Giant Doofus

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a few months and just joined so that I can ask a few questions. I've already learned a lot just from reading, so thanks for that. This is my first post (except for the one over in the introductions forum).

I'm riding a Giant Cypress DX on my commute, which is about 5.5 miles each way (11 miles RT). I commute five days a week and like to do recreational rides on the weekends. I'm wondering if I need a backup bike and, if so, what advice you might offer.

I have an old Giant Option in the garage. It's a hi-tin (I think) hybrid frame, about 20 years old, but still in good shape. It needs new tires and brakes, a tune up, a rack and some fenders. Does it make sense to put the money into fixing up this bike? If this were a vintage Raleigh I would feel more confident, but I really don't know anything about the quality of bikes like this from the early 90s.

By the way, I rode this bike a lot for the first ten years and had no complaints. I bought the new one because I didn't know anything about bikes back then and decided that my husband's bike must be "better" because it was lighter.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Peace,
Giant Doofus

bigbenaugust 

The cost of the maintenance that needs to be done will probably cheaper than a new bike (unless you go with cheap big-box store stuff, which may not be better than a 20-year-old Giant), and if you like it, keep riding it.

Also, welcome!

ThermionicScott 

I'd probably skip the fenders and rack. Just make sure the bike is mechanically sound, and put your stuff into a backpack if you need (emphasis on need) to use this bike.

harshbarj

I disagree with ThermionicScott about fenders. If you think there is a chance you will be riding in the rain, or just on wet streets, you will want (need) fenders.

hubcap

If you can make it work, I highly recommend a backup bike for someone who commutes everyday, particularly if you do not have an alternate mode of transportation readily available. Parts should be cheap for an early to mid 90s Giant. When you say you need brakes, do you mean new pads? In addition to new tires and brake pads, I would consider replacing the cables. Most bikes of reasonable quality are highly dependable. But when something goes wrong with one, if you have a backup you are not pressured to getting it fixed immediately before you can continue bike commuting.

hubcap

To me, fenders are optional (though I recommend them). A rack is not. I carry too much stuff on my 30 mile r/t commute to suffer a backpack. I used to do it a long time ago, but have no desire to do it again. An 11-mile r/t commute might be different, but I still would rather use panniers.

Giant Doofus

Thanks everyone. A few responses:
- Yes, I meant brake pads. I'll ask the bike shop to take a look at the cables too. Hadn't thought of that.
- I'll need a rack because I am a total klutz so the backpack thing will never work for me!
- I could probably skip the fenders because if I needed a backup bike and the roads were wet, I could just drive instead. I do have access to a car. I just like biking better. My main bike does have fenders.
- My main concern was whether the old bike could be made reliable, but it sounds like no one has significant questions about that. And certainly a fixed up Giant would be better than a big box bike.

What I'm left to figure out, I think, is whether I want to invest in this bike as a backup at all or just use the car if my main bike is inoperable one morning.

The reason I hesitate is that I've been thinking that if I keep up the regular commuting for a full year, then I might reward myself with a new bike, in which case my current one would become the backup. I've been kind of lusting after the Bella Ciao Corvo Citta Donna and other similar loop and mixte frames. I'd love to ride to work in skirts and dresses instead of changing into them once I get to the office. But this is a separate issue from the question I posed about the Option. I probably need to get an estimate from the LBS to find out if it's worth putting the work into the Option at this point.

no motor?

There's an unwritten (?) rule here that everyone needs one more bike. Have you thought about fixing up the old one as well as buying a new one?

Giant Doofus

Just one? I was counting on you all to convince me that I needed at least two or three extras.

no motor?

We will, you just need to buy them one at a time to follow the rules.

Giant Doofus

Love it! Far be it for me to stand in the way of the rules.

ThermionicScott 

I think a lot of people on this forum do.

Don't get me wrong -- I have fenders on two bikes, and a rack on one of them, but I don't see either as hard requirements if money is a concern. They're nice, though.

Artkansas 

It's all about how much you love it. My main bike is an '88 Specialized Hard Rock. It gives me yeoman service. It was a freebie, and after riding it for 5 years, I decided to put 300 dollars into overhauling it. Turned out to be a very wise choice. It has fenders, street slicks, Jandd rack, SunLite Grocery Getter panniers, lights and a trailer hitch for my Bikes at Work trailer.

DVC45

I have 3 back-up bikes. Five, if I include the Folders.

I would advice against not having a rack and fenders for a dedicated commuter bike.

Giant Doofus

I do love it. The Option was my first adult bike. I remember getting on it the first time and thinking "why did I ever stop riding a bike?" My current bike, the Cypress, has also been wonderful, but I don't have the same sentimental attachment to it. Maybe I'll get the Option fixed up and keep it as the backup if (okay, when) I get a new one.

Bjforrestal

11 miles round trip, i say you're good with a rack and a tune up for b bike, chances of needing it on a day it rains is slim. Use the savings to buy some other bike stuff you've seen but didn't want to drop the $ for as a way of congratulating yourself on having a second good commuter for such little $

noglider 

Having more than one bike is great. Sometimes I switch for a trivial reason, such as a flat tire.

A bike is not like a car. With proper care, they can last more than a human lifespan. A 20 year old bike is far from obsolete. I say get it into excellent running condition, but don't make it pretty. And don't necessarily put as many accessories accessories as the primary bike has, at least not until the bike is proven and you're sure you'll need them. For example, I have dynamo lights on my primary bike and battery lights on most of my others. I don't have fenders on my racing bike, because I don't need to ride it in the rain.

Darth Lefty 

I think it would depend on the year for me. If it's 21-speed with trigger shifters I say ride the heck out of it. If it's 18-speed with thumbies I might give it a miss. But even a cheap Giant is a good bike and probably deserves a home if it's not thrashed. Modern equivalent new would cost you $400-600, I think.

And the cost for rack and fenders is the same whether you get a new bike or keep this one.

Giant Doofus

It's a 24-speed with a twist shifter. My choice isn't really between fixing up this one or spending $600 on a new one. It's between fixing up this one and using the car as my backup. If I don't fix it up, I can give it to an organization here in town that repairs old bikes and gives them to kids in need, so one way or another, it'll have a good home.

Edit: Oops! It's a 21-speed with a thumb shifter.

Giant Doofus

This is helpful. Thanks. The 20-year-old thing is what has had me worried. Maybe that's not such a big deal after all.

Artkansas 

Nope. My '88 Hard Rock, while it gets ridden the most, it's hardly my oldest bike. I have one that's 40.

-=(8)=-

Other than my single speed, I only use old bikes. To me, the new stuff cant even compare in most ways.
My rides include an '84 Fuji, '77 Ross Touring bike, and a '85 Centurion. All of them fabulous bikes.
New does not necessarily mean better. I would keep the old Giant

droy45

Yeah keep the old Giant. Age is nothing on bikes provided its well cared for. You may never need a backup but you can switch off once in a while to make a change. I would keep a dedicated commuter with all the necessary gear like fenders and rack because you never know when it will rain and you certainly do not want to backpack anything (too hot and added weight on the butt is not good). Put the commuting gear in panniers and on rack.

no motor?

My Hardrock is about a 2000, and I think it's going to outlive me.

noglider 

Of the five bikes of mine that I've ridden in the past year, they were "born" in 1962, 1971, 1973, 1982, and 1995. That's an average age of 37 years, though if I weighed the average by miles ridden, the average age would be lower. Clearly, I'm not worried by old bikes.