Originally Posted by
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.
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.