Introductions - New Rider In Cincinnati

My name is Corey, I'm a freshman at the University of Cincinnati. I was training to run the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon and throughout developed and pretty bad case of shin splints, then on my 20 mile run 3 weeks before, felt some pressure in my knee, then in the hours following my run, i began having an unbearable pain on the side of my knee, for fear of further injury I decided not to run the marathon:( however I decided I could start riding since I can't stand just sitting around not being able to do anything. I did not have a bike however and being a college student I didn't have much money either to drop on a decent road bike.

I headed over to the local goodwill, and picked up an OLD road bike. The front of the bike has a name plate which reads Concord in the vertical direction. I bought some new tires and some new cables and am currently taking the bike apart to clean everything and maybe paint it. I'm not looking to do any kind of racing, just would lover to get some miles in through out the spring and summer, plus save myself some gas.

I have only one question and that being the crank is very loose and moves like up and down side to side and in and out. I'm assuming it is not supposed to do that. Any input on it would be welcomed, as well as any other comments. Thank you.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/6845/dscf2535hn5.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf2535hn5.jpg)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5038/bikelogoov2.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikelogoov2.jpg)

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1305/dscf2536yu2.th.jpg (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf2536yu2.jpg)

Hi Corey, no, your cranks should not be moving around like that. Put up this question in the Bicycle Mechanics forum, and they should be able to help you.

Your Concord is a low end bike, produced during the bike boom era. It was made by a company called Kurahara. It should make a nice rider once you've gotten it cleaned up. What kind of components are on it, and does it have a model name?

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/pinkstar.jpg

Im not really sure of all the part names, but the gear mover in the back and front and little leversd (sorry for such poor terminology), have the name Shimano Altus stamped on it, the pedal arms say Selecta on them, and there is no indication of a model name on the bike. Despite the neglect im sure it suffered, it seems rather solid, hopefully it'll last me the summer and make me more serious about buying a nice road bike.

Altus was a low end derailleur (that's the gear mover), and the little levers are the gear shifters. The gear shifters on your bike are 'stem shifters'.

I am pretty sure that your bike will last you at least the summer!

East Hill

Hello from another beginning rider in Cincy. I go to UC as well.

For more info on working on your bike check out www.sheldonbrown.com and www.parktool.com/repair