Pub/Commuter Bike - Repair or Throw Away?
Discussion
I currently ride a 1999 (yes, really!) Giant mountain bike.
It was about £400 new all those years ago and still goes OK for an oldie.
I do about 200-300 miles a month commuting to work and messing on local off road trails/canal paths.
The chain just snapped after dropping it down some stairs, plus I need a new front tyre and it needs a service.
My question, much like with bangernomics cars is when should you give up spending and just buy something newer/better?
I need a daily mountain bike that I can leave anywhere, ride in all weathers and not care about too much if it gets scratched/battered hence using the old but functional Giant.
I'm wondering if I just spend the few quid for a new chain/tyre and service items or whether it's worth getting something new (or lightly used) to finally replace the old thing after 15 years faithful service.
TL;DR - my old pub/commuter bike needs money spent on it, I'm not sure whether to just spend a few quid on the parts or throw it away and get a new one!
It was about £400 new all those years ago and still goes OK for an oldie.
I do about 200-300 miles a month commuting to work and messing on local off road trails/canal paths.
The chain just snapped after dropping it down some stairs, plus I need a new front tyre and it needs a service.
My question, much like with bangernomics cars is when should you give up spending and just buy something newer/better?
I need a daily mountain bike that I can leave anywhere, ride in all weathers and not care about too much if it gets scratched/battered hence using the old but functional Giant.
I'm wondering if I just spend the few quid for a new chain/tyre and service items or whether it's worth getting something new (or lightly used) to finally replace the old thing after 15 years faithful service.
TL;DR - my old pub/commuter bike needs money spent on it, I'm not sure whether to just spend a few quid on the parts or throw it away and get a new one!
strip it, clean it, rebuild it with scavenged spares. I have a 1995 Marin which was languishing in the back of the shed for a few years while I was riding around with a roadbike and a smart new Boardman mtb. I decided to convert it into a faithful commuter/station bike. Cleaned it up, took the gearset off and converted it into single speed. I then put a larger cog on the crank to get a higher top speed on the road, new brakepads, replaced the crappy old suspension forks for rigid ones and put some commuter slicks on.
I like the simplicity of riding it so much I use it pretty much all the time now, have sold the road bike, and rarely go out on the mtb. This is mainly as I have 2 young kids so opportunities to get out for bike rides are limited, but it's great knowing it is reliable, requires little or no servicing and nobody gives it a second look.
I like the simplicity of riding it so much I use it pretty much all the time now, have sold the road bike, and rarely go out on the mtb. This is mainly as I have 2 young kids so opportunities to get out for bike rides are limited, but it's great knowing it is reliable, requires little or no servicing and nobody gives it a second look.
My only bike till earlier this year was a 93 Diamondback. The frame broke so I bought a nearly new Trek 29er to replace it.
I then used some of the parts to build up 2005 Hotrock which I actually prefer to the Cobia. For I local trips it looks scruffy so I can leave it without worrying. But is also works very well on the 10 mile commute.
I've now bought a 92 Diamondback frame and a set of Mavics for another build. Apart from anything else it's fun fixing them up and satisfying riding them.
Plus with the exception of brakes new doesn't always mean much better.
Shop around and you can parts for these older bikes for not a lot. Buy a set of tools, watch a bit of YouTube and off you go.
Fix it and keep enjoying it.
I then used some of the parts to build up 2005 Hotrock which I actually prefer to the Cobia. For I local trips it looks scruffy so I can leave it without worrying. But is also works very well on the 10 mile commute.
I've now bought a 92 Diamondback frame and a set of Mavics for another build. Apart from anything else it's fun fixing them up and satisfying riding them.
Plus with the exception of brakes new doesn't always mean much better.
Shop around and you can parts for these older bikes for not a lot. Buy a set of tools, watch a bit of YouTube and off you go.
Fix it and keep enjoying it.
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