Originally Posted by
pugboy
3. Brooks b17 saddles are only £30 and are the nicest most comfortable saddles you will own and add character.
Where can you find a B17 that cheap? The cheapest I've seen are $60.
I know it can be intimidating to try to fix a bike without much knowledge, but take it one thing at a time. Start with that front derailleur, first read about derailleur alignment on the sheldon brown or park tool websites and then have a go, it will probably only need a turn of a limit screw to move the derailler cage so that the chain doesn't rub.
Finally tire size, this is notoriously complicated and stupid with several different names meaning the same thing, or eve different things. It all stems from defining things in metirc, English units and a specialized French system (thats 700c, 650b etc). So here goes. The "28/32 - 630" probaly refers to the inner tube, its made for 28 or 32 mm tires on a 630mm diameter rim, 27 x 1 1/4 - FIFTY is your tire size equivalent to the ISO standard measurement of 28-630 ie 28mm wide tire and 630mm inner diameter.
You are right that 622 mm diameter tires are called 28", but some quick math will show you that 622 mm is nowhere near 28", however, a 28-622 tire has an outer diameter very close to 27". Another stupid thing is that 29"er bikes use a big tire on a 622 rim.
I just stick with the ISO way of designating tires as I find it simplest.
So you have 28-630 tires, you can still buy these, but if you replace the wheels one day I'd go to a 622 rim and then you can run 28-622 tires, and probably something a bit fatter too maybe 32-622 or 35-622.