Fifty Plus (50+) - Gauntlet thrown to DG

OK, I picked up a mountain bike off Craig's List for $50.

Now, my needs are different than yours, as I need it for riding in the winter and will be riding it on roads or limestone. But you can see that patience is a virtue and chance favors a prepared mind! And, tomorrow I RIDE!!!!!

Here are the specs.

http://www.bikealog.com/BikePedia/QuickBike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1994&Brand=Scott&Model=Cheyenne&Type=bike

Here are photos (these are from the listing):

He can't pick up the gauntlet. He's too muscle-bound.

I bought my mountain bike, a Trek 820, last winter, for $50.

Time for DG to get with the program.

Looks like a nice bike. STX SE was a good, reliable group. Those Scott bullhorn handlebars were very popular for a while. Good hand positions but a bear to remove the grips and levers.

Take that bike on some mild singletrack at least once in a while. That's what it was made for. It will do what you plan to do well also, but it may feel a tad bit emasculated. ;)

Take that bike on some mild singletrack at least once in a while. That's what it was made for. It will do what you plan to do well also, but it may feel a tad bit emasculated. ;)

Well, we have a winter bike path through the woods at a state park near here. They showed a bunch of younger adults on it on the news. They were going about 3 miles an hour, and still slipping. With the winter thaw since then has probably turned the thing into a tiny waterfall of ice. It looked really hard.

Gonna go try that! I'll post photos.

But also, it's both a hardtail and a (hardhead???) No shocks! So I'm not going to be going anywhere too crazy with it.

No suspension at all - just like when mountain bikes were a brand new thing. The bars do look quite functional.

You only need shocks to go really fast over really rough stuff. You can go slower over really rough stuff without them. If you're crazy enough, you can go fast. :eek:

OK, I picked up a mountain bike off Craig's List for $50.

Now, my needs are different than yours, as I need it for riding in the winter and will be riding it on roads or limestone. But you can see that patience is a virtue and chance favors a prepared mind! And, tomorrow I RIDE!!!!!

Way to go, Solvang! But I have picked up the gauntlet. I just brought home my own "new" mountain bike tonight, a Fuji Thrill. Steel is real, baby! I don't know what year it is, and it is in need of a thorough cleaning and new tubes and tires, but I am not in any hurry.

Oh, and I paid $30. :D

I figure the frame alone must be worth that much, and I can use this bike to start learning how to fix bikes. If I blow it, not much lost. It fits perfectly, and it fits my criteria perfectly too, in terms of trail riding.

Pics from the ad are below. Just bear in mind, this is the beginning of a LOT of questions about how to get this bike up to speed! :D

Woo Hoo!

Non-suspension mountain bikes are hot again!

Looks like a great bike for $30. I would have popped for it at that price.

Way to go, Solvang! But I have picked up the gauntlet. I just brought home my own "new" mountain bike tonight, a Fuji Thrill. Steel is real, baby! I don't know what year it is, and it is in need of a thorough cleaning and new tubes and tires, but I am not in any hurry.

Oh, and I paid $30. :D

I figure the frame alone must be worth that much, and I can use this bike to start learning how to fix bikes. If I blow it, not much lost. It fits perfectly, and it fits my criteria perfectly too, in terms of trail riding.

Pics from the ad are below. Just bear in mind, this is the beginning of a LOT of questions about how to get this bike up to speed! :D

:beer:

First thing to do is take off those thumb shifters...and mail them to me. :D

Steel is real... and so is the SEC! Congratulations to LSU. If it couldn't be us it might as well be them. :beer:

:beer:

First thing to do is take off those thumb shifters...and mail them to me. :D

So I realize you can't tell much from two pictures, but does anyone know much about this bike? The tires were flatted so I didn't ride it (plus it was quite dark). If it's a well-known piece of junk, that's ok, because as I said, I can practice working on bikes with it. But I've not spent much time looking to Fuji, and I have no idea how to learn how old the bike is.

By the way, I don't mean to hijack this thread. But my name IS in the title!

By the way, I don't mean to hijack this thread. But my name IS in the title!


This is a gray-area justification, at best!

This is a gray-area justification, at best!

Hush, or I'll break your crystal radio!

Let the DG trail riding BEGIN!

What is written on the components and the tubing badge? (look on the seat tube)

Looks like a fairly low end model, maybe a little heavy but probably sturdy and reliable. I'd guess late 80's to early 90's.

