krobinson103

As much as I (and my fitness) enjoy riding bikes, I also take deep satisfaction from a soundless, smooth shifting, perfectlty adjusted bikes. All mine are constantly monitered and thus hardly ever get out of true. But, as for the bikes our tenants and my wifes guests (or anyone riding by going sqqquuuueeeccckkkkkkkk! for that matter) I really just want to fix them. In fact, I just did. I noticed one of the women from my wifes prayer group had parked her bike in our garage. So I check it out. Old BSO rusted and badly adjusted. So I put the saddle on the right angle, lubricate the drive train (I was doing that on my commuter so I had the oil with me) and notice that the drum brake is too loose. I adjust that right up, check the derailer and see that the cable isn't even close to being right get that right, so I get it shifting nice and smooth.... AND ITS NOT EVEN MY BIKE!

Yikes, I think I'm a bike fixoholic. But it is so satisfying when it works the way its supposed to.

omnivor

If you would move next door to me, I would really appreciate it.

JonathanGennick 

I completely understand. It is deeply satisfying to take someone's bike that has not been cared for, and to rehabilitate the bike so that it rides well.

Retro Grouch 

That's stage 1 "CBTD" (compulsive bike tinkerers disease). In the later stages you might acquire a new (to you) crankset and spend the rest of the weekend transferring cranksets from bike-to-bike. Then the crappy crankset that came off the last bike goes into a box because you might need it some day. There's no known cure so you might as well just go with it.

Maybe we should start a 12-step program.

Phil_gretz

I'm monthly rebuilding or repairing on bike for a friend or another. I did a complete re-build for one friend (1981 Univaga Viva Sport or somesuch), but he made a contribution to my wife's mission fund. I tuned another's MTB on Sunday, and rode with him on a newly given (to him) Fuji Gran Touring SE.

The PO had put a Shimano 600 drivetrain onto it (nice upgrade!), but the 6-speed indexing wasn't working right. As we rode, I assessed what needs to be done. We switched him to friction, and I promised to clean his drivetrain and replace the shifter cables, reposition the brake levers, change the quill stem, and wrap the bars with new tape the next time he brings the bike over.

I have a neighbor down the street with a Frankenbike 1970s Gitane with japanese components (but retaining the Mafac Racer's, thank goodness) and it needs work. I told him to bring it by and I'll replace the consumables for him. It has a beautiful patina Ideale saddle, btw.

Anyway, I can't stand to see any bike not running properly, like you, K-
Rob. It's a sickness.

We have 9 bikes in my house. They all run perfectly.

krobinson103

Did you mean the get a cheap bike then modify to suit your specs? Already did that. got my mtb cheap for the frame, dumped the wheels, rear derailer, brakes, pedals, chain, and suspension fork. Then I proceeded to replace it with deore level components as I got them second hand. Now my $400 "entry level" mtb rides better than than a $1000 "mid level" mtb at the local bike shop AND I get the crappy brand name on the frame so no one wants to steal it.

Don't even get me started on how much the commuter is modified, or my 6 year olds 2 bikes, or my wifes shopping cruiser.... sigh I must be a hopeless case.

ratdog

Saddle position is very personal, why the heck would you go and adjust someone else's saddle without being asked?

Artkansas 

They have places for people like you.


They are called bike co-ops, bike kitchens, bike churches or something similar.

krobinson103

Because a near vertical saddle is uncomfortable to anyone. There is comfortable, and plain wrong.

JonathanGennick 

I understand where the OP is coming from. Casual riders often just ride the bike in whatever configuration they received it. The idea that one can move the controls, rotate the bar, tilt the saddle, that idea never occurs. I too will sometimes make obvious adjustments to such items.