Comments | pvfirenice: Bike Sadness

pvfirenice

Bike Sadness

Sep 13, 2008 15:02

So I finally got around to taking my bike to Broadway today. I figured with a quickly deflating (slow enough to get me through a couple days of riding without becoming unfortunately low if I didn't fill it everyday) and my shifters giving out I really had to give in and take it in.

The mechanic fiddled with it for a few minutes, asked me questions ( Read more... )

Comments 6

rhean September 14 2008, 01:24:55 UTC

Out of curiosity, what did the mechanic think is wrong with your current bike?

pvfirenice September 14 2008, 05:52:51 UTC

(I should preface this with the fact Omari built my bike from scratch with not so nice parts to begin with, that combined with hitting to pavement twice since acquiring it made it fairly unhappy)

She wanted to replace the derailer (which is bent up pretty badly and non-functional at this point), the whole shifting mechanism (drop-down handle bars shifter/break combo, which I love although I know it's bloody expensive to replace), the cables, the chain (slightly rusted), and in general do a bike tune-up. I feel like there were a couple other things too.

I'm sure if I gave up on the handlebars the price would go down, and I know you don't need those in the city but they just make riding so nice even if it takes a little more effort to look behind me.

All I wanted was the stupid thing to be able to shift again. :-\

rhean September 14 2008, 16:47:10 UTC

Awww, that's sad. This is Jo's old bike too, isn't it?

If you have more time than money, you might want to try Tyler at Paramount. I get the impression that he does a lot of internship type things where you help out around the shop in exchange for help fixing up a bike for yourself.

shiveringjenny September 14 2008, 03:11:51 UTC

You should come take my bike so I have an excuse for buying a new one.

hoppzor September 14 2008, 06:20:36 UTC

you can find pretty good lightweight bikes on craigslist.

screw target-level bikes, they're all going to be slow heavy mountain bikes and not worth the money you'll spend on them.

jotong September 14 2008, 06:29:31 UTC

Sorry to hear that the bike is in such bad shape : (

The brake/shifter combo is called a brifter, and it may be possible to find parts for cheap on craigslist. (http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/bik/835907208.html) You'd still need someone to help you replace the parts.

Try checking out Quad Bikes. It's a student bike co-op at Harvard. I think they take abandoned bikes from around campus, fix them up, and then sell them for relatively cheap.

MIT Campus Police also holds a bike auction in the fall. I've heard of people getting really good deals there.