Pikkewyn1974

Hey All,

I just acquired this Sears 10-speed (sight unseen) for $25 - I wanted to learn a bit more about bicycles and well I figured a $25 bike is a good place to start. However, the frame looks quite nice on the attached pictures - but beyond that I don't know anything else about it. Is there anybody here who could enlighten me?

The lady who is selling me the bike just called and said that she was cleaning it and broke of the gear shifter???? Is this a big problem? Also, I really wanted to put new upright handlebars on the bike, how do i go about figuring out what will fit? -But still the frame looks like it is sturdy. She also just lowered the price to $15 .... yeah! Will I have to do a lot to get this bike up and running? She also told me that she feels bad and she is throwing in a Huffy bike - see attached pictures. Does anybody know anything about this bike?

Jaeger

And the first thing to learn is not to buy a bike sight unseen - it might have broken shifters.

But seriously, that's an entry level bike and you should be able to pick up cheap replacement parts if it needs them. If that's the kind of wrenching you want to learn then that's a good bike to start on. Good luck.

Rabid Koala

The pictures are kind of small, but the 10 speed looks like an Austrian made Steyr/Puch. They supplied bikes to Sears for a long time and the bikes weren't half bad, Simplex derailleur notwithstanding.

I don't think $25 was too much to pay for it, particularly since it has cotterless aluminum cranks. Hopefully the rims are aluminum, too.

If it is the shift levers that broke you are not looking at an expensive or difficult repair. Good luck and enjoy your bike!

sonatageek

Okay, so make sure the Huffy 3 Speed is working OK, maybe new tires and some brake pads. Re-pack the bearings with grease and get a feel for adjusting bearings. Keep it, or sell it on CL and use the modest profit to pay for parts for the Sears bike.

Before you know it, the Sears Free Spirit will be a smooth running gleaming machine and you will be on your way to owning too many bikes. You have stepped off the slippery slope.

Hope you have some garage space.

Roll-Monroe-Co

Aw, man! Two bikes to start. You are toast. Better go ahead and rent a storage unit. You're going to need it.

The Huffy should be easy to work on -- no special tools required.

The blue one may require some special tools (i.e. to remove the crank arms, should you so desire, and to adjust the cones in the hubs). Sheldonbrown.com is your new best friend. You'll find all the technical articles you need there (very easy reading).

If you need advice, don't hesitate to post here.

Pikkewyn1974

Roll-Monroe-Co - you are right I'm gonna need more space - I already have a little collection going on ... a Schwinn Le Tour (baby blue) - just needs some tuning/cleaning; a Motobecane Nomade - which I absolutely adore .... sweet - and then my Masi Speciale CX - great for Chicago's potholes!

Sonatageek - yip the Huffy is working ... the lady said she just changed the tires and that she rode to the shop to get it done ... wonder why they don't want it anymore? Hey, guess it's my lucky day - and she is delivering the bikes too - mmmm maybe this is too good to be true?

Rabid Koala - that's good news, I'm sure I will be haunting you all to figure out what to do next as soon as I get the bikes tomorrow.

Jaeger - thanks for the encouragment! Much appreciated.

sonatageek

New tires and delivered! Now that would be my dream for flipable bikes. They come to my door ready to go and all I have to do is wipe em down, takes some pictures and post on CL.

Pikkewyn1974

I just got the bikes - the Huffy definitely needs more cleaning ... but it's actually in really good shape - the Sears one is gonna need more work, but it is really quite unique ... I'll take some pictures - I love the drop out handlebards and the attempt at internal brake wiring ( what you call it?) - similar but not as well done as the Motobecane Nomade. The frame is rally in good shape - I think I might have to turn it into a single speed --- how difficult is that?

Roll-Monroe-Co

Oooh! Let's see some pics of those!