I need to replace this wheel, is it worth it?
 

I was hit from behind by an SUV, I am fine, the bike is fine, except for the rear wheel. I brought it to the shop down the street from me, but they said it will cost at least $35-40 for the wheel, and since the rim is ruined they won't have the leverage to pull the gears off so I would probably have to buy a new one of those, which is another $20, with the new tube and tax and everything else, I am going to end up paying around $70. It's a Ross Chimera Hybrid, This bike cost $30 at a yard sale, I don't know if I want to spend twice that much to get it working again, but I really liked riding this bike before it got hit and I can't seem to find another hybrid or even a replacement 700c for cheap anywhere around here. What should I do, just scrap the whole bike? Try to sell it to someone who is willing to fix it up? Try to fix it myself and save some money (keep in mind I have no real bike repair experience)? Advice?http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1394/...5bad5211_o.jpg

Won't the SUV driver's insurance company be paying for this?

See: http://www.massbike.org/resources/crash.htm

What you paid for the bike is irrelevant. Is this bike worth $70 with a new rear wheel? I would say, yes.

It should be possible to remove the freewheel, actually. I would chop out the spokes and grab the hub in a vise. This will mangle the hub, but that hub is nothing special anyway.

Sheldon "Ve Haff Ways..." Brown

If you post on Craigslist, I'm sure someone would have an old wheel they'd sell to you for $30 or so.

What is that 6 or 7 speed?

I think I have a rear wheel.

Edit: Sorry, I just saw it was 700. :(

actually
 

Well, the driver of the SUV actually gave me his old mountain bike to make up for it (what are the odds of being hit by a kind and friendly motorist?), and it's not bad, I ride it to work sometimes, but still, I miss the ease and speed of this hybrid. As far as craigslist goes, I have posted requests for it, and gotten in touch with everyone who said they had wheels for sale, and it's a hard size to find, apparently. I think if I didn't have to replace the freewheel, I wouldn't mind paying for the wheel, and the bike shop guy even said he might be able to pull it off with a vise. So I was going to go back there tomorrow with the spokes and rim removed and I guess let him see what he can do. Thanks for the input Sheldon and Tellyho, and thanks for the offer of the wheel Stacey, too bad it's a rare size.

Sure, it's worth it.

I really like those 700c "hybrid" bike from the 90s. They're kind of like touring or cyclocross rigs and a lot more desirable than new "hybrids" that have suspension forks and giant seats, to me at least. It doesn't look like it's got great parts or anything, and maybe it's hi-ten steel, but if you like the ride it's not like you're fixing up a busted huffy or anything.

700c is most definitely not a rare size. 99% of current road bikes use them. You should be able to find one.

I've posted another request on craigslist asking for a 700c wheel, but if no one responds today I might just bite the bullet and bring it to the shop. I got the spokes and rim off, so hopefully they can save the freewheel, and save myself $20. We'll see I suppose. Either way, I hope to have this back up and running as my main commuter by next week.

You may want to check the frame width hub measurement (old). Most hybrids with 700 wheels have the 135 mm old hubs typically found on a mtb. Lacing up a mtb hub to a 700 rim could be a fun winter project. You might want to go with a freehub and cassette and drop a little weight. 7 speed cassettes are pretty cheap & easy to come by. Good luck.

I am sure you can find a cheap wheel for the bike. Much cheaper than $70. Check ebay, craigslist, etc. If you are patient, you will find it. I took a wheel from a Specialized Crossroads (6 speed), and put it on my Trek 700 7-speed. I just took apart the hubs on both, and took the longer axle, and spacers from the 700 hub, and installed them the Crossroads hub. Then the wheel worked fine on the Trek 700. (They were both 700c)

Heck, I just scored a free 700c wheel from the dump the other day. Of course, I had to get a new axle and cones and true the hell out of it, but it's still free! Tire still had the injection nipples, even.

Was the police notified? His insurance company? He's getting off pretty easy giving you an old bike for what could have been a serious injury accident. Get him to at least pay for a new rear wheel from a bike shop, or you start making some phone calls. :mad:

I got the new wheel! And I am so glad that I did, this bike is real nice to ride. It's a world of difference from riding my mountain bike. Here is a new pic: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/...b47c1e.jpg?v=0
I named him Bob. He's going to be my new main commuter. The next step is fenders
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/...0bb1b6.jpg?v=0
happy little ponies.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1386/...a600a4.jpg?v=0
Shiny Newness. I was able to save the freewheel.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1017/...0c80e5.jpg?v=0
This is ThunderHorse, the mountain bike that the driver of the SUV gave me. I like it, but it's a little bit much for the daily commute. I am going to steal the lights and lock off for Bob. It's probably not going to see much action till the snow starts to fall (in a matter of weeks).

I don't know why those images didn't post. oh well, they're all up on my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeymac

Nice pics. You named your bike? LOL!

So where did you get the wheel? Did you buy a new wheel for $70, or find a used one?

Nice seat. you sure about the fenders next?:o

:beer:

Great to hear you're back on the road. I just love success stories.

It ended up costing $50-60 for the new wheel and tube and tax and a small charge ($5) for labor for the guy to have to take the freewheel off the hub and put it all back together, true the front wheel, etc. But then I decided to install tire liners too so that was another $15. But I am more confident in not getting flats, I hope. All in all, I feel like I have made a good investment, and I am glad I came on here first to help me make up my mind to do it.

and Blender, I know that seat looks crappy, there is a hole in the middle (crotch ventilation?), my roomate duct-taped over it, I took the duct tape back off because it looked trashy and felt weird, but believe me, this seat is pretty comfortable, and most likely won't be ripped off if I lock the bike up somewhere.

and hhabca, I understood the risks in not getting the police involved, but personally I didn't want to deal with all that stuff, especially since I wasn't even hurt. The guy made a mistake, I yelled and cursed at him at the time, he felt terrible about it, offered me a ride with my broken bike, and immediately offered his old bike when I said I don't have a way of getting to work. Since I personally didn't have anything invested into the bike yet (it was still my roomate's at the time, and he didn't care about it), I thought a new bike from the guy would be just fine to make up for it. I am sure that sometime I will be involved in an accident where the police will have to be notified, but I think I am ok here.

AHHH duct tape as anti theft camo - genius

An alternative if you really want to save the hub (assuming a modern Shimano-style casette).

Take the broken wheel and a casette lockring remover to your freindly neighborhood mechanic, and ask him to give it a quick burst with an impact wrench (set on reverse, of course), while you hold the casette with heavy gloves or a heavy rag.

Obviously not to be used for installing, but in this instance, it works nicely. (Been there, done that, saved an expen$ive hub.)

I think Kotts is right about this. I had almost forgotten about this trick, and it does work for those impossible situations. Certainly worth a try if you have a remover that fits a socket on the air wrench.