Alternate Bicycle: Restore or Replace?
02-28-06, 01:36 PM
#1
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Alternate Bicycle: Restore or Replace?
I own two bicycles: A 1991 21-speed Trek 850 and an 1985 15-speed Univega Ever since I acquired the Trek 850, the Univega remained as a spare bike when the Trek is in the shop, a spare bike when I am somewhere else, or for when I need to cover terrain that I can't on the Trek 850. The Univega is somewhat heavier. Both bicycles have gone well over 15000 miles each.
However, it's been a long time since I've last used the Univega. It's been suspended for years from the rafters of the garage and little or no maintainence has been put into it. When I last looked at it, I realized my options are limited. As far as I know, they are:
A). Bring the Univega in to be cleaned up and maintained in order to keep using it.
B). Bring it in for maintainence so that I can sell it and use the money to buy a new bicycle.
C). Bring it in for maintenence so that I can sell it and use the money as a slush fund to keep
using my 15-year-old Trek 850.
What do you suggest? Do you know of any other options? This thread is to be answered by professional mechanics or salespeople. I look forward to your soonest response.
However, it's been a long time since I've last used the Univega. It's been suspended for years from the rafters of the garage and little or no maintainence has been put into it. When I last looked at it, I realized my options are limited. As far as I know, they are:
A). Bring the Univega in to be cleaned up and maintained in order to keep using it.
B). Bring it in for maintainence so that I can sell it and use the money to buy a new bicycle.
C). Bring it in for maintenence so that I can sell it and use the money as a slush fund to keep
using my 15-year-old Trek 850.
What do you suggest? Do you know of any other options? This thread is to be answered by professional mechanics or salespeople. I look forward to your soonest response.
02-28-06, 02:52 PM
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Options B and C are unlikely to raise much cash. Mid-80's Univegas aren't exactly highly sought after collectors items. Option A is more likely to be successful.
02-28-06, 03:09 PM
#3
Death fork? Naaaah!!
D). Use it as a test bed to develope the wrench skills you can use to keep both bikes running forever.
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02-28-06, 04:50 PM
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When I replaced my 1995 road bike, I faced sorta the same issue. I turned it into a fixed gear/single speed. If your Univega has horizontal dropouts, you could do the same for a reasonable expenditure. So I would propose an Option F--convert it to a fixed/ss for use as a winter/beater/training bike.
This option is wholly consistent with top506's Option D. I took everything but the BB off my old bike (had to get someone else to get that off) and then rebuilt it from scratch. Very satisfying, though it's worth pointing out you can spend a fair amount on tools.
This option is wholly consistent with top506's Option D. I took everything but the BB off my old bike (had to get someone else to get that off) and then rebuilt it from scratch. Very satisfying, though it's worth pointing out you can spend a fair amount on tools.
02-28-06, 06:09 PM
#5
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Clean up the Univagrant and give it to your son so he doesn't use your bike. In fact, you could do a father-son thing, teach him basic maintenance etc. and then go for a bike ride together.
