PatrickGSR94

This is my old bike, the one that my current KHS Alite replaced a few years back. This thing is your typical Walmart special 26" mountain bike, given to me by my grandparents for Christmas 1992. It weighs almost twice what the KHS weighs. It's been sitting in a covered outdoor shelter since I moved into this house in 2005, next to my lawn mower, so basically in the weather for over 6 years. The tires are badly dry rotted, and it looks like the rear rim is bent. I'm sure they're steel rims and not sure if they can be trued or not. Rust is everywhere.

I'm thinking... put it on the curb for somebody to take, or garbage to pick up if no one wants it?

SlimRider

If the frame is chromoly steel, either keep it and upgrade it, or donate it to a bicycle co-op. If it's anything else, toss it!

1nterceptor

https://www.freecycle.org/

https://newyork.craigslist.org/zip/

Igo

It's trash. Sorry.

PatrickGSR94

How can I tell if it's chromoly steel?

SlimRider

If you have a magnet, the magnet should be attracted to the bike frame and stick. ----> That just proves that it's steel!

Actually, most bikes that are made of chromoly steel, have a decal that says, "Chromoly" or "CHROMO" on the frame somewhere. Sometimes these decals wear off and you just have to reseach it. However, if the bike originally came from a big box store type outlet, chances are it's a "hi-tensile" steel bicycle. That's especially more plausible, if the bike is really heavy. Chromoly steel bikes are almost as light as the aluminum bikes.

Heck! If you want to just have some fun, take the bike to a bicycle co-op and upgrade it, right there. You can pick up some mechanical skills in the process. There are seasoned bicycle mechanics on the premises.

You can start by disassembling all the components from the bike. Next, sand the frame down very well, making certain that all of the rust is sanded off of the bike. Once you're certain that the bike is rust-free, treat it with JP Weigle's rust proofing, inside of the bicycle's tubes. Next, spray paint the frame with matte black rust converting primer. Finally, spray the bike with Krylon's matte black truck bed enamel paint.

PS.

Instead of just tossing the bike, use it for a learning experience....

Of course, no rusty screws, nuts, or bolts should be placed on the upgraded bicycle.

PatrickGSR94

Yeah I think the rust is mostly confined to the components, not the frame itself.

Also I'm not certain but I'm thinking the way the frame is made, it may not accept many aftermarket parts. Look at the handlebar riser stem and headset - looks like nothing I see on most decent bikes.

But really I can't put any money into it right now - I'm already strapped for cash tight enough that I can't get new tires for my KHS at the moment.

PatrickGSR94

Just checked weights - my KHS alum frame is 26 lbs all inclusive. I thought it was less but I guess I'm used to really picking it up and tossing it around when one or both rims is off of it. The old bike is 37 lbs.

Igo

He has chromoly steel telepathy.

That bike has no salvage value other than it's price in scrap metal. It's just too far gone.

jbchybridrider 

You could just clean it up and lube/adjust everything to make it ride able but why bother when you've got that KHS and it's to low end to start upgrading components, bikes that low end would certainly have a heavy hi tensile steel frame "pitch it"

SlimRider

+1 ^ This

If that bike weighs 37lbs, pitch it!

Tom Bombadil

That one photo of the seat tube decal looks like it says something like "High Strength Steel." That usually means High Tensile Steel, which is junk. If it were made out of chromoly then there would be some mention of that on the bike frame decal.

PatrickGSR94

I just rode it up and down the street. Still ridable, still shifts and everything. Brakes are questionable, though, with the POS plastic brake levers.

I'll probably see if anyone in the local bike club wants it.

Delmarva

If it can be made safely ridable then clean it up and donate it to Salvation Army or something similar. If not just put it at the curb and I will bet someone will pick it up.

4.11

I converted my old Cannondale comfort 400 into a single speed mountain bike, but it is a Cannondale and was in great condition. Depending on what your plan is it might not hurt to convert it into a single speed city cruiser or something like that.

If the frame is such a piece of junk how come it is still in one piece? don't listen to the frame material snobbery, yeah, it might not make it through a bunch of cross country trips or a summer of intense single tracking but it might be good for something less extreme, if you feel like taking on a project and spending the dough.

Plutonix

Since it at least rolls etc, you could donate to Goodwill or similar for a tax deduction, too.

PatrickGSR94

Just found out about this local community bike shop where I could donate this bike, and also volunteer some hours and get to build a bike for my wife. Pretty cool!

https://revolutionsmemphis.wordpress.com/

alicestrong

That looks good...or use it as your "beater", lock overnight at the train station bike...

SlimRider

Bravo! I salute you!

PatrickGSR94

Yeah that looks like an awesome cause. The guy started that when he was 16 in 2002, now he's a senior in college and it's grown exponentially!

gabriel1

and you can get a much better frame used for cheap.

EllaCadell

I think you should keep that cycle under the outdoor shelter because it's a gift and have some memories with you. Anyway if you don't want this so you can donate this it will help you to reduce some tax.

outdoor marquees | Visit us about outdoor canopies

lilpoindexter

Put it out by the trash, someone will grab it before the trash man comes, they will use it or sell for a couple of bucks to someone that will enjoy it for a while.

PatrickGSR94

uh whut? Why was this brought back up? I donated that bike to the local co-op well over a year ago.