Cubey

I have a mini motorhome (about the size of a 15 passenger, full size Ford van) and I had planned to pull a trailer with a 125cc scooter behind it, but now I decided the extra cost, worry and hassle of it isn't going to be worth it for me for the way I want to travel right now.

Hauling a trailer means you have to worry about changing lanes more, backing it, parking issues, 2 more tires to worry about... not to mention that fact that my motorhome is a 1978 Dodge with a 360 engine and carburetor. It gets roughly 12mpg hwy when not towing. When towing the heavy duty 5x8 trailer I have? Probably about 8mpg. I figured up that it costs about $15-25 more per 100 miles (15-20 cents a mile) to pull that trailer depending on gas prices, hills, wind, city vs hwy, etc. It will aalso make parking harder with a 13ft long trailer behind a 19ft van. At 12 mpg, it'd about 33 cents a mile. At 8mpg, it'd about 50 cents a mile. That comes out to $150-200 per 1,000 miles.. ouch.

I can hang a bicycle from the ladder on the back of my van and get 12-13mpg and be trailer-free. I have been wanting to get in better shape for years now anyway. Now is a good time! I am going to be hitting the road in about 5-7 weeks so this is kind of a sudden change plans really. But the scooter and trailer can be stored rent-free at my mom's house and I may come collect in a couple years when I come to visit, if I don't just sell them at that time if I find I don't want them anymore.

I currently have a vintage ladies Schwinn road bike that when out of condition, I have been able to ride 20-22 miles in a day. I was exhausted yes, but I did it. It's nice and light weight and being 70s-80s vintage, it's really no different from thee men's aside from the upper bar, unlike some made now (as I understand it). It has the outdated tire size... 27" or some such. I got new tires and tubes for it a couple years ago when I bought the bike.

I have my eyes on good rear racks and large panniers but I wonder how they'll fit a vintage bike.. but I guess I need to post about that on the vintage board.

Basically I want a good light weight bike with ample gears for a daily driver for a mixture of commuting around urban areas, carrying on mass transit, and utility (groceries). Eventually I'm gonna settle up in the Seattle area, but I will be visiting first next year when I get up that way.

While I like the bike I have now since it rides good and doesn't cost me anything to keep using, I also have my eyes on new low end hybrids, such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Discov...hwinn+discover

I got to see one hands on with one of those at my local Sears and it looked pretty decent for the price. Sears is still charging $340 or so for it and they wanted $230 for a used, clearance one (before 8.25% tax). $223 on Amazon with no tax and free shipping.

rdlange

I recommend researching what you want, looking at some and then searching craigslist for a better deal. Way better bikes for the same money, but you gotta know what you need and do a little test ride. JMHO...

Cubey

What I want is something relatively light, good amount of gears (darn hills!) but able to haul groceries (so maybe not an aluminum frame). My old Le Tour is very light but it's a steel frame. I'm not in any real big hurry to replace it though. I'd rather get a rack and panniers for what I've got since it fits my needs nicely for now.

oddjob2

https://www.rei.com/product/837488/no...sfer-bike-2013

Not the lightest, but the Shimano rear IGH 7 speed is worth 75% of the total bike's cost. A wee bit heavy, but no more than a Schwinn. Sturdy cromoly steel frame, fenders and rack included. If I didn't already have a dozen or more bikes……….. And the size is just right for you too.

Cubey

Funny, I saw that earlier.... very good deal. It's about a 3 hour drive to REI from here sadly. And too, I don't want to spend $500 right now ($60 shipping charge plus the tax). I'm building my savings back up after some important expenitures I had a couple months ago. I'd keep this Schwinn another year or two before I'd buy a $500 bike right now... as nice as that one is for the price.

The bike I have may not be the right size but.. it gets me from point A to point B and back. I think I need to focus on getting a rack and bags for it and see about getting a newer bike later on given my budget right now. The bags can be moved to another bike later so really the only thing I'd be adding to this one is a rack.

wahoonc

Depending on which LeTour (got pictures?) it may be worth doing some minor upgrades to the one you have. The one you have should be able to fit a rack without too much trouble. Tires in the 27" size are still fairly readily available, just a limited selection. FWIW I routinely ride bikes that are 35-40 years old and have no issues with them. From the sounds of it, the first thing you need to determine is if the bike you have fits. If you don't like the drop bars they can be swapped out for something more upright.

