Fifty Plus (50+) - Plan A or Plan B?

Now that I have these two old bikes to bring back into shape, and given that I am on a learning curve about how to do that, I am considering two plans. At the end of the day, I will most likely sell or donate one of the bikes and keep the other. At this point, I'm leaning towards keeping the Peugeot, and giving up the Fuji. So, in no particular order, two plans are emerging. Your advice?

Plan A

Work on the Fuji to get a feel for what I'm doing. No upgrading, just sort of tear it down, clean it, lube it, and replace things like the chain and cables if they need to be changed. Take all the major components off the bike to thoroughly clean them and to learn how to remove / reattach them. I have no idea in what order this should be done. Brakes first? Derailleurs first? At any rate...once I have an idea of what I'm doing, turn my attention to the Peugeot.

Plan B

Set the Fuji aside, and concentrate on the keeper bike. Same process as above, but possibly upgrade components. Why practice on the Fuji when I really want to keep the Peugeot, and how hard can it be, anyway? Given the Peugeot saw very limited service, I'm fairly confident the important things (like the bottom bracket) are going to be quite serviceable. Probably only needs thorough cleaning and lubing and cable adjustments. Then, armed with the knowledge and new skills, bring the Fuji up to speed and find someone who really needs a bike but can't afford it.

I'm looking into the available books, but I wish there was one that wasn't just repair, but also outlined a step by step book on "bringing a bike back to life." I don't know if there's a better order of things to do (what's first? what's next?).

Usual caveat -- I realize this is all so elementary to many of you. I'll just post questions until you bonk me on the head. :D

Plan A

Plan B

Just reference the Sheldon Brown.com for repairs.
(the godfather of cycling gizmo,s)

We used to do a "Geezer Group Fix" for you in past years to nurture your mechanical skills.
Set the bike upside down,lets remove the wheels..............

We used to do a "Geezer Group Fix" for you in past years to nurture your mechanical skills.
Set the bike upside down,lets remove the wheels..............

+1 First things first

Before taking the wheels off- Check for true by pushing a brake block near the rim and spin the wheel. Then take the wheels off and report back.

And Plan A- that Peugeot is too good to practice on.

Bring both bikes to the LBS, see what they think of each. Have them get the bike that's best in operating condition and go out and ride it while you're fixing the other one.

Plan C...work on the engine and train for your upcoming century.

Plan C...work on the engine and train for your upcoming century.

I haven't forgotten. :)

Practice on the older bike - Plan A! With either bike, don't be surprised if it has old-style loose bearings and you need new parts. You gots tools?

I don't know Hermes - DG is looking pretty buff!

Practice on the older bike - Plan A! With either bike, don't be surprised if it has old-style loose bearings and you need new parts. You gots tools?

I don't know Hermes - DG is looking pretty buff!

I have a multitool that goes in the bag. That's about it, except for conventional screwdrivers, crescent wrenches, and a hammer or two.

I have a multitool that goes in the bag. That's about it, except for conventional screwdrivers, crescent wrenches, and a hammer or two.

Hammers are good.

Plan D. Go back to the Cypress, and send the Roubaix to me.

I vote for A

No, I mean B

No that isn't right, I did mean A

But now B is sounding better

Hmmm ... To B or not to B, that is the question

A And B Or B And A

I vote for A

No, I mean B

No that isn't right, I did mean A

But now B is sounding better

Hmmm ... To B or not to B, that is the question

Now that's funny. My first book is called To Do or Not To Do. And I don't want any trash talk about that! :D

Practice on the older bike - Plan A! With either bike, don't be surprised if it has old-style loose bearings and you need new parts. You gots tools?

I assembled my bike tool collection by getting into jobs and buying whatever simple tools I needed to complete it. If I needed a tool I couldn't afford, I would either borrow the tool from my LBS or pay them to do the work.

Rule No. 1: Never implement Plan A when there is a Plan B available.
Rule No. 2: Never implement Plan B when there is a Plan C available.
You get the idea.

I bought a Spin Doctor tool set and a work stand when Performance or Nashbar (forget which) had a 50% off on tools sale. Got them both for about $100. I used nearly every tool in the box during the recent build. They are probably not Park quality but seemed to work very well. The work stand is invaluable.

A And B Or B And A

Of course, A OR B is true unless both A AND B are false, in which case, well, I guess DG will have to punt!

Edit: Got it wrong the first time!

My first book is called To Do or Not To Do.

Does a scantily clad woman grace the cover?

Does a scantily clad woman grace the cover?

You wish, you pervert... :D

Plan E Fix both, turn one into a single speed mountain bike

The choice between plans A and B depends on your mechanical skills and your confidence in them. If you need access to some specialty tools, including a shop stand, you could always pop over to my house some Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Feros Ferio meets I juice. Wish I could be a fly on the wall...:D

Plan DG seems most likely - at least 5 new posts per day, describing every purchase decision, indecision, and revision.

Given the lack of basic bike tools, I predict we'll soon see a new poll asking for everyone's favorite size of Allen wrench.

Plan DG seems most likely - at least 5 new posts per day, describing every purchase decision, indecision, and revision.

Given the lack of basic bike tools, I predict we'll soon see a new poll asking for everyone's favorite size of Allen wrench.

