Parts already obsolete?

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

Two words for you: e, Bay

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

Put 3-4K miles on it each year and in 3-4 years you'll feel you're worth
the award of a new bike, eh?

jj

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

7 speed cassettes and chains are still widely available and probably
will be for a while. If you're worried, just buy a couple of extras now.

[email hidden] wrote in news:1126281770.193405.15990
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

Oddly enough, I just got that speech from a backup LBS. I wanted to
replace the 6-speed cluster on the Trek 400, and they're talking about
bending the frame to see if an 8 will fit.

Now, when the angle from the selected chainring in front to the gear on
the cluster in the rear deviates from 0 relative to the bike, efficiency
starts getting lost. This means that 5 or 6 speed clusters must always
be a solution to somebody's riding style -- the upgrades lose
efficiency for some group of riders. They're throwing out a good thing
for a worse thing.

Is that right, or isn't that auto-industry bull-dinky?

--ag

[email hidden said:

"]I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

No problem!

First, the number of gears is not an indication of being obsolete. Case in point, many prefer a double crank rather than a triple, which results in 67% of the gears... Both are equally modern, and both are easily available. And for the cassette, I personally don't need my gears so closely spaced that I need a cassette with 9 or 10 gears...

Second, you can still find plenty of parts for 20+ year old bikes at various locations as long as you don't worry about having the latest bling...

BTW - My 3 year old Giant is a 24 speed. I would have been happy with 21, but on the specific model I wanted, it came with 24. The difference in number of gears is more of a personal preference and/or marketing issue rather than more or less obsolete. If you are happy with your 7 speed cassette you will be able to replace it with the same cassette for years to come.

In my opinion, if you change in preferences, abilities or fitness you are more likely to want a different bike than to just change the gearing.

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride.

Quoted message said:

But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Quoted message said:

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

I doubt it. The bicycling market is a lot more segmented than the
advertisers would like you to believe. There are people crusing around
town on 3-speed bikes, using Nexus hubs, singlespeeds, top-of-the-line
Campy and Shimano gear, and wild concoctions of their own design.

Also, changing / modifying your cassette is a pretty simple upgrade.
You can, for example, buy older cassettes on online auction sites, or
get creative and mix and match your own.

The derailers and shifters won't really care, unless you add more or
take away some cogs from the cassette spindle. Everything should work
fine.

I'm with you in that I, too, don't like to buy into this forced
obsolesence to keep the consumers coming back every few years for new
stuff. There are 10-15 year-old bikes in thrift stores that work just
as good as new ones (or will with a little TLC).

Don't worry too much and just ride!

jj said:

Put 3-4K miles on it each year and in 3-4 years you'll feel you're worth
the award of a new bike, eh?

But that's the thing - I don't want to buy a new bike in a few years.
Maybe I'm old-school and not enough of a good little move-up consumer,
but I thought a bike could be a frugal choice for transport (and one I
could work on, replace parts, myself). My frame should last a long
time (Giant aluminum), but may as well die in 3 years if it would
require bending/rewelding to fit different gear technology.

--The Frugal Luddite

Quoted message said:

jj said:

Put 3-4K miles on it each year and in 3-4 years you'll feel you're worth
the award of a new bike, eh?

But that's the thing - I don't want to buy a new bike in a few years.
Maybe I'm old-school and not enough of a good little move-up consumer,
but I thought a bike could be a frugal choice for transport (and one I
could work on, replace parts, myself). My frame should last a long
time (Giant aluminum), but may as well die in 3 years if it would
require bending/rewelding to fit different gear technology.

--The Frugal Luddite

You may be frugal, but do you not spend money on something that has great
meaning to you?

In four years of riding 3,000 to 4,000 miles per year, you'll have advanced
to a level that's beyond your current understanding. You may be just a
small threshold from riding at a level that your old bike may not be
suitable. After 16,000 miles of riding (and yes, the Al bike should last
that long) your perspective may be different. A person doesn't often get to
that level of commitment without being changed. Once I reach that level,
I'm buying a bike that's under 18lbs.

Be aware that no matter what you do, you'll have to buy new tires, new
tubes, new chain, among other things.

jj

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

No. There is a lot of 7sp stuff, and 6, and 5 out there now. Even if
that all disappeared, which is unlikely, all you would need to do is
get the appropriate 7 loose cogs and appropriate spacers and build your
own cassette.

