Commuting - New hoops on an old bike

I ride an early '90's Giant Excursion as my commuter. It has a lot of miles. The only original parts are now the frame and front and rear derailers. Last week my LBS mechanics noticed that some of the drive side spokes were pulling out of the rear rim. My wife said "I think it's time for you to get a new bike"--she's awesome but that's another story. I just couldn't part with the old Excursion so I dropped nearly the price of a new bike in a new set of wheels. I decided to put on a set of Mavic Speed City wheels ($399).

Okay, before you say I'm crazy here was my logic. This is a wonderful steel touring frame that is a perfect fit for me and doesn't attract much attention like a shiny new bike. It has other good parts on it that I can transfer to a new frame if this one fails (I've got that picked out already--it'll be a Surly Cross Check). I feel good because I didn't just throw away a serviceable bike in favor of a new one.

The wheels came in yesterday, and I rode it for the first time today. Wow, what a difference the Mavics make. I guess it should be no suprise since the wheels are how the bike communicates with the road, and these are pretty nice ones, but the ride was fantastic. They are lighter than the original wheels and the Speed Citys are designed to be extra tough for city riding--Mavic claims they were designed for bike messengers.

Anyway, I'm happy that my old friend is still rolling. I hope this story inspires others to keep those old bikes going. I think my Excursion still has a lot of life left in it--well let's hope so ;)

I feel the same way about an old Univega Street bike I purchased last year. That chromoly frame and fork is better than my Alu Bianchi Milano. In fact, I've recently purchased new tires and will be putting a new front wheel on that bike soon. It's unfortuante that Pacific Bicycle put on low components on what I consider an excellent frame. That chromoly frame, fork and seatpost just soaks up all the road ruts and bumps like no other bike I own including my Bianchi Eros. No the bike is not light but it's not the speed I'm looking at but overall comfort.

I'll have problems upgrading the rear wheel since the bike is a 7 speed but this is a long term project.

What I like so much about this low end scrached-up chromoly bike is that I can leave it anywhere without fear that someone will steel it while limiting my loses. There is no way I can leave my Eros outside on a bicycle rack. My Univega ends up being my grocery getter, rain bike, mall bike and just about everything else. I end up riding it more than my good bikes.

If that Univega bike breaks down, I'll probably get a Crosscheck (flat bar) or Jamis Coda. One thing's for certain. It will have to be a low number chromoly frame and fork with a long wheelbase.

I tell you what...you get a frame that fits you like a glove and you'll never want to buy a new bike. My '97 Stumpjumper was just such a bike...until it was stolen 3 months ago. :(

Dahon Steve, we're on the same page. By the way, the Excursion has a 7 speed cassette. I think the mechanics just spaced the cassette over with some spacers. It seems to work just fine. I use bar end shifters in the friction mode so I don't have to worry about indexing.

Abbub, sorry about your loss. I would be heartbroken if I lost my Giant.

Well, it was a week before my birthday, and all of my friends pitched in to help this poor college student replace it with a new Trek 520, which has helped to ease the suffering a great deal. I still miss it, though.

[QUOTE=chuckfox]I ride an early '90's Giant Excursion as my commuter. It has a lot of miles. The only original parts are now the frame and front and rear derailers. Last week my LBS mechanics noticed that some of the drive side spokes were pulling out of the rear rim. My wife said "I think it's time for you to get a new bike"--she's awesome but that's another story. I just couldn't part with the old Excursion so I dropped nearly the price of a new bike in a new set of wheels. I decided to put on a set of Mavic Speed City wheels ($399).

I have been using Speed Citys on my Airborne Carpe Diem for a year now - excellent wheel. They are still true after > 3300 miles banging through crappy potholed Seattle streets every morning in the dark.

pmseattle, thanks for the feedback on the Speed Citys. They were a bit of an unknown for me, but I thought they would be pretty tough. My first impression of their performance is great.

[QUOTE=chuckfox]Okay, before you say I'm crazy here was my logic. This is a wonderful steel touring frame that is a perfect fit for me and doesn't attract much attention like a shiny new bike. It has other good parts on it that I can transfer to a new frame if this one fails (I've got that picked out already--it'll be a Surly Cross Check). I feel good because I didn't just throw away a serviceable bike in favor of a new one.
[QUOTE]

Nah, you're not crazy at all.

It'd be downright stupid to throw away something that is still rideable, that fits you well, and that you like. I'm still riding the lugged, steel Trek 400 that I bought slightly used in '86. It's seen several pairs of wheels and several configurations over the years. In its current incarnation, it's my commuter (fixed-gear, moustache bars, fenders, rack for panniers). Originally, it ran 27" wheels, but it's 700c now, with some very long-reach Dia-compe centerpulls. Shortly (as soon as I can settle on another fixie frame), it's going from fixed to free and it's getting a pair of Albatross bars, platform pedals, and a basket.

Besides, as you've noticed, there's nothing like a nice, new pair of wheels to breathe life into an older, heavier bike.

If I were you, I'd keep the old warhorse to turn into a SS errand bike when you do upgrade to the Cross-Check. You can't have too many bikes, especially when they're bought, paid-for, and well-used.

Of course, this is coming from someone who never throws anything bike-related away, who trash picks, and who has 7 unbuilt frames hanging in the rafters.

Good wheels are never a bad investment-- if your old Gaint's frame cracks next week (lets hope not!), those new wheels will look good on your next bike.

svwagner and tacomee, thanks for the feedback. I've put about 30 miles or so on these wheels and I enjoying the nice smooth ride. I think they would work great on any 700c commuter, so you're right when this frame fails they and a few other parts will just move to a new frame. I have a friend who has a Cross-Check and that frame is very similar to my Giant (steel, canti brakes, bar end shifters, plenty of room for fat tires and fenders), so I probably wouldn't upgrade until a failure in this frame.