Well, the best part is that you don't have to read any of them, should you choose not to! No harm, no foul. :)

The choice between plans A and B depends on your mechanical skills and your confidence in them. If you need access to some specialty tools, including a shop stand, you could always pop over to my house some Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

That's a very kind and generous offer. Thank you. I'll keep you in mind!

I like 6mm Allen wrenches

I'm undecided. I truly am.

And as such, advertizers and stratagists (whatever) will spend millions of dollars on me, hoping to persuade and influence me, the undecided swing voter.

I thought I'd mention that I can be bought, and probably for much less money than it would to try to convince me with one of those sappy 30 second ads, or even one of those go-negative mud-slinging attack ads, like pointing out that no one would use a 5 mm. Allen wrench unless he or she had some sort of misguided gender identification issues.

Or I'd convert one to a fixie, I guess.

DG: Having read through all the posts thus far, I've come to several conclusions: 1. People give you a lot of grief! 2. Your lack of tools and experience leads me to suggest that you follow plan A. Many of us who have been working on our bikes for a while forget how difficult some of the basic tool manipulation and proper use was. I know that I nicked paint, striped threads, lost parts, snapped things, and generally created havoc until I got the hang of things. Make these mistakes on the beater. 3. Use you bike shop as a resource when you get in over your head (even with the beater). Pay them to help you learn how to do. While you could take the whole of the work to them to do, you'll be a more complete cyclist as you grow in this area in addition to your riding and already growing stable of bikes. 4. Tell of us your success and mistakes. We really do learn from what others on this forum are willing to share. 5. Send the Roubaix to me while your working on these. I can keep it from feeling lonely by riding it daily. ;)

I'd go with a modified plan A.

1. Take a good look at the Fuji.
2. Make a list of the things that fail to delight you.
3. Repair, repaint, or replace every single one of them. Take as long as it takes.
4. Ride the bike.
5. Repeat.

When you find you can't go any farther with the Fuji, start on the Peugeot.

Personally, you couldn't pay me to work on the Peugeot, just because it's French. I'm scared of french bikes.

I would go with Plan A. Practice makes perfect. It seems like the Fuji is the "lesser" bike, so I'd learn on it before moving to the "keeper".

This is pretty much what I did last January. I was all set to buy a frame and a bunch of components and build a bike. But I knew I'd make mistakes along the way and they'd affect my perception of the bike, if not its actual performance.

Around that time a $100 Craigslist special came along and I bought it without so much as a test ride. Fortunately, it needed everything, so I learned how to replace everything. As it turned out, the bike fit perfectly, and with all new components, it's just as good as a new bike, and I love it. But I was just as prepared to to sell it.

Plan C

Start with plan A for experience. Then put healthy miles on both bikes. Keep the bike that fits/rides the best. Sell the other at a profit and spend the profit on further enhancements. If the Peugot is the keeper then perform some preventative maintenance on it.

Plan C always worked for me.

I vote for plan "D"....give BOTH bikes away...then you'll be FORCED to buy a new one! ;-)

or plan X
stop all this talking and go do it...
you'll be riding it the next day
or plan Y
keep talking as I kind of like it

How about Plan 9 From Outer Space?

Personally, you couldn't pay me to work on the Peugeot, just because it's French. I'm scared of french bikes.

Oooohhhhh! What about your drunken guru buddies from Vintage and Classics? Couldn't THEY help you???:p


:D

Follow Plan A or Plan B. Follow a Plan.
But, don't follow Plan F: Take both bikes completely apart, put the bits and pieces in one pile, then see if you can put them back together again. With new bearings and cables, of course.
Exactly what kind of grease do you plan to be using, by the way???????
That's a pretty important question that needs answering.......................

Actually....YEAH! That's a great idea. Good thinking, Big Paulie!

DG...if you end up needing some weird French parts, go to the Need/have thread over there, and see what they have.

It's the parts that are so hard to find with those Frenchies. I can't comment any more than that, because once I got the main jist of the problem I just made a NO FRENCH BIKED rule. It's hard enough for me with the Japanese bikes.

Actually....YEAH! That's a great idea. Good thinking, Big Paulie!

DG...if you end up needing some weird French parts, go to the Need/have thread over there, and see what they have.

It's the parts that are so hard to find with those Frenchies. I can't comment any more than that, because once I got the main jist of the problem I just made a NO FRENCH BIKED rule. It's hard enough for me with the Japanese bikes.

I don't think there are going to be any of those weird French parts on a Taiwanese bike made for a French named company. On a real made in France Peugeot, yes, but not this bike.

Oh, YEAH! I forgot!

Deore looks like a French word.

Actually....YEAH! That's a great idea. Good thinking, Big Paulie!
Good thinking is what distinguishes me from the apes...but not convincingly!

Me, riding without a helmet...

Plan A. Lurn from the xperience and makeing some mist-aches. Then use the knowledge for the keeper bike. If the keeper bike project blows up, take it to the LBS and have them revive it. At least you'll have lurned what not to do next time.
:D

Deore looks like a French word.

Bordeaux is a better one. So is Burgundy- Cote Du Rhone- St emilion- Fitou- Alsace------

Oh, YEAH! I forgot!

This may be the signatiure line you've been searching for!

Used in a sentance... "Oh, YEAH! I forgot to change my mullet hair style!"

Hey! Where's your sig line?

Hey! Where's your sig line?

Waiting for some new inspiration....

Waiting for some new inspiration....

I don't think you should be naked like that in public....