Imagonnabike

I posted here that I am new to riding but I want to ride for exercise. I have been looking at new bikes and really do not want to spend over 1000. for something that may not work for me. I saw on here about thrift store bikes so I went I bought. I paid 30.00 and was thrilled, not sure what I bought. Tuolumne Yokota Special Tubing (Vetta seat?) One tire is flat, it needs a new seat, and a paint job and other work would certainly make it pretty. Now a quick google search tells me its a Mountain Bike, I wanted a Road Bike.

What to do? Can I use this for that? Should I spend on the fix it up, maybe let my husband use it?

Or should I just forget about it and try again?

Machka 

You can ride for exercise on a mtn bike as well as you can on a road bicycle. You can even ride centuries and 200K brevets on a mtn bike (I've done it). If you can't distinguish a road bicycle from a mtn bike by sight, it doesn't really matter for you at this point in time. The important thing is that it fits you, and isn't going to break down every few km.

Does it fit you? If so, then fix it up and start riding.


And if you think you want a Road bicycle, go visit some bicycles shops and online shops, and find out what a Road bicycle is so you can identify one and determine if that is indeed what you really want.

Imagonnabike

I think it fits me, I went with heals and suit on. (just got off work) But I did ask the young man who was working the store to pretend he was riding it, he was my height. He fit comfortably, what a nice guy.

Now how about paint shop and such, I just take it in and tell em to fix er up?

Tom Pedale

Don't paint..don't put a lot of money into it. If you trust the man at the shop, ask him what it would cost to make it safe and rideable. If you're OK with the estimate, then have the work done.

If you keep riding regularly, down the road at some point as you learn more about cycling, you will probably buy another better bike that will cost significantly more. This first bike will be good to find out how enthusiastic you are about cycling..

Machka 

Inseam is much more important than height when sizing a bicycle. But it's possible the bicycle is at least in the ballpark of the right size.

Before painting, do a tune-up. Are you able to do that yourself? If not, you'll have to go to a bicycle shop, but be aware that many bicycle shops will laugh and be quite critical if you bring in a thrift store bicycle. You'll have to find a shop that will do the job without all the caustic comments, and that may be quite difficult to do.

2manybikes

Painting a bike is nothing like painting a car. You need to take the parts off the frame and find a painter to paint the frame. Then reassemble everything. If you can't do the work yourself, the cost is going to shock you. The first thing you do is take it to a bike shop and ask them how much it would be to get everything working. Maybe your husband can fix it? Or a friend?
Because you bought a used bike, you may have found a great bargain, or maybe a money pit. Figure that out before investing anything in it.
Generally speaking bike shops don't paint bikes. Some of them do know a painter, But you don't want to spend a couple hundred on a $35 bike. And then pay a bike shop to strip it and reassemble it.

Imagonnabike

Thank you, I did go to a bike shop the other day and the people there were all so nice. I can not imagine they would be rude so I will try them.
Thanks everyone, here is my starter bike if the inseam works.... I hope so!!!

Rowan

The bike is around 17 years old. If it was the model built in 1993, it might be OK because it had Tange tubing, which is reputable, and was equipped with Altus components (but crappy hubs); it was classified as a hybrid. The 1994 model was built in just plain old heavy-duty Hi-Ten steel and had Tourney components, and the suggested retail price reflected this downgrade (about $100 less); it was classified as an MTB. (Source: Bikepedia).

The OP said the budget was $1000. Why buy a bike for $30 and have a lot of work to do to get it rideable when there are many, many good-quality new bikes around either new or secondhand?

I call major goof. Or troll.

My money's on the latter.

JanMM

This tells a somewhtat different story about target price.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post10820649

lucille

You paid $30.00 for a bike? That's a steal! Ermmm... I mean, literally. Are you sure the bike wasn't stolen? What kind of a bike store was it?

Imagonnabike

Lets go with major goof, but not so fast. To pay 999. and not know what I am buying or pay 30.00 and not know what I am buying? I would go with the 30.00, if you have $$ to lose on something you dont know... more power to you. I am older, gaining weight, in need of exercise and not sure which way to turn. I am trying to learn but unfortunately I may not learn as quick as you do. I appreciate the help of everyone but please do not be so quick to label me a troll.

The sticker on the bike did indicate "Special Tubing"

Imagonnabike

It was not a bike store, it was the corner thrift store. https://www.thrifttown.com/ it has a Vespa seat that I would get replaced because it has a hole or bite missing. The tire was flat but all in all it looked okay.

cyclist2000

thrift store

Imagonnabike

No, keep reading. My target price was 400. as you read you will see people said that 400. was not a good price, if you read till the end I saw a bike I was going to purchase today for a 999.00 (about that much) price. I spoke with my husband and read posts here. 999. would be stretching our budget and someone just posted a picture of he and his wife, he is 60 ish and said he got a deal on his bike and I think he mentioned a Thrift Store purchase, go find that post. I even indicated I was off to the Thrift store as I had not thought of that.

JanMM

$400 would certainly buy a functional new bike in a bike shop. $30 is not a major goof unless you have to put hundreds into it.
A Vespa seat? How about Vetta?

Imagonnabike

You are right, I was going off memory. I wrote all this on my note paper, Vetta, Tuolumne, Yokota, Special Tubing.
Thanks.

2manybikes

I'm guessing because you asked about painting a bike, you don't understand bike mechanical things. Take the $35 bike to a bike shop, if they say it costs too much to fix it, consider buying a new entry level bike from them, or a shop you like. That will get you probably one free tune up, and some warranty coverage. A new bike shop bike is probably going to cost over or around $350. But it should also get you some tech advice when you need it.

A new seat for the old bike is probably around $30. A cheap tire might be about $15. A tune up might be $40- $50, not including parts. It adds up quickly.

Imagonnabike

Thank you, I will check it out. I appreciate the input.

cehowardGS

Ok, now I am in your thread!

First, it would be better for all concern, if you posted pictures of the bike you got for $30.00

With pictures, the peeps around here can tell you exactly what you got. Until you posts pics, it is a guessing game. Guessing is not going to help anybody, and might get people mad.

Post some pictures..

CbadRider

+1 If you're just getting into cycling, put a little effort into fixing up this bike and see how you like it. Ride it around for a while and get an idea of the type of riding you like to do. Find out if you will just ride it for exercise, or if you want it to run errands and such. That will give you a better idea of whether or not you want a different bike down the road.

Imagonnabike

I will be happy to in the next few days. I bought it at the thrift store but only had my car so I paid and they put the Sold ticket on it. I asked if I could pick it up Tuesday because I have a busy weekend. They told me they could only hold it till Monday, if I can I am going to run over in the morning and take it to a bike shop, if thats not an option I will do it Monday after work. So I will post as soon as its home.

CbadRider

I hope you are able to post a photo. The only thing that matters is if you are happy with the bike and it works for you.

There is a women's forum you are eligible to gain access to after posting for a month. Send a PM to Siu Blue Wind (administrator) to get access.

lucille

There is**********?

purplepeople

I think you got fair value for 30 bucks. Early 90's Yokota would have been a typical work-a-day bike. Even without photos, we can learn a lot about the bike from a simple magnet test and be able to give you more advice.

Get a magnet. Check if it sticks to the frame, fork, handlebars, handlebar stem, seatpost, cranks, rims, and hubs. If these are steel, they will stick easily, and no if aluminum. Make sure that if the magnet sticks, it is to the component and not a mounting bolt.

:)ensen.

Imagonnabike

There is so much knowledge on this board, thank you all.