Lilcphoto

I sit here with a bike that my father gave me, which seems completely cobbled together from what I can tell was once perhaps a nicer frame, with decent components. It now sits with mixed-matched parts and nothing really going for it. I've always been one for saving parts, but with this bike I really don't think there is much to salvage.

I wanted to ask the forum:
~When you come across a bike, what do you usually hold onto?
~What do you usually replace?
~At what point do you decide the frame is just not worth doing anything to?

For reference:

^Cannondale Criterium...nothing special

^Not sure where this came from, but it doesn't look worth it to me to salvage...

^Loving the fact that someone took some nail polish or something to the rear derailleur...Classy

^I ripped off the weathered red cork tape, and figured I would add the flop n' chops to my bin of handlebars, though I did not keep the quill stem attached.

^I'm tempted to keep this chrome fork, but it looks like someone dremel'ed the hell out of the inside (a square rust spot on both sides, as if they were trying to fit wider tires). It is a 1" threaded, which I doubt I'll have a use for awhile...

Basically, I love working on bikes, I love having new projects to work on... But I feel like this one is just not worth doing anything to it. Also, I am just unsure of what to give up if I sell the frame and what to keep.

xkillemallx16

theres always a point where its not worth it to do anything to fix up a bike, and that the amount it takes to fix could get you something better.

regarding your frame... i like old cannondale's. but the funny thing is the track's have become a hipster accessory and so the prices on those are like ~800, while you can find the old road frames at your co-op for 50 bucks. if you have some parts lying around it could make a decent singlespeed, perhaps if you ever desire to replace the trutativ touro's on the madison, then you can just get a tensioner and have a beater to ride around. if you dont have the desire, or have too many bikes already, just throw it on craigslist to see if anyone's interested in the bike for parts and you can get some cash for other things you want. hell, donate it if you dont want it.

Lilcphoto

I actually have the Truvativ's from my Kilo still lying around...but no parts that could make the rear work as a single speed unless I jimmy rigged it together. The frame itself is beat to hell. Dents, dings, paint chips galore. I thought about putting it on craigslist, but I should probably just donate it.

Either way, it is definitely past the point of "worth fixing"

Also, I'd be curious to know if anybody keeps parts lying around just to throw on a bike they plan to sell... I feel like my parts bin is full of stuff that I plan to put on a bike that I'll sell, even though I should probably just get rid of them (the Truvativ's from the Kilo come to mind)

fixedgear80

Hey your in PDX! CityBike on Alberta has "Salvage Sundays" bring your tools and pay only $1 a pound for parts!!

LesterOfPuppets

You mean Community Cycling Center? I hadn't heard of that deal. I'm gonna have to get down there some Sunday.

As to the bike in question. That poor bike! You got it from your dad? Is he 19 years old? He must've been the youngest dad ever! Yeah, those frames were nice. Very harsh ride, however.

Lilcphoto

I am indeed in PDX...but I am not looking for more parts, I am trying to figure out what other people usually do with their parts. Though City Bike is definitely a good Co-op, and I've found many a' good parts there.

Lilcphoto

Community Cycling Center is on 17th and N Alberta, City Bike is on 20th and SE Ankeny

LesterOfPuppets

And there's the other City Bikes lower down on Ankeny.

LesterOfPuppets

The pics are too dark to say what I'd do with all of those parts. Rear derailer might be good for something, what model is it?. Brake levers might be OK. Depending on how deep the dents are, someone might still ride that frame. That crank's too old for me to want, but might be able to give it to someone who's in to olde stuff If not, metal recyclers. Bars - metal recyclers. I dunno about the fork. Shame it's been ground on, probably metal recyclers. Front brake caliper and shifters look nice, should probably sell pretty easily.

yummygooey

Keep the fork! Polish out the rust.

LesterOfPuppets

I dug through the websites and Salvage Sundays are at Community Cycling Center. Noon-2pm. And only Fifty Cents per pound. Nice! I need some brakes, front MTB shifter, a seatpost, pedals...

JohnDThompson 

The Nervar cranks might bring a few bucks on eBay:

MACAQUE

i generally save everything, and donate stuff i haven't touched in a couple of years...

fixedgear80

Sorry right thats the Place!! Too many bike shops to keep track of here in PDX

blickblocks

Does the frame fit you? Grab some old Shimano 600 and some risers, make it a 1x9.

Lilcphoto

So, after tinkering with everything, I am realizing that it's going to take a few components to get this thing up and running as a single speed, and since I don't have any knowledge on everything it takes to convert it I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I like how lightweight the frame is, and if I can make do with stuff I have lying about, it would be a fun bike that I would definitely have that mindset of not caring if it gets scratched, dinged, dented, dropped, or anything... But since I need assistance with the headset, bottom bracket, and rear spacing I almost feel like it wouldn't be worth the price I'd have to put into it.

If anybody in PDX feels like teaching me a few things and helping me out along the way, I'd be more than happy to give up a few components as trade . . . ? We'll see if I can't make this Cannondale into a shiny turd!

fixedgear80

I have done 3 complete conversions in the past and worked on many others, I have all the tools needed. Were you planing on buying a single speed wheelset or suicide hubbing it? School Doesn't start until the 10th and I have some time until then! Its really simple to get everything lined up. I might have time to help you out later this week. What side of PDX are you on? If you have all the donor parts it should only take 3-4 hours.

dsh

Like a comet,
Blazing 'cross the evening sky...

Lilcphoto

Actually came together quite nicely


Ended up buying a conversion kit for another bike I have been working on, so I stole the chain tensioner (tried it without the tensioner, and every ratio I had on hand didn't end up working)




Really cobbled these parts together... Handlebars crank arms from the Windsor, Wheelset and seat from the Kilo, brakes and levers from the madison. Haven't ridden it yet, as it is Sunday & I am not able to pick up the brake housing from the bike shop. All that is left is to wrap the bars and dial everything in.

Just FYI:
It tips the scales at 20.08 lbs

Squirrelli

That turned out quite fine, though this would make a good geared beater.

vw addict

this.

Lilcphoto

It wouldn't be a problem to gear it aside from the fact that the only wheelset that I have is the 27" set that came on it which has been sitting quite some time, rusty, and in need of new rubber... That was the main reason I just used the Kilo wheelset...its not the best setup, but it's definitely cheaper than buying 27" wheels. Who knows...maybe down the road I'll end up with a better geared wheelset and re-convert it... as for now, it's my only aluminum bike and I'm quite excited to try it out.

fixedgear80

Nice going! Cant wait to see it in action!

rustybrown

Plus 1x9^2.

Pink chain a necessity?

Lilcphoto

haha it was the only one I had lying around. Not trying to be a beauty queen & I even thought about wrapping the bars with the Celeste cork tape I have lying around too.. Eventually I might strip the frame and make it look more "aesthetically" pleasing, but for now I'm only using salvaged used parts that I have lying around.