Warning: that video only applies to certain models of Grip shifts. If you have an MRX it's WAY EASIER !!!!

Those pedals may have a plastic cap on the outer end. It may not be evident. You may have to skewer anything that looks round and rotate/pull. If you can, take them apart and clean/grease. (Be careful, there are about 30 1/8" bearings that will fall out.).

That will give you some decent backup pedals. I did this with my Schwinn Avenue and Trailway (Walmart and Target, respectively). They've held up very nicely. Initially, they were overtightened. Grumbly and felt like they would "index" into set positions. After rebuilding, very smooth.

Probably a poor expenditure of time. Replacement resin pedals are about $8. But, an "I did that" feeling is worth something. :)

Good point. I dont normally use the biggest chairing, but it's good to have if you need it. The TD-One is surprisingly strong. It doubt it's going to bend or get caught in the spokes.

Speaking of TD-One rear derailleur, anything out there that may be compatible? It does seem to be long cage..

No...not more greasing any bearings...lol. I didn't even know you could do do that. Any instructional videos out there on "how to grease pedal bearings".

I think my pedal axle was lose and also needs some grease, but I paid $15 for the alloy pedals, not a bad good deal at all. I guess i can use the resin pedals as a backup.

I will see if I can take it apart...good learning opportunity.


EDIT: I took off the cap, but I do not see any nuts or bolt to loosen. Am i missing something?

I did some googling, it may be disposable.

http://forums.bicycletutor.com/thread-388.html

I will some pics later, so you can take a closer look.

Cheap seat
 

BTW: Speaking of cheap stuff, if you have a chance, order one of these Ventura ASA MTB Racing saddles.

For $8, this is a remarkable saddle. There's not much upholstery to it. Just a plastic body with some hard plastic covering it. No seams to fail. Low friction, the fabric shouldn't wear out. The plastic body has a bit of flex, like a Brooks saddle.

I've gone through some $20-$30 saddles. Seams fail, fabric wears. I'm really impressed with this $8 saddle. Simple and comfortable (if you've already desensitized your bum to a small saddle). I saw it on sale at meijer.com for $6 plus free shipping. I wish I would have ordered 10 and never have to buy another saddle for the rest of my life. :)

Seriously, $8, free shipping to the store. Give it a try.

wow. While the saddle on the Roadmaster doesn't bother me, but for $8 , I must give the ventura a try. It looks much nicer too. :lol:

Thanks.

When I pulled my cap, there was a locknut underneat. When I removed that, a lock washer was on the spindle. Removing that was a little difficult (requiring tilting it and walking it off the spindle). Then a nut below the washer. That's the nut that tightens the axle.

It was a little complicated tightening all that. I used a screw driver to hold the lower nut in place while tightening the top locknut. Once they were cinched, I could use a socket to tighten the locknut. (I had to leave a little play in the axle to accommodate for the final tightening that would tighten the bottom nut a little.).

If you don't see a nut, then it may not be repairable.

Most derailers can shift a LOT of different cogsets with many different shifters. If you can tell me what shifter you have now I can tell you what derailers will work with it. Or better yet snap a pic of the shifter, perhaps I can determine if it's MRX style or the style in the video.

Chances are just about any derailer with a claw will work (since most derailers with claws are Shimano cable pull and work with triples).
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Shimano-RD...i_sku=13012513

Yup. Just my luck i guess...no nuts for me... :(

[PS: Forget nuts, it doesn't even have bearings on one end of the axle. Shouldn't there be bearings on both ends? (Talk about noisy pedals)]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_O...0/IMG_0796.jpg



I replaced the stock pedals with a very good Alloy BMX type pedals. Should last years of abuse...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_O...0/IMG_0798.jpg

Well...pacific cycles seem to be wanting a pie from Shimano/SRAM. They have their own generic TD-One brand, which one can only order directly from Pacific Cycle.

Here's a pic of the TD One Shifter (6 Speed). This is one reason, I am thinking of converting to a friction shifter at one point... :notamused:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_O...admaster14.jpg

Gentlemen, I present to you the $149 700C Mongoose Cachet Fixed-Speed Men's Bike.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/700C-Men-s...-Bike/13398142


Discuss.

You could switch to one of these integrated brake, trigger shifters for $30. The ones that came on my Avenue and Trailway say "7 Speed" on them. They have a large gap on the display dial between 6 and 7. I think this makes them suitable for 6-speed bikes. You wouldn't see the 7. The derailer's limit screw would prevent it from shifting past 6.

I ordered one of these, but changed my mind before it arrived at the store. I returned it before accepting delivery.

A couple of good reviews with photos:

• NYC Bike Snob
• Urban Velo

A couple videos where the rider is 6'-4". He looks a bit tall for the bike. But, gives you an idea of how it would fit someone 5-10 to 6-0 (which sounds like the appropriate size).

