Hello Bike Forums :D
 

Well 5 years ago I went and bought myself a craigslist bike. It was a 10spd Murray that fell apart in about a year, not bad for 40 bucks.

Then I went and got this http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane/track.htm

Been riding my bikes direct bike for 4 years rarely any issues, but she's old and she's tired, and now that I ride all year round(harsh winters here in the upper midwest) I'm looking for something new. (Riding in the snow is 100000% easier than I ever thought it would be)

I can't get over how cheap and rad looking this is http://www.citygrounds.com/6ku/6ku-e...ixie-bike-3044

But I can't find any reviews. I did see one post dedicated to 6ku on here, but it seemed as if the purchaser was ********.

Thanks guys, I'm open to any other suggestions on a new bike. What I generally use it for is to and from work and to and from the bar. Around 4-10 miles a day. BUT I'm about to get a second job doing bicycle delivery for Jimmy Johns and want something I can count on.

I'm also considering just getting new components for my bikes direct bike. Like a wheel set and crank(just moving parts) but after looking around maybe just buy a new bike? ahhh I dunno!

Unlike cars, a well-made well-cared-for bike can last a lifetime. Is your bike so crappy that it's not worth fixing? Take care of your bikes.

I don't know about the citygrounds bike, but don't run it into the ground. You are totally excused for disposing of the Murray, however.

I would never just "throw away" my bikes direct bike, and I didn't either with the murray(gave it away.) But for the price of a new wheelset, which is primarily what I need, I could almost buy another bike. So I'm just trying to weigh my options. On the other hand I'm not very knowledgeable and all of the options and info regarding a new wheelset is pretty overwhelming.

For the just a little bit more than that citygrounds thing you could get a decent wheelset and cranks for your cane. What happened to them that they need to be replaced anyway??

Do you just like the anchors on the CG bso??

Well as far and my bikes direct bike goes it just doesn't seem as quick as it was before. And ever since I've been riding in the slush, snow, and salt it's been progressively getting worse. I took the rear hub apart for the first time (go me) cleaned it and regressed it but it still just seems slow. And now my rear rim is bent. I'm no sure how this happened, but I have noticed a good 10% of the spokes are just loose. So I'm just trying to find a way to get it a quick as the day I bought it or buy a second bike for when it's dry and keep my bikes direct bike for the snow and rain.

Its a Fixie in the Winter , and you are tires of riding in winter perhaps?

and you need to fix your bike .. the 2 are related .. you let them get loose.. and they allowed the rim to bend.

good luck


Spring Thaw may be a Cure , as would Moving a Long way South.. (Cancun , Perhaps?)

This is very good advice in my opinion. You could buy a nice wheelset and keep what you already have. You will end up with a better quality bike than the one you are thinking about.

A layman's question from a lifelong cyclist who has never ridden a "fixie." Is this a good choice for winter riding, or for commuting, in general?

I, myself, have become obsessed with the idea of building a single-speed bike and using it as my low-maintenance commuter. But I've never considered making it a fixie; just a single-speed with a freewheel and, perhaps, coaster brakes.

Papa Tom, read this: http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2008/0...er-on-ice.html

(Note: I have never tried fg or ss on ice.)

If you're going to be doing bicycle delivery, you're definitely going to want to get something reliable. I personally have a Mercier Kilo TT that I purchased used off of craigslist and I love it. Ive fallen numerous times and the frame is virtually indistructable! It is a fixed gear, however. As for replacing parts, its really up to you to decifer if its worth it to replace parts.

Wowza!! Thanks for giving me a new place to find budget bikes! A Schwinn with a rigid fork for $200!?

The only way to find out if you might line a single speed is to try one and see. Wanna try out one speed life......for FREE???

Plug the numbers for your current bike in the cassette/chainring spots here.

Then pick a chainring/cog combo off your bike somewhere in the high fifties/low sixties in the gear inch chart and shift your bike to that combo.

Don't touch your shifters for a week. You're a single speed rider.

Free and easy.;)

I don't ride a fixie, but I love my fixed gear Leader.

>>>>Plug the numbers for your current bike in the cassette/chainring spots here.<<<<

Sorry. I have no patience for anything that takes more than five seconds to figure out. It's just a symptom of my old age, I guess. My rear derailleur has seven cogs; my front has three chain rings. It was originally a mountain bike. Sooooo**********

So, that leaves us with guessing.:p Maybe 48 big gear and 14-30 cassette.

Try this---big chain ring......second, third or fourth (from smallest) cog.

The second should be close to what a $200-400 dollar SSFG would probably be.

The third is what a lot of young guys use and the fourth is good for us older fellas that face hills. Either would call for a $15-25 additional investment in a cheap cog or freewheel.

I think I'll just build up the frame and parts I've got sitting around and see how I like it. Anyway, this is Jack Edward's thread. Sorry to hijack it!

Why not take your wheels to a LBS and have them fix it. Could be cheaper than a new wheelset. And then you can keep the bike you have.