Originally Posted by
jordb48
If anyone has suggestions for parts that I can use on this frame and switch to another around the same prices I'm open. Part of the reason I'm so resilient to buying another frame/bike and working on that is because that would mean extra money to get the frame/bike beofre upgrading all the same things. so to get a $100 frame and all the parts I need to upgrade it comes out to more than I have to spend on this admittedly poor quality bike.
Keep in mind I'm 22, and a Nursing Assistant at a hospital that is notorious for underpaying all of their staff.
The Free Spirit has a nearly obsolete wheel size, and a nearly obsolete spacing for the rear wheel axle. If you buy wheels for this bike they likely wouldn't work with a newer frame so you'd be spending money that you wouldn't be able to apply to a future project.
It is not at all silly to get this bike on the road with safe brakes, functional drivetrain, and round wheels, as cheaply as possible and learning some bike mechanics in the process.
1. You can probably find some used 27" 5-speed wheels for cheap. You might even find a whole bike including wheels for less than what you'd expect to pay for just the wheels.
2. You can probably make the existing derailleurs and crank work.
3. If your brake levers aren't mangled and your brake cables aren't broken, you can probably make them work as well.