Road Cycling - me=newbie. ?'s about rims/cassettes for older bike

First of all, I really have a limited knowledge about bike's but i want to learn. I inherited an older, no name, bike with a shimano sis system. I cleaned off the hub (or is it the cassette?) and it said "Shimano SIS MF-HG20". I would like to get new wheels (these are in rough shape) but keep the derailer (i'm in rough shape financially-wise too ;)) Can I do that?

I guess i'm fishing for some information on wheels, cassette, and derailer compatibility. I'll be riding the bike recreationally with the intent to work up to a few 50 mile days or so.

Thanks in advance for dealing with my "newbie-ness" and for any information you can offer me.

-Alan

<edit> more information. The tires say 27x 1 1/4 but the rims say nothing on them. When ordering new wheels/tires (and maybe cassette) what should I be looking for? ARG! I hate being a newbie at anything!

TIA!

Did you look at e-bay?

What is wrong with the old rims, can they be fixed. "HG20" means "hyperglide..something", but I'm not the one to ask.

Once you start talking "new" wheels (or "wheel set", complete with hubs and spokes) you are talking, from the way things sound, like you might be better off looking ($$) into a new used bike.

Other opinions may vary,

ehenz

Thanks for the info. I want to price out how much it's gonna cost me to get this bike back on the road and compare it to new bike prices.

I'd like to shop around on e-bay or other sites but i honestly don't even know what to look for in terms of rim size, cassettes, or anything.

Keep the info comin!

-Alan

How many speeds (cogs) on the cluster, 5-6-7-8? Can you post a picture?

Also, you can take it into a LBS and ask them what it is and how to fix it. If you like the price, fine. If not, go online with your new information.

It sounds like you need a set of 27" rims, like these here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58099&item=3682231387&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58099&item=3672410367&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

But really, a search of area goodwill stores you might be able to find an older bike with 27" rims and a matching cassette with plenty of life left in them.

Hope this helps,

ehenz

Thanks for the info ehenz. I'll post up a pic tonight when I get home. I believe there are 6 cogs on the cassette because IIRC it's an 18 speed. I'm reluctunt to go to a LBS because I don't want to get taken on the price. I want to collect as much info as possible and then go to them for advice or possible product replacement.

Thanks again!

-Alan

this is advice for later but i'd recommend getting a 'corn cob' for the replacement cassette. since your bike has a triple chainring up front (like my bike) it's nice to have a cassette with a bunch of gears that are really close together in terms of the number of teeth on the cog. 'corn cob' is just a nickname they used in the shop where i got mine.

what i'm saying is it's nice when the small cog is really small and the biggest cog isn't very big really (nothing like the gearing of a mtb for example). that way you get smooth shifting and gears that aren't too different from each other and you can utilize the small granny-gear ring up front for hills so you still don't lose out or do anything too hard on your knees.

Here are some crappy pics of the parts... sorry but my mom took the digital camera so all i had was my phone camera.

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/i/25628237957_0_1.jpg?ext=.jpg&outquality=90

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/i/25628088453_0_1.jpg?ext=.jpg&outquality=90

http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/i/25627945605_0_1.jpg?ext=.jpg&outquality=90

I hope they work.

First of all, I really have a limited knowledge about bike's but i want to learn. I inherited an older, no name, bike with a shimano sis system. I cleaned off the hub (or is it the cassette?) and it said "Shimano SIS MF-HG20". I would like to get new wheels (these are in rough shape) but keep the derailer (i'm in rough shape financially-wise too ;)) Can I do that?

I guess i'm fishing for some information on wheels, cassette, and derailer compatibility. I'll be riding the bike recreationally with the intent to work up to a few 50 mile days or so.

Thanks in advance for dealing with my "newbie-ness" and for any information you can offer me.

-Alan

<edit> more information. The tires say 27x 1 1/4 but the rims say nothing on them. When ordering new wheels/tires (and maybe cassette) what should I be looking for? ARG! I hate being a newbie at anything!

TIA!

Is it rideable now? Assuming it is, my advice is to leave well enough alone, ride it the way that it is, and save your money toward a whole new bike. Here's why:

Your 27 inch bike must be around 20 to 25 years old because that's when they stopped making them. 27 inch tires and rims, while still available, are getting progressively more difficult to find and you have fewer choices every year. Replacing your 27" wheels with 700c wheels may or may not be possible. The determining issue is brake reach.

Realistically speaking, a decent quality wheelset will cost you around $150 - $200. Add around $30.00 for a new freewheel and $20.00 for a new chain (you don't want your new freewheel to wear prematurely because you mated it to a worn chain). I don't know what else your bike might need, but a 20 year old bike always needs new brake pads, new handlebar tape, new cables, tires, tubes etc. When you get done with it all, you'll still have a 20 year old bike that won't function nearly as well as a new one. Also, once you start down the fix-it-up road, every dollar that you spend makes it harder to turn back.

New road bikes, on the other hand, start at about $600.00. Every single part will be brand new. Every single part will have been designed to work in concert with every other part. It will also come with a new bike warranty so you have a much better idea of what your final total cost will be.