Fix up or replace

censored Schoeller said:

I'm toying with the idea of either fixing up my old bike or replacing it. I'd like to hear what
others have to say on the topic.

The old bike is a 1973 Criterium Rex by Araya. It's a 25" lugged alloy frame.

The frame was not a high-end frame to begin with. If you have an emotional attachment to it, then
you might want to keep it for that, but otherwise you are talking about a lot of replacement parts
for little gain.

Quoted message said:

An upgrade could be done piecemeal. I'd start by replacing the brakes with Shimano long reach side
pulls and aero levers. I'd keep the barcons. I'd get the frame spread so that I could go to a 9sp
rear. I'd replace the cranks and BB with a triple set. Finally, I'd send have some changes to the
braze ons and a repaint.

So, basically you are keeping the barcons. If you go to 9-speed, you may or may not be able to use
your rear derailleur. If you go to a triple, you certainly will need a new rear derailleur, and
maybe a front. The long-reach brakes are a compromise. Probably necessary because your frame was
intended to allow 27" wheels. But they are inherently weaker (for the same levers) than short reach.
The only advantage is the allowance for bigger tires and fenders. That is better done with
center-pulls or V-brakes.

Quoted message said:

The alternative is a replacement. I'd want something that would be comfortable for 40-100 mile
rides at moderate pace (15-16 mph) in New England. I would probably want it to take a rack for
carry modest loads. I don't have any intent for loaded touring. Credit card touring is a
possibility.

Racks are no problem. You do not need a special frame for that. Simple clamps available in any
hardware store will mount any rack. I know, I have done this. Front racks, or fenders, would benefit
from the appropriate braze-ons -- well, so would rear racks, but it is not what determines the
usefullness of the bike.

Quoted message said:

What do people think? The guys in the LBSs always want to sell a bike so their advice is biased.

Well, a new bike would shed some of the weight, would not require re-painting, and could be
gotten with all the features you want. It depends on your needs, your mechanical abilities, and
your budget.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all _`\(,_ | mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so (_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

You'll get lots of comments on this one.

I had a similar situation recentally -- a great old Dawes 7sp -- and toyed with the idea of
upgrading it. Instead, bought a new bike on end-of-season closeout for $1100 (Klein Q Carbon).

Better to keep your old bike in it's classic condition and keep it for a second bike.

Those upgrades start to add up fast.

Technology changes fast and I think you get a much better bike for your money now than you did 10 or
20 years ago.

Just MHO of course.

"[censored] Schoeller" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm toying with the idea of either fixing up my old bike or replacing it. I'd like to hear what
others have to say on the topic.

The old bike is a 1973 Criterium Rex by Araya. It's a 25" lugged alloy frame. The remaining
original equipment are: the headset, Sugino Mighty Comp cranks and BB, Dia Comp center- pull
brakes and levers, SR stem, Taihei post and saddle and the randonneur style handle bars. The
components that are replacements are: Suntour Cyclone MII derailleurs, Suntour barcon
shifters, wheels are 7sp Shimano 100rx rear and 105 front with Sun Ringle 700c rims. The rear
spread is 126mm.

An upgrade could be done piecemeal. I'd start by replacing the brakes with Shimano long reach side
pulls and aero levers. I'd keep the barcons. I'd get the frame spread so that I could go to a 9sp
rear. I'd replace the cranks and BB with a triple set. Finally, I'd send have some changes to the
braze ons and a repaint.

The alternative is a replacement. I'd want something that would be comfortable for 40-100 mile
rides at moderate pace (15-16 mph) in New England. I would probably want it to take a rack for
carry modest loads. I don't have any intent for loaded touring. Credit card touring is a
possibility.

What do people think? The guys in the LBSs always want to sell a bike so their advice is biased.

--
[censored] Schoeller "][email hidden] schoeller.ne.client2.attbi.comschoeller.ne.client2.attbi.comOpen ↗
781.449.5476

"Er ist ein Narr, der meint, es sei nicht schad, das Kind auszuschütten mit dem Bad" - Thomas
Murner 1512

Quoted message said:

What do people think? The guys in the LBSs always want to sell a bike so their advice is biased.

It's not just that we want to sell a new bike, but also that it sometimes becomes a nightmare or
time-toilet trying to make things work on an older bike. No matter how much you try to figure things
out ahead of time, such projects *always* seem to involve more than you thought, and, if the shop's
doing it, a lot of labor time ends up being eaten (not charged to the customer).

But why not have it both ways? Keep the old bike around as the spare (or "rain" bike) and get a new
one that's up-to-date and will spare you the hassles of dealing with legacy issues? The pricing
won't be much different (could even be less if you find a killer closeout), plus everyone knows that
shiny, intact paint makes the bike go way faster!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

What do people think? The guys in the LBSs always want to sell a bike so their advice is biased.

i think you might be surprised by most LBS folks. the job does not pay well and the thing that keeps
most people working is their love for bicycling. if you walk into a shop with a beatup bike-boom
road bike or a huffy or something and say "hey i want 9 speed STI on this" they're probably going to
try to dissuade you. that kind of mentality is akin to going to a car repair shop with a 1974 pinto
and saying you want to put a ferrari engine in
it. it can be done (anything can be done), but it probably isn't such a good idea, but if you love
that frame and just can't part with it, get it done. alfred

In article said:

I'm toying with the idea of either fixing up my old bike or replacing it. I'd like to hear what
others have to say on the topic.

The old bike is a 1973 Criterium Rex by Araya. It's a 25" lugged alloy frame. The remaining
original equipment are: the headset, Sugino Mighty Comp cranks and BB, Dia Comp center- pull brakes
and levers, SR stem, Taihei post and saddle and the randonneur style handle bars. The components
that are replacements are: Suntour Cyclone MII derailleurs, Suntour barcon shifters, wheels are 7sp
Shimano 100rx rear and 105 front with Sun Ringle 700c rims. The rear spread is 126mm.

An upgrade could be done piecemeal. I'd start by replacing the brakes with Shimano long reach
side pulls and aero levers. I'd keep the barcons. I'd get the frame spread so that I could go to
a 9sp rear.

If you go to a 9-speed rear, what's your game plan for getting a 9-speed cassette on your 7-speed
rear wheel? You could run 8 cogs out of 9 on your current freehub (and not respace the frame). You
could replace the freehub body. Or you could replace the wheel.

Quoted message said:

I'd replace the cranks and BB with a triple set. Finally, I'd send have some changes to the braze
ons and a repaint.

The alternative is a replacement. I'd want something that would be comfortable for 40-100 mile
rides at moderate pace (15-16 mph) in New England. I would probably want it to take a rack for
carry modest loads. I don't have any intent for loaded touring. Credit card touring is a
possibility.

What do people think? The guys in the LBSs always want to sell a bike so their advice is biased.

I don't think it makes sense to upgrade this bike, there is too much to replace for it to be
worthwhile given bike you're starting with. There is of course nothing wrong with riding it
the way it
is. If you really love it and want to proceed, your planned upgrades sound OK to me. The brakes
will make a big difference.

You might consider riding some touring bikes (eg, Trek 520) and some cyclocross bikes (eg, Bianchi
Axis, Kona Jake the Snake, Redline Conquest, Trek XO-1). Swapping STI for bar-cons in a new bike
purchase should not be a big deal to any decent bike shop. Some test rides could tell you whether
you should stick with the Araya. Most of these bikes will be lighter, stiffer, have much better
brakes (than any side-pull), and have better tire clearance. The hardest thing will be finding a 25"
bike, if that is really the size you need.

--Paul