Do I Get A New Bike
03-18-15, 08:31 PM
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Do I Get A New Bike
I pulled my Giant CFR3 out of the garage. Its probably got about 15 years of dust on it. Went for a 20 mile ride a couple days ago and it wouldn't shift. I figures ok, needs a tune up. Brought it into a bike shop for a tune up as I am legally blind and have cerebral palsy so I can't do the work myself. The mechanic said the shifters weren't catching and thus not working properly. He will try to clean them but that may not work. New ones would cost $150. I told myself I would not buy another bike as long as I didn't have to replace anything but tires and cables on this one. I'm not going to race. I'm not going on expert group rides where you ride tire to tire with others. I couldn't see spending a grand give or take on something that may gain me a mph. But if cleaning doesn't help do I really put $150 into this thing or cut the cord and get a used bike, maybe a couple years old, or a new last year's model? We're not rich but my family probably could take the hit, although it will be felt.
03-18-15, 08:36 PM
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Buying a new bike isn't going to offer any "savings". You're better off trusting your mechanic and do as he/she suggests.
BTW that's pretty awesome that you pulled the bike out and did 20 miles without shifting. Kudos!
BTW that's pretty awesome that you pulled the bike out and did 20 miles without shifting. Kudos!
03-18-15, 10:17 PM
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spray a bunch of WD-40 into the shifters.. Soak them through with it.. shift back and forth. The cables may also be seized. My bet is your mechanic will be able to loosen them up.
03-19-15, 09:58 AM
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I concur with Geonrdoug- should be an easy fix. If not, how about a set of used shifters on Ebay? Worst case scenario, if this bike is in decent shpae otherwise, even putting $150 into it isn't so bad. If you really get into cycling more and start jonesing for a new bike, that's one thing....but right now, no sense spending a lot of money, when a new bike is not going to do anything that your current bike won't.
03-19-15, 10:08 AM
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Do which will make you the happiest and help you to ride more... if buying a new bike help you ride more than every 15 years then do that.
