Originally Posted by
justingt
actually an interesting development...i was rootin' around in the garage and found a 1976 Nikishi. My dad said he bought it new in '76. He hasn't riden it in years but he bought new tires for it years ago that just need to be inflated and it's got a pretty nice gell seat with shock absorbers on it
1. Make sure it fits you.
2. Make sure it fits you before you start spending time fixing it.
3. Make sure it fits you before you start spending money fixing it.
4. Make sure the wheels are serviceable. Flip the bike upside down and attach a pencil to the a part of the bike with a rubber band so the pencil is very close to the rim(not tire, rim). Spin the wheel. I bet they need to be trued.
5. Check the tires for cracks. I would replace the tires with something commuter worthy anyway. Something that resists punctures. Make sure you buy the right size tires. There is a chance that bike has either 700C tires or 27 inch tires. There is a difference.
6. New tubes, regardless of how the old tubes look and feel, get 2 new tubes and use the old ones as spares.
7. Clean everything with some degreaser. I like the orange stuff.
8. Regrease the bottom bracket and wheel hubs. Google "how do I ______ ?" for good info from various websites. Park tools has an excellent "how to" section. Park tools also sells a good general purpose grease.
9. Relube the drivetrain with some quality oil. I like the thick bike lube that comes in a drip bottle. All weather something something...
10. Ride it till you feel like you know what your next bike is going to be.
I'm sure I forgot something. "Zinn and the art of Road Bike Maintenance" is a great book. Check it out at your local library or pick up a copy for $20.