Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Wow... sounds like I may be better off getting a new $100 bike from chinamart instead if I don't want to spend too much time fixing things up...
Heck no, that thing is about a hojillion times better than a brand new Chinesium bike from anywhere. It just needs a little TLC. I dunno, I enjoy working on bikes. The tools are fairly inexpensive and they're very simple machines. A little grease in the bearings, some lube on the cables, adjust the shifters/deraileurs and you're good to go.
You might check out Working Bikes co-op in the city, they typically have quality used bikes that have been tuned up & ready to ride in the $50 - 100 range that are pretty good. I bought a single speed Madwagon 'cruiser' from them years ago, put on massive Wald front & rear baskets and now I can bring home several cases of beer in style & comfort. Nothing rides like steel!
+1
Bikes are really simple to work on. If you do your own car maintenance, you can learn bikes. The only somewhat tricky parts I found were replacing the rear wheels set of gears & bearings, and the assembly inside the frame, between the pedals. Sorry, have no idea what the correct terms are for those parts, but I did figure it out after a little help.
I'd buy it and spend $50-$100 (wild guess) pretty much restoring it and you'll have something far better than you can buy for $300-400 now, if it is from the 80's or 90's.
We actually used to build things on this continent at one point, by decently paid workers, and the quality difference between then and now is apparent.
I've held on to the 15 or 20 year old mountain bike I got in my teens and I've had to change nothing but 1 set of tires and cables. Even the original chain is still there. I maintain, oil and grease everything on it, which is key, but I doubt a 2011 Wal-Mart bike would be so durable.
I've had many bikes in my life, and a mid- to high-end one from the old days IMO is going to be the best one. The one I mentioned is the only one I kept. One day I want to get a road / racing bike and I will be looking for an older used one to restore. Best value absolutely.