Originally Posted by
EddyR
Will be 82 in less than a month and i am three months from my knee replacement today so i went out on this 88 Cannondale i had never ridden. Picked it up six months ago as a shed find. Under Thirty years of dirt and oil it was close to mint. Had to adjust seat and tighten shifting cable to get it into big gear. As soon as i did that i got up the hill that starts at our parking lot. 10% for 1/4 mile. Never did bother my knee. Ridding is easer than walking with out cane.
Ed
congratulations Ed! I share your joy in an ace shed find! Hope your knee op goes well. My son found a 91, Peugeot st. gothard p100s in my local 'recycle' store. He gifted it to me. I, just about, rode it to the next village and back, 5 Kms total, but it was stuck in a difficult gear. So, only on the downhill and straight bits.
Uphill, I used it like a Zimmer frame, carrying the weight of my shopping.
I'm used to using my ebike for all transport, so felt quite pleased with myself for riding it at all.
Very happy to report that cleaning off 30 years of grease and dirt, like yours, its almost like new, although it has straight handlebars and an ordinary roadbike saddle.. Light as a feather, after my weighty ebike.
I thought the gears must be permanently broken, but close inspection showed that the cogs were caked in ancient grease that was like dried glue. Hot water and strong cleaner have given me great hopes for my next trial run.
I don't see me zooming up any hills yet, my ebike is always good for exercise, but only of quite a relaxed kind compared to taking a road racer up a hill.
I feel inspired to try again now I think the gears are perfectly in order.
It won't be easy!!