New here and haven't been on a bike in a while...
 

Hello everyone! My name is Jeff. I haven't had a bicycle in a while, but my dad just gave me a Schwinn Ditch 1.0. The chain was pretty rusty and a lot of rust on and around the cassette. I have tried to clean it up as best I can and it needs a little more work to make it clean and fully functional again. It is rideable, but the rear brake doesn't work and its still a little dirty.

I guess I'm at a crossroads though. I would love to start riding for pleasure and more importantly some exercise. I have bad knees and I figure this will be less stress on my knees than running/jogging. I don't know if I should keep this bike or try to get something else. I want a decent bike, and am not afraid to drop some cash on a bike. If I do get a new one, I would like to probably get a Trek or a Specialized commuter or hybrid bike.

What do you guys think? Sorry about the long post. :thumb:

Welcome to the forums! I would ride the bike you have for a couple weeks and repair the minor stuff. By doing this you can see if you have knee pain from it and you will know if you really want to drop the coin. I ride a Trek, love it. I don't think you can go wrong with either Trek or Specialized if that is who you want to stay with. Good luck and let us know which way you decide to go.

Thanks for the input GBJ! :) Look forward to all the great info here on BikeForums! :)