Cycling is an expensive sport ONLY if you want it to be. True to my Scottish heritage, I buy high-quality used bikes and components, do almost all of my own work, and do an adequate amount of preventive maintenance.
I will choose an old SunTour thumb shifter over a flimsy GripShift unit any day, as I will take old Campy downtube friction shifters (40 years and counting, folks!) over a modern integrated index system. Old Campy NR derailleurs, and even old SunTour Cyclones, seem to outlast alot of the new stuff, as well.
For safety, I never skimp on chains. I buy SRAM PC-58s and replace them when they hit Sheldon's 0.5% elongation spec. Likewise, if a tyre casing looks suspicious, it gets replaced. If it looks marginally questionable, it goes on the back wheel.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Last edited by John E; 01-15-02 at 08:45 AM.