Wooooooooooo-hoooooooooooo!

Here's the deal, DG...those old rigid mountain bikes are not "cool" right now. But they will be.

Here's a good thread. East Hill has your bike.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=265400&page=3

Hush, or I'll break your crystal radio!

Touche'!:)

Congratulations to both Solveg and DG on your hardtails. They are basic,
tough, simple fun machines to ride and you'll find you can go everywhere
with them.

Happy trails :)

Solveg, I called you Solvang earlier and I most humbly apologize. I must have had too much juice today. :(

Solveg, I called you Solvang earlier and I most humbly apologize. I must have had too much juice today. :(

LOL! Every time I see the word Solvang, I think it's my name! So it's totally understandable. I* always wondered if you took offense one time when I called you Deeg...

LOL! Every time I see the word Solvang, I think it's my name! So it's totally understandable. I* always wondered if you took offense one time when I called you Deeg...

Call me anything, except late for dinner!

I* always wondered if you took offense one time when I called you Deeg...

His friends call him Pee Wee.

Looks like we have a couple of Mountain bikers in the offing. Both bikes look good and the only thing I would do with either of them is to get the wheels checked out. Then it is go and ride time.


And as someone has said- Rigid is great for those slow uphill technical tracks covered in slippery tree roots and rocks. Not too much fun coming down but You can get used to that. All it will cost you is a visit to the dentist after every ride.

Way to go, Solvang! But I have picked up the gauntlet. I just brought home my own "new" mountain bike tonight, a Fuji Thrill. Steel is real, baby! I don't know what year it is, and it is in need of a thorough cleaning and new tubes and tires, but I am not in any hurry.

Oh, and I paid $30. :D Pics from the ad are below. Just bear in mind, this is the beginning of a LOT of questions about how to get this bike up to speed! :D

I have you both beat. My Specialized Hard Rock was a freebie! It's already given me 2 1/2 years of hard service with only a flat tire and minor truing of the rim. Woohoo! Good purchases both of you!

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/SpecializedHardRock.JPG

You got a pretty stout granny gear, 24x28. If you're going to do some serious MTB, your knees would appreciate a new cassette with a large cog at 32T or even 34.

Just sayin'.

You got a pretty stout granny gear, 24x28. If you're going to do some serious MTB, your knees would appreciate a new cassette with a large cog at 32T or even 34.

Just sayin'.

He's talking to me (I assume) DG... but go count your gears for us.

My MTB has an incredibly long stem on it. It has 6 inches of reach. So now I have to take off all this fuzzy stuff that seems to be glued on the bars. I've never seen this kind of shifting mechanism before.

Will I be able to put in a regular stem and road bars on this?

If by "road bars" you mean "drop bars", you are looking at some challenges. For neither your brake levers or shifters will fit a drop bar. And it might be difficult to find road bar compatible levers and shifters that will work with your brakes and derailleurs. So you could end up having to change all of those out in order to use drop handlebars.

But you could use bars like trekking bars, Nitto Dove bars, or a variety of different mountain bike compatible handlebars instead of straight or riser bars.

I'm sure Maddmaxx, BD, Robtown, and others can give more specific advice.

OK! Got on the bike today, and it was soooo much fun. I went through giant slush puddles, and through small snow banks.

At first I was scared to ride with toe clips on, but it really wasn't scary at all. It's 34 degrees here, and I had a hard time telling if I was too hot or too cold. I took my mittens off, and I was only wearing a helmet, and then I unzipped the jacket. I had long johns under fleece sweats, and that for sure was too hot. But when I was going down hills, I felt chilled.

The long stem reach actually feels fine to me... in fact, I often went from the brakes to further out on the handles to stretch out . What didn't work was how low the bars were. I tried to pull them up, but the hex screw didn't seem to loosen anything.

But this is definitely going to work out gangbusters!!!!!

The gearing on the bike seems really easy to me, so since I don't plan on climbing any singletrack mountains, it should be fine.

Everything is in excellent shape mechanically.

I am well pleased, except I'm probably going to end up dropping over $100 on new stem and bars. But that seems to be the case with any bike I get, because my body is so strange.

DG, did you try yours out? If I end up with new stem and bars, and your bike is too small, I can send you my old ones...

DG, did you try yours out?

