Cyclaholic

How long would you expect a bike to last under year round, temperate weather conditions (i.e. no snow), doing maybe 200-250 miles a week. Getting good weekly maintenance?

The reason I ask is that I've always had beaters/cheapies and I inevtably end up getting a new one and donating or selling the old one long before the end of its life, but my Surly LHT is a beautifull bike and runs so sweet that I intend to keep her for a very long time, she has about 4000 miles under her wheels now ans is still like new.

spider-man

Barring crashes, a steel frame probably should outlive you if it's cared for properly. I regularly ride a 1959 Raleigh.

You'll have to replace some things, though. Bearings, cables, housings, rims, spokes, cranks and chainrings, chains, pedals, bars, stems, etc. will all wear out eventually.

jnbacon

Last year, on my Surly Cross-Check, I did between 125-175 miles a week for the whole year (except for vacations). My total for the year was a little over 6000 miles. Other than cleaning, lubing and changing the chain; changing the chainring and rear cog (it's fixed); and adjusting the brake, I did no maintenance on it. I know ... I'm a lazy boy.

The point is, I just took it in for a "complete" overhaul. I told them to find all the problems they could and fix them. I came back, and they had charged me $50 (because they didn't need to work on gears and shifters), and other than replacing the brake pads, they hadn't found anything to fix or replace.

So, with good weekly maintenance? For a long time.

banerjek

+1. I put about 9K miles on my commuter each year, and much of that is in slop. Do the regular maintenance and replace parts as they wear out, and you'll be fine.

Paul L.

I had 14000 miles on my last commuter before switching to the recumbent. It is still functional I just don't ride it much anymore.

michaelnel

How long it will last is exclusively dependent upon how well you keep up with the maintenance.

Az B

I still use my '82 Miyata. It's pretty much still all original. The drivetrain's been replaced a couple times, and needs it again. Although those old fully bushed chains will last for far longer than new 10sp chains.

Steel frames are tough.

Az

CB HI

2 of my commute bikes were damaged when motor drivers failed to follow the rules of the road and I did not have time to get clear of them - so I do not know how long they would have lasted. 2 other commute bikes - one lasted 10 years (steel) and the other 9.5 years (carbon frame but Al rear triangle - URT) doing about the same milage as you. The 10 year one did see the snow a few times. Both failed due to stress fractures in the weld joint at the bottom bracket. Of note, I weight 210 and have a couple of good hills on my commute, so a lot of stress on the BB welds.

The 10 year one failed while I was climbing out of the saddle, headed for home, and suddenly I feel a lot of flex in the old frame. I look down and see the down tube swinging left and right with each pedal stroke (doing the Hula). The bike did get me home though.

2wheeledsoul

Amen. They make tanks out of steel, after all.

In my book, if it ain't steel, it's crap. Barring obviously crappy steel walmart frames, of course.

sngltrackdufus

Practically any frame material will last a looooong time if properly cared for & not pounded & properly taken care of. Who cares if it lasts forever cause we don't . Heh i don't care for a bike that lasts longer than me ,for what? For some grubby kid to ride what i paid for while i am feeding the worms .
I don't think so.

ItsJustMe

?? So, a patch sleeve and 10 minutes with a brazing torch, some fresh paint and they're good for another few years, right?

2wheeledsoul

That's your perogative, man.
But if that tough old soldier, that decorated veteran of the Car Wars your riding today can turn the grubby kid onto the thrill of getting around under his own steam instead of becoming just another autoholic, then I'm all for it. That bike deserves to go down fighting, instead of a dishonerable demise forgotten in a dumpster.

Cyclaholic

Great philosophy, dude! Yeah, it's too easy to be so attached to our worldly posessions that we forget that we can't take it with us... too bad we cant take our bikes tho, I reckon hell would have some wicked singletrack

I just hope that whoever has my bike after I'm gone loves her as much as I do, hopefully that will be one of my kids. Anyhow, back to the original topic, I'm amazed at how you see some sweet 70's and 80's bikes still getting around and in really nice condition, too!

slvoid

Given enough maintainence, a long time.
If you lube the chain every 100 miles or so, take good care of your wheels, replace the brake pads everyonce in a while, replace spokes when they break, clean your hubs and bearings, replace the wheels/shifter/cassette every 60-80000 miles, replace the saddle everyonce in a while, replace the chainrings when they're work, replace the frame when its worn, your bike could potentially last you a life time.

Cyclaholic

It's like the old axe - it's had the head replaced twice and the handle 3 times... but it's still the same old axe