Bike Help
Thread started by
jerrysalazar2 at 08.20.08 - 12:44 am
hey everybody, i just recently got ripped off by this guy on a 77 schwinn suburban and i found out alot of things are not working on it. i'll be honest i do not know much about bikes but i bought it because i got tired of the mta and waiting while i can pedal down the blvd. just wondering if ya'll know of some good bike shops that won't rip me off because of my ignorance on bikes. i live in the san fernando valley.
it has what i think are gear shifter on the front middle of the bike. one of the gears lines are broken and when i pedal the gears it clicks. i'm not sure if it's the chain or the broken gear line. it's a 10 speed
if anyone can help me. that'll be really great. i hate to ruin a great looking bike.
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depending on how 'bad' of a condition your bike is in
You can strip it down and make it a single speed or fixed gear conversion easily. I have the tools for that.
If you want shifting action technology, I have no idea how to adjust derailleurs and stuff. So that's some bike shop labor. Try Cycle World on Reseda and Parthenia, and say hi to Hipster Matt
disko08.20.08 - 1:42 am
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If you want to get your old clunker in riding shape, there are a few things you'll need to do (in my opinion).
If the bike is really crusty and old, but you are determined to repair it, you'll have to:
-"rebuild" all the parts that rotate (headset, front and rear hubs, bottom bracket, maybe your pedals). "Rebuilding consists of unscrewing the special bike-only nuts with special bike-only tools for these parts, cleaning them with solvent and a rag and repacking them with grease. After that you tighten down the special bike-only nuts with the same tools.
-clean you chain (I recommend a huge, steel, bristle brush and some mineral spirits and a little H2O - all this can be bought for under $7 - $8) by scubbing off the rust.
-go all out and replace you brake and derailleur cables, inner tubes, tyres, and brake pads (what the hell, why not?) - total cost? a little less $70 ought to do it
-true your wheels, make sure you derailleur arms are flowing, adjust your brakes, fit the handle bars, etc. to your body, buy some lights, and you'll be done
The money you spend on this bike will last you a loooong time if you get the repairs right. Derailleur adjustment is a piece of freakin' cake. You just need someone to essplain it to you (like I did) while you're doing it.
If you can do the work yourself, you'll save money but eat up a lot of your own time. You'll also have to blow money on your own bike-only tools (it can add up quickly), unless you go to one of the Bike- (-kitchen, -oven, -rowave) collectives in L.A.
Taking your bike to a shop will probably cost you what your labor and parts would, if you had to pay yourself to do the repairs. You'll get it back faster. However, the next time it breaks down, simply report to your shop with your cash in hand, because you will be a nervous consumer unable to take care of your P.O.S. ride.
I would advise sinking in the couple of hours to get you bike ready yourself, and you'll be good to go for the rest of your life with this stuff. It isn't rocket science, or else only Jack from Orange 20 would be the only one fixing bikes in L.A.
ubrayj0208.20.08 - 1:56 am
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I'm willing to bet it's got friction shifters and you just have to move the levers slightly. Friction shifting is fine, you just have to get used to it.
If it continues to be creaky, it doesn't hurt to tune up the drivetrain. Go to one of the above bike collectives. Replace the cables and housing, clean out the derailleurs with orange cleaner, and spray the the joints and springs with teflon spray. Clean your chain with orange cleaner and a rag, then use some kind of chain lube on it. Check the cogs and chainrings for wear, if they're worn down replace.
cabhauler08.20.08 - 2:14 am
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