New to riding, bought a project today
 

I'm new here so please be gentle as I really don't know a whole lot about cycling. Anyway, I picked this poor girl up today for $20 and I want to give her a new life. The thing is I really don't have a need for all the gears and I think I would benefit/have more fun with a single speed/fixed speed but as I said I'm not all that familiar with bike mechanics.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...-08_132416.jpg

It is usually easier and cheaper to get the gears shifting flawlessly than it is to convert the bike to a proper fixed gear. Why do you think it would be more fun to ride a single speed or fixed gear? Do you find it fun to drive a standard transmission car around in second gear all day? Unless you live in a flat, windless area those gears will come in handy. They will make it it easier to ride and increase the chances of you continuing to ride when all the hipsters are sipping low fat, half caff Gerital.

The gears will also make it easier on your knees so you can still ride when you are old (like me).

If you want to ride it as a single speed, you can, just don't shift.

Ok, I can see your points. My last bike "back in the day" was a single speed, and I lived in a flat area. Cali is covered in hills.

So, I know I need a new chain, seat, and I want the ram-horn style handle bars so I will also need a new stem, is that what it is called?

Yep - it is called a stem. The problem with converting to drop bars is that you'll need new brake levers and shifters (either integrated or separate) which gets expensive. It may be best to leave the bike configured as-is unless you're prepared to spend more than the bike is worth. Ride it around and if you discover that you like riding and still want a drop bar road bike, buy one that's already set up as such. IMO - single speed bikes are a lot of fun but generally are best as a second (or third, or fourth, or...) bike.

I really don't mind spending the money to get the bike the way I want it. I'll scrap the single speed idea for now and work on the drop bars and stem. One of the great things about being a Marine, someone somewhere knows how to fix your problem, be it a car, bike, motorcycle, wireless network etc...

Would anyone happen to know the diameter of the stem?

You should not try to make that hybrid bike with flat bars into a road bike with drop bars. It is possible, but not worth it, and the results will not be good.

You will need a new stem, because that stem is goofy high for a road bike and probably won't fit a road bar (wrong clamp diameter). That is an older bike with a threaded fork so you need an older stem. A bike co-op with a box of old quill stems is your best bet.

Then you will need a drop bar. Again, used is your best bet.

You'll need brake levers. Modern road bikes have integrated shift/brake levers, it is not practical to put those on your bike, you'd need to change out most of the drivetrain. So a set of used brake levers.

Then you need shifter levers. Your bike has no brazed on mounts for down tube shifters or down tube cable stops. So you would need clamp-on mounts. More used parts bin stuff. Then you need shift levers. Down tube levers are cheap, bar end levers are surprisingly expensive.

Then new cables, housing, bar tape. Not used.

If you got as much as you could from the salvage parts bins at the bike coop, borrowed the tools, did your own work, you would still spend over $100 on parts of serviceable quality.

Then you have a hybrid bike with road bars, but it needs new road tires and a new chain at bare minimum. $85 or so.

You still have a hybrid bike's gearing, which might be tolerable since you have hills, but isn't road bike gearing.

Point is, you'll have spent $185 or more, when you can go buy a used road bike for barely more than that, and it will be a far better bike for the road than the "converted" hybrid.

I suggest you leave the hybrid as it is. Get it working, ride the heck out of it, eventually maybe put a rack and fenders and make it your utility bike. When you want a road bike, get one.

i have to laugh.

Ok, great advice jyl, one last stupid question....how many speeds is this darn thing I can't find any info.

What model is that bike? A Via Montegna? I have a Via De Oro and it is a fantastic bike! I have trekking bars on it now because of the brake levers/shifters that came on it. Your bike should turn out to be a great all purpose bike with whatever bars you choose to put on it and however you set it up. Good choice not to go to a single speed though.

It's a Via Activa SE, I should have stated that beforehand.

First off, welcome to C&V Forum, you'll find the folks here friendly, helpful, and patient. Being new to cycling, it's best to learn as much as you can, before executing any hasty plans. For $20, you got yourself a heck of a great Univega as a basis to start with. First lesson is to get acquainted to the the mechanics and maintenance of a bike. Get it running properly and get a feel for the bike. Then you'll know how you ride it and make modifications for the future. This will keep it fun. Can the hybrid be turned into a drop bar styled bike, or a single speed? Sure, but being a newbie, you don't have the resources (ie. tools, spare parts, donor bikes, wrenching experience, $) to do it efficiently. Be patient, search for bike co-ops in your area, or LBS that are friendly to older bikes. Read a lot! You'll come up to speed pretty quickly. You have a nice bike to start with. Once it's running as intended, you'll know better whether to sell it, mod it, or keep it as is.