In San Diego? In January? With temps hovering around 61F? Oh please...let the man take a break during the winter freeze!:)

Looked at that bike Solveg and a couple of things- The changers and brakes are normal MTB ones but those levers are set well in on the bars. The Fuzzy stuff you have on the barsmay be glue or rotten foam thatis the bar protection foam that has gone off. Those bars may be worth a try- but I never liked them but a lot of riders do. And A change of stem and bars to any "Straight" MTB bar is possible.

Try to get a pic of my bars tomorrow so you can see what I mean about the position of the brake levers. They are really set inboard for normall use.

:roflmao:[QUOTE=Big Paulie;5947788]In San Diego? In January? With temps hovering around 61F? Oh please...let the man take a break during the winter freeze!:)

Looked at that bike Solveg and a couple of things- The changers and brakes are normal MTB ones but those levers are set well in on the bars. The Fuzzy stuff you have on the barsmay be glue or rotten foam thatis the bar protection foam that has gone off. Those bars may be worth a try- but I never liked them but a lot of riders do. And A change of stem and bars to any "Straight" MTB bar is possible.

Try to get a pic of my bars tomorrow so you can see what I mean about the position of the brake levers. They are really set inboard for normall use.

I got a different stem and a stem extender for it today. I am really pleased with what good shape it's in mechanically and cosmetically. It looks like a 2-wheeled Range Rover to me.

The guy at the bike shop gave me some tips about winter riding. They make ear muffs for helmets, which are cool. He says if you're not cold for the first mile riding, then you're dressed too warm.

Oh, and I got a big thumbs up at the LBS for the bike in general. They really liked it.

Oh, and I got the cheapest fenders they make. I won't really need them except at the end of the season.

A normal "riser" MTB bar might be more comfortable and help get the grips up level with the saddle.
I have used this stem (https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000119&subcategory=60001186&brand=&sku=6216&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20ATB%20Stems) and these handlebars (https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600092&subcategory=60001049&brand=&sku=2444&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20ATB%20Handlebars) on several older MTBs I have refreshed for friends with old bikes they quit riding and want to make more comfortable.

Do we need to start a new "Best Bike Under $50" thread here?? :D:D

Do we need to start a new "Best Bike Under $50" thread here?? :D:D

Yes! Got one?

So, "Over 50/Under 50" ?

I'm feeling lucky. Just bid $50 on a Waterford on eBay.

Except the Bridgestone was $60, but we could say it was 50+ pump and lock for 10.

Maybe it should be Buy A Bike That Costs Your Age.

Except the Bridgestone was $60, but we could say it was 50+ pump and lock for 10.

Maybe it should be Buy A Bike That Costs Your Age.

Capital idea! :)

Maybe it should be Buy A Bike That Costs Your Age.


But how do we get confirmation of the poster's age? Especially -- ahem -- if you're a woman!

(A Big Paulie Stereotype classic!!!)

I'm feeling lucky. Just bid $50 on a Waterford on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Waterford-1200-56cm-road-bike-Dura-Ace_W0QQitemZ260200941139QQihZ016QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oops, it's up to $51... You're out of the Under $50 sweepstakes.

But how do we get confirmation of the poster's age? Especially -- ahem -- if you're a woman!

(A Big Paulie Stereotype classic!!!)

I just don't fess up to my age here because I'm under 50. Over in Clydes/Athenas I posted it recently, and a guy corrected it to lower age! :D

I just don't fess up to my age here because I'm under 50. Over in Clydes/Athenas I posted it recently, and a guy corrected it to lower age! :D


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5870521#post5870521

:)

But how do we get confirmation of the poster's age? Especially -- ahem -- if you're a woman!

(A Big Paulie Stereotype classic!!!)

No shame here! I'm 51, so I guess my 1991 Bridgestone MB-4 (posted in DG's Fuji thread) cost $51, and the frame and lock must have been $9. Such a deal!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5870521#post5870521

:)

Solveg has been outed as a youngster!!!!

Guilty as charged!

DG, I see you got some good info on the C&V forum. Those are great guys, aren't they...

Guilty as charged!

DG, I see you got some good info on the C&V forum. Those are great guys, aren't they...

Yep!

DG, I see you got some good info on the C&V forum. Those are great guys, aren't they...

You aren't even 50, and already you've found greener pastures!

Don't come crawling back to us when the Paradise Boys in CV turn on you!!!:mad:

:D

Yep!

The same goes for you too, DG!