My little bike project(s)

[onimity]

In August someone broke into our garage and stole my sister & my mountain/commuter bikes (we are roommates) and since she was just at the point of quitting her job and going back to school we had no spare $ for replacements. Amazingly, friends and co-workers offered us some great free bikes that, though being in need of some love and repairs, kept us pedaling. I purchased a new MTB a while later & decided to fix up one of the bikes for my mom. It's an old Giant MTB (we named her Gayle) which I thought would be good for my mom at least in the gearing, since she has bad knees.

When we got Gayle she hadn't been ridden in ages. She was covered in dirt and dust and had a huge cushy seat with a lock attached, the key having long since gone missing. She had quasi-functional grip shifters and hand grips that had been cut to pieces, slippery platform pedals, super-narrow handlebars and she creaked and squealed even being pushed down the hallway.

I've been talking to the guys at the LBS about her, and yesterday went in and fixed her up. They have a stand with tools for customers and were kind enough to answer all of my stupid questions. [there were lots]

I gave the bike a new seat, new pedals, a new stem and handlebars that make the riding position more cruiser-like (my mom isn't keen on low bars) new shifters, new grips, new cables & housing for the brakes and derailers and of course de-squeaked the drive train. I figured it would be a big project, but it was all really easy.

My sister had another of the free bikes in the shop for a new Bottom Bracket and the LBS guy said it needed new cables/housing as well, so we got that plus some new shifters, grips and pedals, which I put on last night. We put the stock saddle from my MTB on it. So for less than $250 and a little elbow grease, my sis and mom now have great little bikes that are in good repair.

I'm pretty proud about it, since my previous mechanical experience was limited to flat changing and minor adjustments.

I'm headed out to take some pictures to post.

Anne

[sandra]

Congratulations on your accomplishment. I'd love to have a bike shop that offered that. Can't wait to see the pictures!

[onimity]

Thanks, Sandra.

Here are the bikes.

Anne

[sandra]

WOW! They look great!!! Aren't you proud of yourself!!!

[sgtiger]

Anne, those bikes look great! I'm impressed! Plus now you've gained some valuable experience that'll help you maintain your bikes and those of your family members.

[jusdooit]

They look great. Wanta fix up my MTB? Wish I had a shop that offered that service. A stand is on my X-Mas wish list this year.
Great job.