+1

thats how i started, and you picked a real nice bike to start out with....take your time, and check out youtube also for any questions you might have

I picked up a very similar Univega without wheels recently to rob it for parts. I can measure the stem diameter and it will probably be the same. If you are going to tinker with bikes it is worth it to get a set of digital measuring calipers. I have one that I bought at an auto parts store for $20 about a year ago. You can find them for even less online. http://www.amazon.com/Inch-Digital-C...6590989&sr=8-2
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image....L._AA300_.jpg

That is a Via Activa? very nice I thought it was Via Carisma.


Welcome to the forums!! Whichever it is IMHO that is a sweet deal for $20. I would suggest you take it to a shop for a tuneup, new chain and brake pads. maybe tires but as them if they look OK to start out on.

IIRC that should be a 21 speed and it is way simple to use. the little gear in the front is for hills or super strong Santa Anna Winds. the middle gear is for most of your riding and the big gear is for really fast and downhil riding. use the gears in the bacck to make pedaling comfortable.

I am sure there is a BFer and maybe a C&Ver nearby willing to help you breath life back into that great looking Univega

that should be a 1" stem 25.4 clamp on the handlebars.

Can you post a pic of where the rear wheel mounts into the frame (those are called dropouts)? I can recall for sure but I think that has vertical dropouts or very short ones and would be a lousy SS.

And break levers to fit the new bar and brake cables to fit the new levers and shift levers to fit the new bar and it's going be a really long reach to the hoods when you're finished. In short, drop bars on a MTB are fun but it's going to require a lot of stuff to make it work. If you want a dropbar single speed or fixie, this aint the bike to do it to. Better to find and old road bike and a fixed hub, it'll be cheaper, work better and be more of what you sound like you want this bike to be.

Check to see if you have the recalled Shimano cranks; bikes shops who are authorized Shimano dealers will replace the cranks free of charge. When they do that, they will replace:

Cranks
Bottom Bracket
Front Deraileur
Chain

And Shimano covers the labor. At that point, you will have an almost new multi-speed drivetrain and you can assess whether you like that or would prefer to convert it to a single speed. Check the link at the beginning of my post and you can find out for sure whether this is one of the recalled cranks.

As previously suggested, it will make a great utility bike. I have a similarly configured '88 Trek 900 that works wonderfully for that.

Balderdash.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture235.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...S/DSCI2204.jpg

...for a lot less than your estimate (I think it took about $80).

Double Dolderdash....but it does cost some cash

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=249287


for the bar tape? or the saddle?;)

larifleman, welcome!

My recommendations:

Replace the chain. Have a mechanic at your LBS (local bike shop) show you how to do it. Offer to pay him the normal charge for replacing a chain and ask if he'll show you. It's a skill you should have. And buy the tool, too. It's easy to do this job right, but it's easier to do it wrong, which is why it's worth learning from an expert. There are several pitfalls in working with chains.

Check the the tires. If they're cracked or worn on the sidewalls, replace them.

Lubricate in the brake and gear cables, brake levers, shift levers, brake pivot points, and derailleur pivot points. Don't lubricate a brand new chain, as it comes with good lube built in.

Ride it and adjust it to your fit. Make small changes on each ride if necessary. Let the position evolve over several rides. Your butt might be sore after the first four rides or so. That's normal. Don't get too soft a saddle. They can cause soreness, oddly enough. And don't spend too much on a saddle until you're sure you should.

You may want to lubricate the seatpost and stem and handlebar. This won't make the bike operate better, but it will make it last longer. Lubing them will let you determine if they were ever lubricated or if these things are stuck. Be sure the stem and seat post are inserted at least the minimum amount.

Read the Sheldon Brown web pages on repairing and maintaining your bike.

Enjoy, and please feel free to ask more questions like these.

Welcome to the forums. One site I found to be very useful is the site of the late sheldon brown, he covers all the various topics associated with a bike like yours, plus he has a handy glossary for if you're unsure about the terminology.
Like others have said, tune it and ride so you'll know if you need more gears, less gears or a different bar set up.
And you're right about the marines - over here there are several active and rtrd. who build and restore a class bikes :)

Handlebars with brake levers: $20
Barcon bar end shfiters: $30
Tape: $6 Shellac: $3
Stem: $12
Quill Adapter: $10
Oh... I had to buy a tandem shift cable to make the run to the back under the tape: $9

So, a little over $80 for everything. The seat was on there prior to conversion; doesn't count.

Wow, I come home from work to all this great info. Thanks a lot.

Doohickie, that's what I hope my final outcome will look like. A guy that I work with, who rides a lot, was giving me some tips and pointing me in the direction of some good local shops.

I'll try to get some more detailed pictures today or tomorrow.

And if you're the type who likes to read to learn about bicycle mechanics, buy a good book on the subject. Plenty of good ones around on the used market, and handy to have laying on the bench next to you while you're over-hauling your new bike. Kind of tough for most folks to do with a computer. Get yourself a good bike book, and enjoy.