JeffS

Are you also aware that Italy has very low standards for what constitutes being "made" there? There is a very good chance that this is another made in China frame, shipped to Italy for assembly.

Not that it matters to me - as I'm not giving Wal-Mart a penny.

ClarkinHawaii

Among my other bike-specific purchases, I got a Park cc-2 chain checker. The Corsa is what, less than a week old, and its chain registers midway between .25 and .50 on the "wear" scale (You're supposed to replace the chain when it registers .75).

The chain on my beater bike, which I have no reason to doubt is the original chain(7-speed) that came on the bike in 1994, reads 0.00 wear--in fact I could hardly insert the pins to take the measurement. It's almost like the checker was not made for this chain, but it clearly says on the package that it's for ALL DERAILLEUR CHAIN.

I have to figure out the best way to oil/lube my chains. I'm interested in having them last, so I would not be averse to removing the chains and soaking them in motor oil in a coffee can every month or so, drip dry and reinstall (I also bought the chain tool). I just went to Ace hardware (the only show in my little town) thinking I would buy a small, squeeze grip oil can and a quart of motor oil for chain lubing. Just couldn't bring myself to pay Ace's prices, though. Plus the issue was complicated by the mistake i made in asking the clerk what I should use on a bike chain. He says 3-in-1 oil. I said, "Isn't that too thin, it'll wash right off in the first rain". He says it's the best and points to the picture of a bike on the label. Not convinced, I said "what about regular 30-wt motor oil?" He says "NO no that would attract dirt to the chain, and 3-in-1 does not"

So what he's saying is dirt sticks to motor oil but doesn't stick to 3-in-1. Sounds like BS to me, but it complicated things sufficiently that I left without buying anything.

I went ahead and mounted my cheapo schwinn cyclocomputer on the Corsa.

https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-SW654-...5666735&sr=1-1

No room on the handlebars for the monitor (I need the available non-taped space for the Park HBH-2), so I had to mount it crossways on the stem, since the base does not swivel. This seems like an adequate device, except that the mount does not hold the monitor securely. After about a week of use (on my Beater), it popped out of the mount when I hit a bump. Clattered and bounced along 20 feet of pavement. Still works, though, but now dinged. I jury-rigged a hefty rubber band to hold the securing clip closed. I zip-tied the sensor at the base of the fork on the Corsa, on the front of the blade, and it seems to work fine.

WARNING: All you guys who are going to be receiving your bikes shortly, be aware that a couple of big blocks of styrofoam are used in the packing. This foam has been banged around and rubbed on sufficiently that you will have a billion bb-sized particles that stick (static-cling) to EVERYTHING. You need to have a vacuum cleaner handy as you unpack. Don't start tracking that stuff into your house or you'll never get rid of it!

Won't be long now 'til the fun begins for you!

lambo_vt

The Park chain wear tool is junk. Use a ruler.

I find it hilarious you bought a walmart bike and Park tools. Not in a mean way, but it's pretty funny.

Sam N

Try this site for information on lubing your chain:
https://bicycletutor.com/guide/

Specifically: https://bicycletutor.com/chain-lubrication/

|3iker

Yikes! That is not good. Then again, I wonder how many factory chains already come pre-stretched. That's certainly something I never consider even with my LBS bikes.

As for lube, I use 1 part 5w20 with 3 part OMS (Odourless Mineral Spirit). Works just fine.

bigbenaugust 

Am I the only one who thinks that Clark here should hook up with CigTech of WalMart Denali Review thread fame?

lambo_vt

Not at all. I'm thinking a Walmart subforum is necessary.

ClarkinHawaii

Thanks--this guy recommends only the stuff that's super-expensive--surely there's an inexpensive product that would work almost as well . . . ?

The Corsa comes with a Shimano CN-5600. Apparently everytime you remove the chain, you're supposed to use a new pin at $2 a pop.

ClarkinHawaii

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Everything I ever wanted to know about chain maintenance. New bike owners should read the section about "Factory Lube" before oiling their new chains . . .

Interestingly, Phil Wood Tenacious Oil is the everybody's favorite--but so pricey!

Wanderer

You can use a removable link, from a different chain manufacturer. And, yes 5W-40 synthetic car oil is good stuff for chains.

ClarkinHawaii

More on chain lubing:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...4123044AA7eVFv

https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-Te...5692961&sr=1-5

The dry teflon lube sounds good for the Corsa since I have to bring it indoors--less mess.

ClarkinHawaii

The synthetic car oil sounds OK for my beater, which lives outside chained to a tree.

Are the tool-less connecting links reusable through lots of take on/take offs, or are they only good for maybe 5 or ten installs before they get too loose or whatever?

ClarkinHawaii

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ainsaw+bar+oil

Boone608

The “rules” of building a bike are pretty loose for all countries, including the U.S. For a country to say the bike was “Made in (insert country here)” it has to add 60% of the value to the build of the bike. To me that’s pretty low for anyone to determine real “quality” and this covers 95% of ALL bikes sold in the U.S. I don’t dismiss that it is a possibility the Corsa bike frame could have been manufactured in china but it is unlikely since the higher end bikes (made of the 7000 Aluminum metal and other high end metals) are manufactured in Taiwan. Low and mid range frames are manufactured in China. But I’m not too worried about the actual frame being built in China as I am with the possibility of it being painted there.

In either case when the frame is shipped to its destination one has to think there is a quality control check on a frame coming into the shop. Based on the fact that Italy has some of the finest bike manufactures; Bianchi, Colnago, Basso, Cinelli, Castelli, De Rosa to mention a few, I highly doubt that wherever the Corsa was assembled that the management or employees lowered there standards and said “Its only going to be a Wal-mart bike now go slap that “Made in Italy” sticker on the frame and toss it in the pile.”

DVC45

Still no actual pics? Very disappointing... I'm now almost convince....this is a shill thread.

mike047

Mine is on the truck for delivery....I will post pictures when I get it out of the box.

emperorcezar

I'm now almost convince you didn't read that the OP doesn't have a camera and shipping will take a bit for the others.

ClarkinHawaii

Not excited, are you?

ClarkinHawaii

Thank you!

mike047

No, just another bike. But, I would like to get the photos and any additional info that I can glean up for others to see.

wunderkind

I am always tickled to see any thread surrounding Wal-Mart often grows to 5+ pages. I think that Denali thread has to be the longest thread surrounding a bicycle on BF. Somehow no one really cares if you bought a Surly LHT or Trek Madone. But when it comes to Wal Mart bikes... watch out!
Makes me wonder if secretly folks really want to believe....
BD bikes are getting up there too in terms of page counts.

CCrew

They'll pretty much last the same length of time as the chain. That's barring any dumb moves removing/reinstalling obviously.

bigbenaugust 

Well, if they have a Hybrid Bicycle forum, they could do a WalMart Road Bike forum and have ol'CigTech and Clark as mods.

ClarkinHawaii

YEAH, and there will be nothing but compliments and praise, and everybody will be polite and respectful, and everything will be wonderful . . . uh . . .right . . .

Boone608

Mine just arrived. Here's some pics with it straight out of the box.

BTW: Clark, I had no styrofoam in my packing. It was only bubble wrap. :-)