Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
If your objective is to have fun riding it, do whatever you think is cool
That's an affirmative. Speaking of cool, this thing might be as cheap as a length of gas pipe, but it sure as hell is a great conversation starter! People ask me questions about it wherever I take it!
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
If you just like to screw around with bikes, do it. Cheaper and probably more fun than bars and you'll get yourself into less trouble.
Very much so. Especially that having a good time at a bar ain't an option (look where we live!
)
I'm particularly interested in exploring just how much I can improve on this dog - do things to it with my own hands and call it my own.
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
If your plan is to flip it and make money, it's the worst idea ever.
Nope, no chance of that every happening. It's a very cheap bike that won't make me back even half of what I initially bought it for, let alone the few (and also cheap) "upgrades" that I made (better tubes, better brake cables, a pair of pedals, and a better rear wheel.)
Originally Posted by
jimc101
Are any modern 'quality' parts even going it fit it?
I don't know, but I would be interested in finding out what works (if and when the economy - and the cashflow - improves a little, that is!)
Originally Posted by
keg61
a cheap frame... put that money toward buying yourself a real bike
I do have "real" bikes (see my profile) but this particular bike serves a very specific purpose for me: it's my "chase bike" - that is, it's the bike that I find best suited to circling around my wife as she rides her trike. It handles surprisingly well for what it is, it's very responsive and maneuverable.
Originally Posted by
fietsbob
with the chainring fused on
Yes it is; it's a 46T ring that I can't possibly change to anything larger, since it's already spinning just about a millimeter or two from the chain stay...
Originally Posted by
fietsbob
Gear too high? maybe a bigger cog on the back ..
Quite the opposite, actually; it's a more than a little too slow to be useful for, say, anything longer than a short jaunt to the store around the corner. Given the situation with the chainring ^^^^ my only option is to get me a 16T or 15T freewheel to replace the stock 18T, which I can source locally with ease.
Originally Posted by
fietsbob
1 logical change , better braking power.. Aluminum rim wheels and Kool Stop continental brake shoes ..
Could work, but that's not too high on my priority list at this time, the stopping power on this thing being already more than good enough for what it is right now.
Originally Posted by
fietsbob
the upturned loop of brake cables are known to fill with water,
grease the cables so it wont rust as fast maybe add a V Brake cable rubber bellows
between the side pull brake arms , less water entry is the goal..
Good call, but that's not much of a concern over at where I live; it rarely rains to begin with, much less my wife and I going for a spin when it does!
You are basically looking for bottom feeder stuff that might cost $30 to 40 for a crankset and sq taper BB, $5 for a single tooth sprocket and $20 for a saddle. In the US Niagra cycles has such stuff (as does Walmart) but in Saudi you may have to deal with Chinese suppliers, with prices even lower than those listed. If you can find such I would say go for it. Chain rub on the chain cover is another matter.
Pretty much sums up the situation. Look, guys, I'm not about to start ordering Campagnolos here - this thing will never become a masterpiece, nor is it my intention to try and make it so. It's just a cheap bike that I intend to have (reasonably) cheap fun with. If I could upgrade it with some even slightly better components that are priced reasonably enough to be justifiable, then why not?
Chain rub on the chain cover is another matter.
Which is driving me nuts. I'm thinking of losing the shroud altogether - problem is, the shroud is the single component that's giving this thing so much of its character!