Originally Posted by
JulesCW
While you're at it go ahead and clean that poor bike by hand with soapy water and old rags -- looking it over carefully while and after cleaning it you might find more "deferred" maintenance issues that should be addressed -- like the empty bottle boss holes pointed out earlier. You've proven that you CAN ride a bike which badly needs mechanical attention 70 miles (congratulations?), but your rides will be a lot better if the bike is in good mechanical condition, and the bike will last longer, too.
Will do.
FYI, this old bike was neglected, disregarded, abused, mistreated, and manhandled by its original and previous owner(s), and feels much better in my hands. When I acquired this bike, the front wheel was wobbling and shaking like a squirrel on a roller coaster and producing a squeaking noise that could rival the chorus of rubber ducks. However, I took matters into my own hands, disassembled the front wheel and bestowed upon it fresh bearings and generous slathering of grease, and the wheel now glides with the grace of a swan and emits a sound so melodious that birds on the side of the trials fly in envy................despite its appearance.