Quote Originally Posted by mayanorange View Post
Cranklin- yeah, I took the commuter rail from wellesley to worcester. There was actually lots of people with bikes both directions. It was a bit hairy carrying my bike up the metal stairs with road shoes and cleats on but then at worcester, it was a level platform. It was narrow enough, you really have to keep one hand on the handlebars to steer your way through and the other hand holding it on your shoulder, so no hands for railings. Most people were helpful if I was struggling. I was worried I might beat my bike into things around those narrow and doubly doored corners! Make sure you look for the handicapped areas where the seats flip up- they're on both kinds of cars. Once I get in, I've been taking my bike up to the lab with me- there are racks in the garage, but this is the same garage they had a rash of GPS thefts in a couple months ago. Yet another reason to clean up DH's as a beater.

PS- I went out to look at it and it is a Scott Purgatory, which seems to be a precursor to the Sportster hybrid. Maybe I'll take some cleaner to it and see if there's pitting in the metal.
Sure, I'd give it a go and salvage it. Especially that it sounds like it'll be a commuter beater bike? I'd get a new chain for sure. To remove rust I don't use solvent. I've used steel wool on some components like an old freewheel (you say cartridge in your post but did you mean cassette/freewheel?) But you may want to get a new one depending on how much pitting there is. I will also use a fine wire sander to put on the end of a drill and I'll wire sand the rust off. I've done this for chrome parts, and have salvaged rusty pedals, and bolts this way. If the pitting is deep, the rust will come back but you can keep on top of it and maybe put WD40 on it in the meantime.