Oh my, I do think I'm addicted to fixing bikes
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Oh my, I do think I'm addicted to fixing bikes
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.
Yikes, I think I'm a bike fixoholic. But it is so satisfying when it works the way its supposed to.

#2
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New England
Posts: 17
Bikes: 78ish Dawes, 80ish Swinn, 80ish Pinarello
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you would move next door to me, I would really appreciate it.

#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
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.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,031
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1499 Post(s)
Liked 455 Times
in
270 Posts
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.
Maybe we should start a 12-step program.
#5
Journeyman Bike Commuter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 6,341
Bikes: '71 Jeunet 640, '79 Peugeot PXN10LE, '88 Fuji Saratoga, '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '16 Motobecane Gran Premio Elite, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1179 Post(s)
Liked 945 Times
in
519 Posts
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.
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.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.

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.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York City
Posts: 875
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
...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.
Yikes, I think I'm a bike fixoholic. But it is so satisfying when it works the way its supposed to.

Saddle position is very personal, why the heck would you go and adjust someone else's saddle without being asked?
#8
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
They have places for people like you.
They are called bike co-ops, bike kitchens, bike churches or something similar.
They are called bike co-ops, bike kitchens, bike churches or something similar.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,836
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Because a near vertical saddle is uncomfortable to anyone. There is comfortable, and plain wrong.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
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.