/Bike/P1000441.JPG
http://mambo.leetgameservers.com/public/Bike/P1000442.JPG

http://picasaweb.google.com/mambodestroyer/Bike_Rusty/photo#5080118698939440226http://lh5.google.com/image/mambodestroyer/RoA1CoMa3GI/AAAAAAAAAVE/IviDqr5bwUA/P1000442.JPGFullsize pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/mambodestroyer/Bike_Rusty

(http://picasaweb.google.com/mambodestroyer/Bike_Rusty/photo#5080118509960879138)

hi ..
i would say to take it to 1 of your LBS ( local bike shops ) in your area and ask them for advice . if you should have it repaired or if its worth it .
Or start checking your local papers classifieds for used bikes . you can generally pick 1 up for a nice price and be totally happy .
hope this helps you
Cheers T

This is going to sound discouraging but as best I can tell from the photos you now have a badly decayed full-suspension mountain bike wannabe from Wal-Mart or similar. It likely wasn't much good when new and certainly isn't worth putting any money into at this point.

Also, what it will take to make it rideable, assuming it's not too far gone, is beyond your current skill level.
Your best bet is to find someone local who is a reasonably knowledgable rider and mechanic who can help fix what is fixable at little or no cost and will do it as a favor.

Depending on what kind of riding you do you would be better off buying an old road bike, some thing decent and steel from the 80's will run you around $150, it will be much higher quailty and about 15 lbs lighter than the bike you pictured.

I have no doubts our shop's $55 tuneup would get that bike rideable...as long as the tires hold air and all the parts are there.

As for the rust...well, that's the price you pay for leaving your steed out in the rain. Get some naval jelly, some steel wool and some elbow grease and get busy. You could also just leave it be too as a theft preventative.

I'd agree with the fix what you can for free. WD-40 and grease go a long way, but as you ride around town look at garage sales and garabage cans and such for a road bike. Anything will be better than what you have now, and if they're not specifically selling the bike they probably don't know its worth on craigslist. The one thing I hope is that you don't get discourged riding the x-mart bike and give up cyclign all together.

GOOD LUCK!!