Aaron

Cubey

This is the bike. I have changed the seat since this photo as that was the original and I found it unbearable to use. I have on my 12 year old seat that looks like complete garbage now, the thin covering is all but totally gone and I have duct tape on it to hold the firm rubbery foam in place but it's still a very confortable seat.

This is after I put new tires and tubes. It has the better kind of tires the shop had, Kendas, with he better side edge that tends not to rot as easily.

The bike may technically be too small for me since my seat is adjusted close to how this photo is (it may be higher by an inch), but I can ride the bike pretty comfortabley and get from here to there and back. The seat on it now is thicker, so I sit up higher an inch or more than i would on the seat in the photo.

I have about $100 on the bike. I paid $50 for it and put $50 in tires and tubes in it a couple years ago when I got it.

One thing I have to keep in mind, the bike I have is going to be stored outdoors, semi-exposed to the elements even if I have a cover over it. This one is starting to show some rust on the chain and gears, but it did get left out in the rain a couple times last month. I'm going to go to the bike shop today where I got the tires and tubes before and see what they have to lubricate and protect the chain and such, but regular grease or oil might get me by.

I would hate to spend more than $200 on a bike and have it rusted and looking like crap in a year due to it living outdoors, even covered 99% of the time.

fietsbob

Get a shop to fabricate an enclosed place on the Back of the MH to keep things out of the weather ..

Particularly if you got a 3 wheeler in your plans, probably a Ramp to get it Up There..



or expand the budget, and get a Folding Bike you can store in one of the compartments it already has.

wahoonc

Decent looking bike. You could convert to a North Road style bar. The bike will take a rear rack with no problems.

Aaron

rdlange

I believe you have something good. The steel frame mixte are usually superior and rarer. I'd like to have it. Looks light and strong, in good shape. And good for alot of different sized people.

You could hang some racks front and rear and carry a good load. Upgrading components would seem easy too, but why yet?. Lights would go on easy. New bars - try the butterfly-trekking bars, and keep it lubed. Should last quite awhile. Don't see why you need something new, and you could keep it inside the RV while on the road to protect it from the weather. It deserves care.

Please get a couple of good locks, and cable.

goldfinch

I live in a motorhome for much of the year and drag anywhere from 2 to 5 bikes along with me. The valuable ones go inside but there are usually a few on racks.

Weather is heck on those bikes.

I found it is best to keep them covered when traveling if you can with a high quality and tightly fitting cover. Camping world has one the is pretty good. I use extra straps and strap it down tight.

One of my bikes spends most of its life outside. I have to lube the chain a lot. Even when I try to keep the chain lubed I still go through a lot of chains on that bike. I remove the seat and post as it is leather and I stuff a plastic bag down the seat tube. My husband also has an outside bike and he just covers the seat with a bag.

Stainless steel cables help; I had a derailleur cable rust through last winter down in Florida. The sun hasn't been friendly to the bikes either and I really should keep them covered all the time but often I am just lazy as I am off and on the outside bike a lot and don't like messing with a heavy cover.

It also helps to have the bike up off the ground or sitting on a matt or something other than grass or dirt.

(Kind of off the point, but we sometimes put a 125cc scooter on the back of our motorhome on a rack. Sometimes even a 250 scooter. Versahaul makes the rack. It is excellent but probably heavier duty than you would need. There are lightweight aluminum rack that should carry your scooter. We even put a bike rack off of the scooter rack. This is a much better way to haul a scooter around. If I am alone I need help loading and unloading it but help is always to be found.)

Cubey

The way I am going to be traveling, I can't store it inside. Now if I took out the passenger seat, a folding bike might fit inside. I'm going to get a cover for it and keep it lubed up as best I can. I got a spray can of chain cleaner & lube in one at Acaedmy and gave it a good spraying while spinning the chain backwards, then I rode it a while.

One lock I have is the bike club.