Your mission, should you choose to accept it
#1
Youngin biker
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St. Joe, MO
Posts: 32
Bikes: Wal-Mart brands
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Your mission, should you choose to accept it
is to turn a crappy wal mart bike into a decent road bike. I know it'd be a bit heavier than most bikes, but what parts should I look into? I was thinking of getting some new gears, new tires, new handlebars, and new brakes.
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
#2
RacingBear
Originally Posted by ckellingc
is to turn a crappy wal mart bike into a decent road bike. I know it'd be a bit heavier than most bikes, but what parts should I look into? I was thinking of getting some new gears, new tires, new handlebars, and new brakes.
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
#3
if x=byh then x+1=byn
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 3,442
Bikes: See signature
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
A pig with lipstick is still a pig.
__________________
'00 TiSports Titanium - DA 9 speed------ '01 KHS Flite 800 - DA/Utegra 9 speed mix
02 Ellsworth Flight - Ultegra 10 speed -.'03 Basso Coral - Ultegra 10 speed
'03 Specialized Allez Pro - DA 10 speed .'04 Scattante CFR Limited - DA 9 speed
'05 KHS Flite 2000 - Ultegra 9 speed -... '06 Flyte SRS-3 - DA 9 speed-------
'05 Serotta Fierte - Utegra 10 speed--..-'07 Pedal Force RS - SRAM Force
'00 TiSports Titanium - DA 9 speed------ '01 KHS Flite 800 - DA/Utegra 9 speed mix
02 Ellsworth Flight - Ultegra 10 speed -.'03 Basso Coral - Ultegra 10 speed
'03 Specialized Allez Pro - DA 10 speed .'04 Scattante CFR Limited - DA 9 speed
'05 KHS Flite 2000 - Ultegra 9 speed -... '06 Flyte SRS-3 - DA 9 speed-------
'05 Serotta Fierte - Utegra 10 speed--..-'07 Pedal Force RS - SRAM Force
#4
Reposting Yuppie Scum
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 442
Bikes: '98 Cervelo Eyre, '80 Centurion Lemans 12, '96 GT LTS-3, '05 Specialized Allez Elite Cro-Mo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No cartidge bottom bracket will fit it, and the rear droput spacing is 135mm. Don't waste your time.
#6
hamster with funny pants
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 608
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Get a new road bike. To add another colorful metaphor to blandin's, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
#7
Faith-Vigilance-Service
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 8,330
Bikes: Trinity, Paradisus, Centurion, Mongoose, Trek
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I say, get your self a Record group, and some new Shamal wheels for that GMC Denali you're looking into. Along with that, get a set of Cinelli Ram bars, and an Arione saddle with a Cinelli carbon seatpost.
Then, use a big pry bar to spread the rear stays to make that 135mm rear hub fit.
After you destroy the frame, go out and buy a new Pedal Force carbon frame, or if you can afford it, a nice Orbea Orca frame to replace it.
Then you'll finally have a decent Walmart bike.
Then, use a big pry bar to spread the rear stays to make that 135mm rear hub fit.
After you destroy the frame, go out and buy a new Pedal Force carbon frame, or if you can afford it, a nice Orbea Orca frame to replace it.
Then you'll finally have a decent Walmart bike.
__________________
President, OCP
--"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
President, OCP
--"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,282
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8275 Post(s)
Liked 9,033 Times
in
4,471 Posts
Look for a used bike. You might be able to find an older, used bike that fits and it will be better than some cheapo Wal-Mart bike.
#10
Mettle to the Pedals
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 710
Bikes: Giant Cypress hyrbrid, Giant OCR2, Giant OCRc2, Giant Suede (wife's)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
perhaps a saucy little hat would help....
#12
Winter blues...
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 186
Bikes: 1997 Univega Superstrada
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've done it. Kinda.
I essentially have been recycling discarded Wal-Mart type bikes as an alternative to actually spending money on my bicycling hobby. It's not tough to pick up various discarded Wal-Mart bikes if you know where to look. You can often go to the local scrap yard and pick some up.
The trick is NOT to stick any extra money into it. Don't buy any brand new components to put onto your junk yard treasure. Instead, strip parts off another junker. It saves money and just makes sense.
The theory is the "lowest common denomenator" principal. Which means, your bike is only as good as the worst component on the bike. To maximize value of the bike, assemble the bike with components of similar value. In the case of Wal-Mart bikes, only use junkyard components, otherwise it's just a waste.
The best value of working on junkers, IMO, is gaining mechanical expertise. Who cares if you accidentally cross-thread the bottom bracket by mistake. It's junk anyway. No loss.
I essentially have been recycling discarded Wal-Mart type bikes as an alternative to actually spending money on my bicycling hobby. It's not tough to pick up various discarded Wal-Mart bikes if you know where to look. You can often go to the local scrap yard and pick some up.
The trick is NOT to stick any extra money into it. Don't buy any brand new components to put onto your junk yard treasure. Instead, strip parts off another junker. It saves money and just makes sense.
The theory is the "lowest common denomenator" principal. Which means, your bike is only as good as the worst component on the bike. To maximize value of the bike, assemble the bike with components of similar value. In the case of Wal-Mart bikes, only use junkyard components, otherwise it's just a waste.
The best value of working on junkers, IMO, is gaining mechanical expertise. Who cares if you accidentally cross-thread the bottom bracket by mistake. It's junk anyway. No loss.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ckellingc
is to turn a crappy wal mart bike into a decent road bike. I know it'd be a bit heavier than most bikes, but what parts should I look into? I was thinking of getting some new gears, new tires, new handlebars, and new brakes.
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
#14
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
Originally Posted by ckellingc
is to turn a crappy wal mart bike into a decent road bike. I know it'd be a bit heavier than most bikes, but what parts should I look into? I was thinking of getting some new gears, new tires, new handlebars, and new brakes.
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
#15
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
No matter what your budget for new parts is, I bet you could go out and find a much better used bike.
__________________
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
.
.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#18
.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 40,375
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times
in
12 Posts
Originally Posted by ckellingc
Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to turn a crappy wal mart bike into a decent road bike. I know it'd be a bit heavier than most bikes, but what parts should I look into? I was thinking of getting some new gears, new tires, new handlebars, and new brakes.
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
Would it be cheaper to do this, or to just go buy a road bike?
#19
It's ALL base...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,716
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Best way to upgrade such a bike would be to do the following:
1. unwind the bar tape and remove.
2. replace with a nice road bike from here
3. re-tape the new handlebars with the old tape
4. (optional) replace bar tape with new tape
1. unwind the bar tape and remove.
2. replace with a nice road bike from here
3. re-tape the new handlebars with the old tape
4. (optional) replace bar tape with new tape
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 55
Bikes: 2006 Soma Smoothie, Some Schwinn Mountain bike that on loan to my dad, 2000 Raleigh R700 competion frame that i need to get rid of
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/237231-review-gmc-denali-bicycle.html
This guy went on that mission. Now read it all an report back. Its kind of admirable. Shows how much more the rider matters than the bike.
This guy went on that mission. Now read it all an report back. Its kind of admirable. Shows how much more the rider matters than the bike.
#21
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 15,762
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
So you're trying to polish a turd...
#23
Crankenstein
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Spokane
Posts: 4,037
Bikes: Novara Randonee (TankerBelle)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
Look for a used bike. You might be able to find an older, used bike that fits and it will be better than some cheapo Wal-Mart bike.
I haven't had much luck looking for used bikes... gonna put an ad in and see if there's someone out there with a used bike sitting around, but I'm tempted to just buy the GMC Yukon from Walmart, as much to kick some roadie butt on a Walmart bike as anything.
Kent GMC Yukon
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 69
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I remember reading in (i think it was bicycling) about two guys who did this to a wal-mart bike. Their mission was to prepare it for the texas state TT championships. They tried to keep as many original parts as possible but changed a few things to get it in race shape. It turned out to be 30 something pounds and they actually did race it.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What do you want to do with the bicycle?
For getting you around town, you probably don't need to do anything to it other than put on a comfortable saddle and make sure the derailures are set up properly. =)
I've been riding on essencially that untill this weekend. While I was riding it, my friend scourged ebay for me and over the course of 3 months we built out a steel framed shimano 600 outfitted road bike for about $300. Tomorrow I should be able to let you know what difference I notice.
-- James
For getting you around town, you probably don't need to do anything to it other than put on a comfortable saddle and make sure the derailures are set up properly. =)
I've been riding on essencially that untill this weekend. While I was riding it, my friend scourged ebay for me and over the course of 3 months we built out a steel framed shimano 600 outfitted road bike for about $300. Tomorrow I should be able to let you know what difference I notice.
-- James