revive it or scrap it?

ylawayjdp
ylawayjdp Posts: 44
edited July 2008 in MTB general
Hi I have been using an old 2004 Claud Butler Rock to commute to work in London for the last 18 months constant use and a recent change to SPD's. In addition to attempts to use it off road occasionally prior to my being able to afford a proper mtb have left it in a shocking state.

The last 2 month has seen the head set start to rattle, the fork rocks back and forward as a result. The cranks now make a strange clicking noise mainly on the chain side on rotation and forward force. Today it start clicking on the left hand side on forward force.

My dilema:

I need a bike for getting to work;
It needs to be very unattractive, so the scrotes in Whitechapel don't take a hacksaw to the lock;
Parts on the bike are still in good nick, kore stem and handle bars;
The frame is nice and stiff no dents that I have noticed;
It is fairly light compared to other bottom of the range bikes;
The front and rear derailers still work as do the all in one shifters and brakes;
The brakes are shocking;
The fork might as well not be there;
I like the fact I don't have to worry if it will be there when I come out of work;

Do I replace the worn out parts including chain, chain set, head set, ?bottom bracket, fork and brakes. Or do I lump it and get something else that looks awful but is swift for getting to work on.

I wondered about asking the people in the commuting forum but wanted a mountain bikers slant on the problem.

Comments

  • Neil Fat man on a bike
    Neil Fat man on a bike Posts: 299
    A good local bike shop could sort it for relativly little money for the commute and then you could get a better machine for play time
    :D

    Rat bikes are surely cool urban chic...? :?
    http://neilfatmanonabike.pinkbike.com/album/My-On-One/

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2838362/

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2838343/

    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2838332/
  • Rich Hcp
    Rich Hcp Posts: 1,355
    ^^^^^ That's what I'd do^^^

    Otherwise your 'play bike' ends up in a state as well.....
    Richard

    Giving it Large
  • ylawayjdp
    ylawayjdp Posts: 44
    Unfortunately my local bike shop is a cycle surgery. A service costs £50 prior to parts plus an hourly rate for any replacement of worn parts for labor.

    See here http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pdfs/worksh ... on_web.pdf

    Got to love London Prices. If any thing I was thinking of sorting it myself to savemoney and learn how to do it.
  • Bikerbaboon
    Bikerbaboon Posts: 1,017
    If you can build flat pack you can build a bike... I would get zinns bike book for the £20 and grab some tools and a weekend and have ago at sorting the issues. Once you learn how to fix bikes the cash you save can be put in to better tools or even new shiny bits for your play bike.
    Nothing in life can not be improved with either monkeys, pirates or ninjas
    456
  • jethro924
    jethro924 Posts: 49
    I like the fact I don't have to worry if it will be there when I come out of work

    Looks like you already know the answer.

    Spend the £50 on tools and do it yourself. Buy good tools (Park Tools grade). Get to know how your bike works. Loads of tech stuff on the net.

    There is nothing difficult about it. If I ever have a job that I am not sure of I pop round to a club member or take to LBS and WATCH and LEARN. (don't get fobbed off with "pick it up tomorrow", :- if you can't do it until tomorrow I will come back with the bike then so I can watch). That way you should only ever have to pay once for each job!
  • batch78
    batch78 Posts: 1,320
    Save £20 go to park tools website. http://www.parktool.com/repair/

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