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08-08-08, 06:01 AM
Okay, many years ago, my folks insisted that I needed a new bike while I was in college and my old bike was stolen from their garage. The result: a '98 Schwinn Mesa hardtail that lived at their house for the last 11 years because I haven't had anywhere to ride or store it (dorms are small, you know). So now I'm living in Savannah and I'm thinking that I want to add a mountain bike to my 7.3 fx at some point. Is it worth the effort and money to try to upgrade the Schwinn to something that would be rideable? It's got a steel frame, Acera-X RD, SRAM grip-shift (really early model), junk fork, and generic/no-name rims and tires. I'm talking a complete rebuild over time, basically keeping just the steel frame (which is in great shape). Here are the pros and cons I've worked out:
Pros:
1. Don't have to spend the whole cost of a bike at one time
2. Good experience at bike repair for when the bishop sends me to a church where there's no decent LBS.
3. Bike frame is in near mint condition (I only rode it a dozen times over the summer)
4. Could be fun? (or frustrating)
Con:
1. Could be more expensive than a new bike
2. Would also have to buy a tool assortment and stand (or pray that Santa's generous this year)
3. I've never done anything even remotely like this before
I'm thinking I would want to get it to about the level of SRAM's X-5 group. (Still not sure about what kind of fork.) I'm just looking for something that would be a fun bike to take on trails and would maybe handle the nasty cobblestone squares a bit better than the FX for commuting.
So here's the question: Is it worth it?
Alex
Pros:
1. Don't have to spend the whole cost of a bike at one time
2. Good experience at bike repair for when the bishop sends me to a church where there's no decent LBS.
3. Bike frame is in near mint condition (I only rode it a dozen times over the summer)
4. Could be fun? (or frustrating)
Con:
1. Could be more expensive than a new bike
2. Would also have to buy a tool assortment and stand (or pray that Santa's generous this year)
3. I've never done anything even remotely like this before
I'm thinking I would want to get it to about the level of SRAM's X-5 group. (Still not sure about what kind of fork.) I'm just looking for something that would be a fun bike to take on trails and would maybe handle the nasty cobblestone squares a bit better than the FX for commuting.
So here's the question: Is it worth it?
Alex