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College bike

Started by anap40 · · Last activity · 8 posts · 842 views

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01 / Original postCollege bikeanap40 · 20 Oct 2007 02 / This pagePosts 1–8Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #8garage sale GT · 21 Oct 2007

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Original section
Cycling Equipment
Published
20 October 2007
Last activity
21 October 2007
Original author
anap40
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8
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Public discussion
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Cyclocross

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  1. Original post
    anap40
    Archived post
    #1

    I am looking for a bike for getting around college. My campus is kind of hilly but not too bad. I have been getting around on an older mtn. bike, but the teeth on the sprockets are breaking off(rust), so there is pretty much only one gear I can ride in b/c all the others slip. I don't want to spend anywhere near what I see many others spending on bikes, probably about $200 max, aroudn $100 would be even better. I kind of want to get something that I can get a round on faster, w/ skinnier tires, easier to get up hills. But I want to be able to ride off curbs and cut across grass/gravel and want something that is manuverable so I can weave around people/ cars etc. From what I understand road bikes are really made for going straight very long distances. So i don't really want a road bike or a mtn bike. I think that cyclocross bikes look good but like I said i can't spend more than about $200. I am fairly mechanically inclined, is it possible to get an old road bike or something and put different wheels on it, etc?

    What would you reccomend I do?

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  2. garage sale GT
    Archived post
    #2

    get a new freewheel and chain and some slicks. The parts for a low end MTB are very interchangeable and available most anywhere. Better yet, learn to do it yourself. It is a fairly easy job if you don't mind destroying the old freewheel (which is the sprockets and the part they're mounted on which lets you coast while it ticks.)

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  3. anap40
    Archived post
    #3

    Would something like these be decent or no?
    walmart.comproduct.do

    http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3663046

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  4. garage sale GT
    Archived post
    #4

    If they fit.

    Try the search feature on the forum. That thing attracted quite a bit of attention when it came out.

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  5. kdelong
    Archived post
    #5

    +1, if they fit, they are a pretty good deal for general transportation. Unfortunately they are modelled on road bikes and would not be all that great for cutting across fields or jumping curbs. I would go with Garage Sale GT's first suggestion of fixing up the MTB but I would put hybrid tires on it so that you have a little better traction when you are off the pavement.

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  6. anap40
    Archived post
    #6

    Do you think it would be better to fix up the mtn bike and put hybrid tires on it or to get a road bike from walmart and put hyprid tires on it? Can you put hybrid tires on a road bike?

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  7. p38lightning
    Archived post
    #7
    anap40 said:

    Do you think it would be better to fix up the mtn bike and put hybrid tires on it or to get a road bike from walmart and put hyprid tires on it? Can you put hybrid tires on a road bike?

    Go with what garage sale gt said. A new freewheel will be about $15. A new chain about $15. Road tires or slicks for a mountain bike which are in the hybrid tire size range about $10 each. Performance Bike and Nashbar both sell these items at competitive prices to name just 2 stores.

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  8. garage sale GT
    Archived post
    #8

    You can put hybrid tires on the Varsity, they are 700c size. Its 36 spoke wheels would probably be plenty strong enough provided you didn't crash over curbs without slowing.

    If wheels or pedals are wobbly or loose on the old MTB though, that can be fixed too. You will either need to learn to service the wheels on EITHER bike, or you will have to pay someone to do it, because the new Varsity will get wobbly too.

    In general, though, servicing an old, crappy MTB may be more $$$ than the bike is worth, and may add up to a fair percentage of the cost of a new bike. I write this suspecting there may be other things wrong with it.

    If I had to choose a commuter special, I would get the Next Monterey Bay from Wal-Mart and put fenders on it. In fact, I did. Its only big drawback, which it MAY share with your MTB, is that you need to regrease the wheel and pedal bearings every few months or rainy rides because they are not sealed.

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