My commute bike is an 18 year old model, getting 3500+ miles/year of
use. The shifters, brakes, derailleurs, and cranks are still original.
I have replaced the chainrings, seatpost, stem, and handlebars, the
latter 3 mostly for comfort. The 6sp freewheel is two years old, still
being manufactured today, and was replaced when the original unit came
apart one morning dropping hundreds of tiny ball bearings on the
street. The hubs are not the originals, but I have the originals. The
hubs on the bike are 26 year old models, smooth as silk, plan on them
lasting another 25-30 years or so.

Bottom line: manufacturers make new things to attract new customers
and lure some old customers into upgrading. But there are lots of old
school part around, some still being made. Treat your bike well and
hope it will last a few decades during which time you will replace a
few parts along the way.

- rick

andy gee said:

[email hidden] wrote in news:1126281770.193405.15990
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

Oddly enough, I just got that speech from a backup LBS. I wanted to
replace the 6-speed cluster on the Trek 400, and they're talking about
bending the frame to see if an 8 will fit.

Just say NO! What year of 400? Mine is a 1988 and the Shimano 14-28
freewheel used on that is still being manufactured; now it is made in
Singapore or Malaysia instead of Japan, but same design and readily
available. Tell them to get out their catalog and order you the proper
replacement.

BTW, nothing wrong with spreading and going to a bigger cluster if that
is what you want, but there is no need if you are happy with your 6sp.
My 400 is sitting here in the office with me, will get about 50 miles
today by the time I get home, and all on a 6sp freewheel. Jobst
Brandt, frequent contributor to the list, rides all over the place ...
including his annual rides in the Alps ... on 5sp freewheels.

- rick

"Rick" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Just say NO! What year of 400? Mine is a 1988 and the Shimano 14-28
freewheel used on that is still being manufactured; now it is made in
Singapore or Malaysia instead of Japan, but same design and readily
available. Tell them to get out their catalog and order you the
proper replacement.

I bought mine used. I think it's an '85; it's mangaloy 2001 (bad name,
mangle-oy) so it's after 84 but before they went to 14 speed. I just
took a fast google on it; the price has actually appreciated greatly
since I bought it about 18 years ago! I'd like to see somebody's used
car do that.

Thanks for the tip.

BTW do you know the basic weight (no rack, stand, horn, etc of your
bike?

--ag

Bill Henry said:

Quoted message said:

But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

I'm with you in that I, too, don't like to buy into this forced
obsolesence to keep the consumers coming back every few years for new
stuff. There are 10-15 year-old bikes in thrift stores that work just
as good as new ones (or will with a little TLC).

Yes, you shouldn't have any real difficulty finding parts for the next
five to ten years. If you like your current bike, ride it till you
or it fall apart.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"I still can't understand people buying $30,000 trucks to haul their $15,000
boats, using $100 of gas, to catch $5 worth of fish." - seen in r.b.misc

jj said:

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in the
back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been reading
about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds every so
often.. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader or equipment
nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But, will I be *forced*
into replacing all of my components in a couple few years when I need
to replace the cassette?

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get new
shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my first born
male son, etc.. ? :-)

Put 3-4K miles on it each year and in 3-4 years you'll feel you're worth
the award of a new bike, eh?

jj

Back to ebay. I find it more rewarding to put together a Frankenbike
than just go to the bike shop and buy what they want to sell me. I have
2 LBs in my area and both have caved in to selling Chinese bikes and
charging LBS prices. Now I only go in for maintenance parts that
Wal-mart obviously won't have. If I can maintain an average of 4K miles
per year and the bike is still solid why not just treat it with some new
tires, chain, gears, or what ever? Most of the bikes at both of my LBS
don't even have changeable chain rings, but I can buy plenty of those on
ebay. I now run a low of 20 teeth and a high of 46 teeth in front. The
rear is 11,13,15,18,21,24,and 28. 20/28 is way low for crawling up hills
at walking speed and 46/11 does pretty good with a tailwind or downhill.
There is even a 58 tooth chain ring I can bolt on but the derailleur
won't handle the range so the 20 tooth can't get used.
Ever try to pedal a 58/11? I could probably pedal 60 MPH on it if my
heart/lungs/legs held out that long.

Moral,
Just pay attention to what you buy if it involves hundred dollar bills.
Bill Baka

jj said:

Quoted message said:

jj said:

Put 3-4K miles on it each year and in 3-4 years you'll feel you're worth
the award of a new bike, eh?

But that's the thing - I don't want to buy a new bike in a few years.
Maybe I'm old-school and not enough of a good little move-up consumer,
but I thought a bike could be a frugal choice for transport (and one I
could work on, replace parts, myself). My frame should last a long
time (Giant aluminum), but may as well die in 3 years if it would
require bending/rewelding to fit different gear technology.