I'm contemplating buying one of the two Walmart single speeds that they have. The other choice is a genesis with a fliphop. I believe it also has 700 x32C tires standard on it. When I looked at the Walgoose I didn't like the fork clearences it had on it. I am curious however if I the genesis if I could rebuild the rear hub with a Sturmney S30 and have myself a cheap 3 speed. Any ideas?

I was so tempted to buy one of those Cachets when they were $129.

Do you have any pics of that saddle and how wide is it? I suppose I should just order one and if I don't like it throw it on a flip bike. =)

The widest part is 5-1/2". The length is 10-1/4". I don't have photos, but the Walmart page has two. I could take some if it would be informative.

But, there's really not a lot to this saddle. It's just a thick plastic body with some smooth plastic fabric stretched over it. Not much cushion. It reminds me of a Brooks saddle. Just hard, smooth, continuous surface with some flex in the body.

Ventura makes another ASA seat. It's the same length but wider. I bought one but haven't used it yet.

I bought one of these Bell Dart saddles and went through the 2-week process of deadening my bum. It has seams and is starting to wear out. I bought the ASA MTB saddle for another bike. It feels similar to the Dart (not as long). I think it will last longer because it has no seams. I'm sure it would be uncomfortable if I hadn't already desensitized myself to the Dart.

I just sat down and read the entire thread. I noticed one very important detail was missing:

ALL department store bikes are made by Pacific Cycles.

It doesn't matter if it's a Huffy, Mongoose, Schwinn, GT, or whatever, it's the same company and the same bikes. If you see two identical bikes with different names and one is cheaper, buy that one. There is no quality difference.

Aside from Pacific being acquired by Dorel I guess that most of us are on the fence as opposed to quality. I have no problem buying a bike from a big box retailer. However, the way I approach it is as if I am buying a flawed piece of work. In that regard I don't set myself up for disappointment. Pacific is just one big umbrella corporation. Pacific may have a large market share but quality bike's will never disappear.

That's not true. Walmart sells a "Hiland" brand. It isn't made by Pacific. The manuals have no reference to Pacific. No phone number to call. The box (I saw) said: "Winston International Manufacturing, 7704 E 38 St, Tulsa, OK 74145."

Walmart also sells GMC and Triace brands. Pacific doesn't hold those brands.

Pacific could be Walmart's sole supplier, serving as the middle-man to get into Walmart.

The key to that assertion is "identical." For example, the Schwinn Avenue, Trailway and Midmoor (Walmart, Target and Sears) are almost identical. A few cosmetic differences (grips, straight or pull-back bars, rack-mount holes). In that case, the quality is the same.

But, there is a very big quality difference between those Schwinns and most Mongoose or Huffy bikes. Single-wall wheels. Peel-off decals. Flimsier brakes. SIS derailer instead of Tourney.

In some ways I agree with your sentiment. These bikes probably come from the same factories (probably the same factories LBS bikes come from). They generally use the same components. TD-One derailer is just a rebranded Shimano (I suspect).

My LBS told me there are 3 factories in China where all the inner tubes come from. They said it's funny when someone demands a Kenda tube instead of a cheaper Sun -- when they both come from the same factory.

In that sense, I think you're right.

Dorel owns Cannondale too.

From my experience, stick to the bikes that have shimano components (eg, shifters, derailleurs, etc). On the cheaper bikes, they will include proprietary components and later charge you through the nose for any replacement parts.

Here's a respone I have recieved when inquiring about replacement rear TD-One derailluer for my Roadmaster bike. (I have yet to give them the model number and date code. I need to look it up).

I had no idea Dorel markets its product under GT as well. (GT makes great MTBs).

I seriously doubt those are proprietary. I bet you could swap either the derailer or shifter with Shimano and it would work. (But, I don't advocate sub-$100 DSBs anyway. When you stay in the $120-$200 range I think you get Shimano SIS and Tourney components. I wouldn't do sub $100 unless it was a markdown/clearance, or for a kid who's going to trash/outgrow the bike.).

I guess I'm a little snobby. :)

I didn't know that either. A few months ago I was in an LBS that sells GT ($450 for a Traffic). The manager was arguing with the mechanic about how some discount brand (I forget what it was) is junk. The mechanic kept saying, "but, do you think KHS is junk?" The manager would say "of course not" (because they sold it). The mechanic said "but Ron, xxxxx's frames are made by KHS."

Manager: "Xxxxx is junk!"

The bike topic often reminds me of the movie Moon over Parador. The dictator of a banana republic holds fake elections running under a yellow and green party. In one scene, two Paradorians stand at the end of the street pondering two campaign posters (yellow and green, but the same candidate). "How are you voting?" asks one? "Green" replies the other. They immediately roll around on the ground, hitting each other.