I'm getting out my old mountain bike. It was a cheap (under £100/$160ish, I'm in UK) buy, has Shimano bits on it, gear change controls are twist things on the inside of the grips. Has 3 front sprocket selectors and umm 5 i think at the back. The frame and some other unimportant surfaces have surface rust from sitting in the garage for four years. The chain also is rusty, but appears to be only surface rust also. The cables do not appear to be rusty at all, even on the exposed parts. The sprockets have some rust on them also. Tyres appear to be in good shape, no cracks or age related problems I can see, and inners have inflated fine with no punctures apparent.
Firstly, would you advise me to get a new chain? I've had motorcycle chains rust a bit when left standing but that soon comes off with use. Bicycle chains being a bit thinner, I wonder if I should get a new chain. I should also like to know if bicycle chains have O-rings inside them to hold the lubricant, as motorcycle chains do. I'm wondering if I can use my motorcycle chain lube on a bicycle chain ok? I've read some debates on here about grease and have decided that grease that is ok for bearings on a motorcycle is gonna be ok for a bicycle (as in, well, any old grease really).
My plan of action is, when I know a bit more about stuff, is to take my bike to a shop and get them to just tighten up and adjust everything to good standard so that I can see what to aim for when I do it myself thereafter. But I don't want to have replacement parts thrown at me that I don't need (i.e. chain), so here I am
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