--The Frugal Luddite

You may be frugal, but do you not spend money on something that has great
meaning to you?

In four years of riding 3,000 to 4,000 miles per year, you'll have advanced
to a level that's beyond your current understanding. You may be just a
small threshold from riding at a level that your old bike may not be
suitable. After 16,000 miles of riding (and yes, the Al bike should last
that long) your perspective may be different. A person doesn't often get to
that level of commitment without being changed. Once I reach that level,
I'm buying a bike that's under 18lbs.

Be aware that no matter what you do, you'll have to buy new tires, new
tubes, new chain, among other things.

jj

What is with the hangup of buying a bike that is under 18lbs? On the
levels you will never notice it and on the uphills it may remind you to
lose some weight on you own chassis. I ride for exercise and not
bragging rights that I have an 18lb bike (oooh, wow.) My bike weighs
about 50lbs and my backpack with tools and food, plus all my water
bottles totals about 70 pounds. That is my world, country, and I go
where there are no stores, or supples, or even phone service.
"No, dammit, I can't hear you now. Not good". If you are a city rider
and the bike rolls under its' owners power then why spend the money?
Besides, some bikes have a way of becoming 'Classics'.
Bill Baka

Bill wrote:
My bike weighs

Quoted message said:

about 50lbs and my backpack with tools and food, plus all my water
bottles totals about 70 pounds.

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka

HEEEEE'S BAAAAACK!!!

gds said:

Bill wrote:
My bike weighs

Quoted message said:

about 50lbs and my backpack with tools and food, plus all my water
bottles totals about 70 pounds.

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka

HEEEEE'S BAAAAACK!!!

Only part time. This group is misc. and I intend to stay misc and not
try to corrupt the thinking of small minds.
Fair enough?
Bill Baka

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

Quoted message said:

Bill wrote:
My bike weighs

Quoted message said:

about 50lbs and my backpack with tools and food, plus all my water
bottles totals about 70 pounds.

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka

HEEEEE'S BAAAAACK!!!

I was just wondering...this sounds like BB...hey, it is!

Good catch.

To be fair, the only disagreement I've had with Bill is the wrong-way riding
thing. He doesn't seem to be stupid or argumentative, just stuck on that
one issue.

Austin
--
I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please!
There are no X characters in my address

Rick Warner said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Giant bike (hybrid). It has a 7-speed Megarange in
the back (14-34T), which is great and fine for me. Now I've been
reading about how they (Shimano) keeps coming out with more speeds
every so often. Now, I don't care frankly - I'm not an upgrader
or equipment nerd and I'm not made of money - I just ride. But,
will I be *forced* into replacing all of my components in a couple
few years when I need to replace the cassette?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Will I go in there only to find out I have to go to 9 speed, get
new shifters, replace the frame, buy a new bike, sign over my
first born male son, etc.? :-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oddly enough, I just got that speech from a backup LBS. I wanted
to replace the 6-speed cluster on the Trek 400, and they're talking
about bending the frame to see if an 8 will fit.

Quoted message said:

Just say NO! What year of 400? Mine is a 1988 and the Shimano
14-28 freewheel used on that is still being manufactured; now it is
made in Singapore or Malaysia instead of Japan, but same design and
readily available. Tell them to get out their catalog and order you
the proper replacement.

Quoted message said:

BTW, nothing wrong with spreading and going to a bigger cluster if
that is what you want, but there is no need if you are happy with
your 6-speed. My 400 is sitting here in the office with me, will
get about 50 miles today by the time I get home, and all on a
6-speed freewheel. Jobst Brandt, frequent contributor to the list,
rides all over the place... including his annual rides in the
Alps... on 5-speed freewheels.

When the 5-speed Regina ones went out of business, I bought a bunch of
Sun Tour "New Winner Pro" FW's with 6-Speeds. For me it's the
smallest and largest sprockets that are important, and that remained
the same, I just got an extra ratio in between these.

Many bicycle shops, and as a result, many riders, insist that to be
efficient, one must ride at an ideal cadence is important, and
therefore, one needs the 30 ratios common today with three chainwheels
and ten sprocket gear clusters. Many of these folks seem to end up in
such low gears that they are creeping up most hills. Don't despair, I
hear 36 ratios is on the way. You see it can get worse.

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

(The words of the original poster here)

Welcome to the <modern> world of cycling :-3(

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner