ill.clyde

Also know as "The .08"

banerjek

I think it's relevant in a TCO sense. 3 sets of cheap tires without tubes or any other form of maintenance and you've covered the cost of the bike.

Chains, cables, bearings, tape, etc are all consumables. If it affects your ability to use/enjoy the bike, it's pennywise and pound foolish to not take these costs into account.

therhodeo

wphamilton

That's the point: you have those expenses regardless. It doesn't make sense to me to say that the bike isn't worth putting new tires on.

MikeyBoyAz

...and yet the situation can and does exist.

Seattle Forrest

You're the only person who mentioned a $10 limit.

Have you ever seen a college campus? Bikes get stolen there. The last time I rode by the UW, I saw a bike frameset and one wheel locked to a post with some lousy, worn out components. Everything worth taking had already been taken. This is the sort of environment the OP plans to ride his bike in. Commuting around campus means locking it up during class. A very inexpensive bike with a mediocre reputation is ideal for that. And not everybody who rides a bike goes all out with it, the 41 attracts OCD people who enjoy spending money on bike bling, but cycling attracts a broader audience than that.

puckett129

Ha ha ha ha.

Why doesn't it only have one at a time?

wphamilton

(that it doesn't make sense to me to say that the bike isn't worth putting new tires on.)

LOL you're just trying to rile me up. Any bike that you'd ride is worth putting tires on, wouldn't you agree? Even if you paid $1 for it?

dking

OP, A few years ago, I bought an aluminum "Schwinn Varsity" off Craigslist. Pretty much the same bike, only older. It was a little rusty, but I was determined to ride it, so I did what has been suggested to you. I adjusted and oiled everything. Shifting was terrible, I put the chain on the big front ring on only used about 2 - 3 gears in the back. But, it did work. So I borrowed some mountain bike pedals and shoes, replaced the tires with Continental GP4000S' and added clipon tri-bars. I rode it nearly 1500 miles. With basically no brakes :0

Moral of the story, grease it and ride it. If it continues to work, put as little money in as possible, and make sure you can take the upgrades with you

banerjek

When the bike is that cheap, it's not totally insane to argue that the entire bike is disposable and that you don't need to think about tires, chains, and other consumables. When they wear out, you can just ditch the bike and get another one.

For situations like the OP's where the bike needs to live in the elements near thieves, a beat up SS is not a bad way to go. Or even a new one -- WM sells one for $90. With dept store bikes, the fewer parts you have, the less opportunity for things to go wrong.

Notgrownup

Seriously man...Take the money you would spend on upgrades and find you a nice used bike that has halfway decent components on it ... they are all over Craigslist...you will not regret it... You are probably looking at dumping $200-300 on upgrades.. for that you can find a nice used bike... I know you say you don't want to do that but trust everybody here when they say >YOU DO.

If you want a beater... use that GMC, scuff it up good and it will not appeeal to anybody and won't get stolen...grease it and ride the crap out of it.

Most importantly, have fun.

TommyBing

OP should just take a GMC Denali and ride over the GMC Denali.

Then buy a 1991 Tunturi with friction shifters for $90 on Craigslist, which would be a paramount upgrade.

Nachoman

sreten

Hi,

I think the OP has taken on board he shouldn't try to upgrade it.
Far too many new parts to change out the budget MTB drivetrain.

AFAICT he's sensible and taking maintenance seriously.

Fair enough, for a new bike for the money, there is a lot worse.
Used at a good price what could you possibly complain about ?

rgds, sreten.

K&K_Dad

I miss Justin

anthonybkny

Post pics of the bike!

caloso

Does your campus have a bike barn or co-op?

Bah Humbug

The DUI forum?

mprelaw

Might as well throw on a pair of Zipps, too.

wheelreason

Don't forget the Tubasti

Elvo

Here's the order of things you should be buying for your walmart bike:

therhodeo

A joke.

big chainring 

A different mechanical skill is needed for these bikes. It's not simply replacing the old parts with new. First thing I would do is see if the frame is straight, with the string test. Bend the frame as necessary. Then I would check the rear deraileur to see if it is aligned properly. Again, bend as necessary to get it straight. True up the wheels and make sure they are dished properly and sitting in the middle of the fork/stays. Make sure there is good tension in the spokes. Squirst some WD-40 on everything, except the saddle, on the bike. The Denali is a much better bike than the Huffys, Free Spirits, and Columbia 10 speeds of the past. They can be made to run well. Just needs lots of tweaking to dial them in.

Phil_gretz

Denali has an aluminum frame. Wut?

Um...generally a good approach.

Subject bike has suffered 3-4 years of neglect, including surface rust. Will the spoke nipples move? Let's find out...

It's a good idea to avoid the rims, too.

Not really. I've even flipped some [free to me] Free Spirits, and although heavy, the finish was durable and they came out pretty nicely. Solid and comfortable rides - perfect for a campus. I'd bet that a reconditioned Free Spirit would last longer under heavy use than a Denali.

Finally, I've scrounged and built up PLENTY of sub $100 road bikes. There are always roadside/trash Schwinns and steel hybrids, Trek 720s and the like. For the cost of rubber, pads, tape and cables (and don't use Bell sets, for goodness sakes), you have a solid bike.

I built up a 1980 Schwinn World Sport womans frame for my daughter's campus bike. Trashpicked bike. Somethings from my parts bin, admittedly (original Schwinn grips). Total investment was <$50. Terrific bike that rides like a dream (for her purposes). Just saying...

Campus bikes are meant to be stolen, neglected, and ultimately...abandoned.

Long Tom

Ceramic bearings

Aero carbon rims

Power meter

Done!