Stolen bike blues

[Kimmyt]

Unfortunately, he gave his old bike to charity since he didn't have any room for it in his tiny apartment. I gave him The Boy's old mountain bike and showed him the best way to lock up his bike, I think he didn't think anyone would take a bike, so hopefully nothing like this happens again!

[kat_h]

I bought a couple of rolls of reflective tape and wrapped my commuter bike in it, partly for visability and partly to make it distinctive (ugly) enough that it's less likely (hopefully) to be stolen.

[Trek420]

yea what happen to he's old bike?
Here where I live I have noticed out at the police station they have this area with ton's of bikes that have been recovered but not claimed. maybe he can go to he's local police station and see if they sell some of the non claimed bikes?

They hold them for auction. He could check when they hold that. Funny story is when I found my Motobecane I did everything I could to make sure it was not "hot" including called the local PD to see if it was reprted.

They sent someone out to "recover" it. Realizing they just want it for sale at the auction I conveniently was not home. It's the only time I've hidden from the police

My LBS is the wrench for local PD so I had one of his clients check too , not hot, just thrown out.

[ridebikeme]

With the current bikes with indexed shifting, the drivetrains Do indeed wear together. Normally you would replace a chain and a cassette or freewheel. However, if the bike was old enough to not have indexed shifting(each gear clicks into place) normally the chains and freewheels wear for quite awhile, and could be replaced replaced separately... although not always the case.

I do indeed hope that the shop has the orginal bike... keep us posted!

[Trek420]

With the current bikes with indexed shifting, the drivetrains Do indeed wear together. Normally you would replace a chain and a cassette or freewheel. However, if the bike was old enough to not have indexed shifting(each gear clicks into place) normally the chains and freewheels wear for quite awhile, and could be replaced replaced separately... although not always the case.

I do indeed hope that the shop has the orginal bike... keep us posted!

Sorry for the thread hijack TE Ridebikeme and other TE techie gals - the wearing all together stuff ... I thought that was a Campy vs Shimano thang. That Campy is modular: wear out the chain, replace the chain but Shimano you wear out one thing and might as well get the whole works.

But maybe MY LBS told me that to get me to buy Record I'm glad I did though.

Can you just get the part on Shimano (we don't know if that's what he had).

[ridebikeme]

I would agree with you that Shimano tends to wear much quicker than Campy. However, if you replace your chain every 1200-1500 miles then generally you can replace your cassette every other time. In the long run, you save quite a bit of money because the cassettes are much more expensive than the chains.(especially Record, although there is nothing better in my eyes

On non indexed bikes, there is very little stress on the chain/freewheel so they seem to last for many years. I quess one could say that they aren't as user friendly as the indexed systems... but there are arguments to both.

Anyway, sorry for the hijack... hope your brother finds another bike!

[Trek420]

Back to the chain question: let's see if I've got this right. My LBS was explaining that the width of the chain has to do with the number of gears. Like I have Campy 10 spd, if I had a chain/deraileur for a 9 spd it might be too wide. So as deraileurs get more and more gears as in converting an old 10 speed to modern bits there are conflicts.

Could that had been what the LBS meant? He could replace the chain but it would have to be a new chain of the right width.

[tulip]

Back to the chain question: let's see if I've got this right. My LBS was explaining that the width of the chain has to do with the number of gears. Like I have Campy 10 spd, if I had a chain/deraileur for a 9 spd it might be too wide. So as deraileurs get more and more gears as in converting an old 10 speed to modern bits there are conflicts.

Could that had been what the LBS meant? He could replace the chain but it would have to be a new chain of the right width.

Of course, we weren't there, by KimmyT's original message said this:

"the bike mechanic told him they didn't make that chain anymore. He'd have to buy a new bike."

Sounds to me like the mechanic was trying to get a quick and easy sale in addition to a classic Peugeot. KimmyT, I'd love to know what shop this was, as I used to live in DC and still go up there from time to time. But I understand if you don't want to put the shop name on the list, so if you want, PM me. I hope he gets another bike soon and a good lock. Bikes are the best way to get around DC. Driving is horrible and the Metro is expensive (and less than efficient)

[Trek420]

Bikes are the best way around most places, What an awful thing for the wrench to say, not "you have to replace the chain and power train ...." or "you'd have to replace the chain and hub" or .... "we can turn it into a fixie".

This could cost as much as his new bike but you give the cyclist the choice.

What I know about bikes has come from those choices discussed over coffee with my LBS .... and from you gals on TE.

[ridebikeme]

Trek420 you're right in the fact that the more gears weh have on the rear wheel, the narrower the chain becomes. Not knowing how many gears the old bike had, it's hard to answer the question 'What if?" However, if the bike were anywhere from a 5, 6 or 7 speed rear wheel the old 7/8 speed chains would have worked. And as someone else mentioned, there are plenty of salvage shops around as well.

[Trek420]

Salvage shops? This guy had 5 bikes in the back just waiting to be the parts for this beauty. I don't know what chain my LBS guys used on my mixte freewheel rebuild but I imagine there are chains out there.

DebW? RunningMommy? Is there a mechanic in the house? Right, r.b.m., you are one too. Wa D.C. is flat, right? Why not suggest a freewheel?

What bugs me is while we get extraordinary service, good service, ok service from our shops .... I don't expect this behavior from any shop.

Communication. Education. Good shops do that. This is how my shop is getting me to plan for a new bike. I asked him "if I wanted to use my commuter for ALC is there anything that could make it lighter?" He described how we could throw money at it .... and said it would cost less to get a Surly LHT, which would be lighter, faster, touring geometry and I still have the commuter.

That's how you sell a bike. And the shop might have gotten the rebuild too.