Bought a bike for $30 and it needs work-can you recommend parts

[tulip]

It probably won't need wheels, just tubes and tires. The bike shop can check the trueness of the wheels and make adjustments. While you (or your FIL) could conceivably true the wheels, the bike shop has the right tools and know how. Please post some more pictures, it's a pretty bike.

[Biciclista]

when i fixed up my mixte, the first thing i got rid of were those extremely heavy steel wheels. The bike shop put on a used pair of "alloy" wheels and the bike was suddenly a lot lighter. Plus wet steel wheels are scary to stop.
when my bike was all done being fixed up with mostly used parts, the bike shop made a little money and i had a bargain bike.

good luck! i hope you have a bike shop who will operate that way.

[Biciclista]

ps a larger photo would help us. I can't see ANYTHING on your bike.

[goldfinch]

Do you know how to change a tire? And do you know what kind to get? If you can figure that out, you will save a lot. Do that before you bring it to the shop, and let them advise you on the rest. Plus, it's a good opportunity to learn about tire changing. Bike shops do charge a lot for that service. There are many videos on Youtube that demonstrate. I linked to one once under Bike Maintenance. It's a good video.

I have never changed a tire and I have yet to get a flat. I have watched the videos and have watched others change a tire so I think I could. But I should do it once when I am not sitting on the side of the road.

My bike shop up north charges $10 to change out two tires. Unfortunately, that is cheap enough for me to let them do it even though I know that I should do it myself.

[Biciclista]

My bike shop up north charges $10 to change out two tires. Unfortunately, that is cheap enough for me to let them do it even though I know that I should do it myself.

+++++ support your local business

[tulip]

But Goldfinch, what will you do when you DO get a flat, and you WILL, and you aren't close to your bike shop? I hope you can take some time to practice so that you can take care of it when it happens.

[Bethany1]

Check out your LBS and have them go over it. Mine did a quick lookover and said I needed new brakes since mine didn't have replaceable pads. When I bought my used Trek Y-11 it needed shifters and I knew I couldn't do that myself. I bought them from the used bike store and let my LBS put them on. I would have purchased from my LBS but he'd have to order them in and I wanted the bike done right away.

Tires/tubes are easy to replace. Prices vary on the tires you buy. Cheap ones are about 15 bucks a piece. You'd need to check the rims and spokes for damage though.

Grips are fairly cheap depending on what you want. Around 20-30 bucks for basic ones. Hopefully your LBS carries a variety or they can order you in some. I paid 12 bucks for my Y-11 but those were cheapie mountain bike grips.

Is it rideable? Gears shift through okay?

Do you need new brakes entirely or just the pads replaced?

Working on a bike is fun but takes time. If you don't know what you are doing, ask or pay them to do it right.

Have you had a chance to clean her up some to see what else needs worked on?

Chances are that if it's been sitting in a basement, it's probably in pretty good shape. I was shocked when I realized my Y-11 had rarely been used and is near perfect condition and she's 13 years old.

I bought 2 books for my birthday the other day on maintenance/repair. There is SO much more to fixing a bike than I ever thought possible. No wonder these guys can charge so much to fix one up for you. I need to learn to repair bikes..LOL.

Pics would be great!

[jyyanks]

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the lack of pictures. The bike is at my father in laws house But I will take pictures as soon as I can get over there.

I actually have a decent (albeit new) relationship with my local LBS. I bought my bike from there and then bought my husband one too (which I had to return). I plan on buying my new bike from them in the Spring. In the meantime, my FIL brought it in today and they were very helpful. They quoted $25 for the tires and $10 for the tubes. They said everything else looked good.

My father-in-law is going to install the wheels and I will take pictures of the finished product.

On a side note, I am signed up to take a bike maintenance course at Rei on Wednesday so I hope to know more about maintenance after the class.

Thanks again!

[Seajay]

I would think a shop would be happy to work on the bike for you. Just don't expect that just because the bike was $30 that the repair and parts will be equally cheap. Shop time is shop time. $30 bike or $300.
"75 for a tune up...the bike only cost me 30" is an anthem we commonly hear

[jyyanks]

Totally hear you. My LBS is not cheap at all and I don't expect them to be. I fully expect to pay $85 for a tune up. That is the going rate in my area. My father in law is going to install the new tires but I will pay for a tune up/safety check prior to riding.

On a separate note, is it the same price to tune up a kids single speed bike? Or is it cheaper?

[BC2COCyclist]

I got a bike for FREE (Fun Bike) and probably put oh, $100+ into it. Worth every penny. It needed new cables, new innertubes, tires and brake pads, my now-DH got me shifters for it. I also added a rear rack and fenders, got new peg type platform pedals for it and a red bell and a bike computer for it.

It's my favourite bike to ride currently.

If it is a good bicycle, the amount you paid for it shouldn't influence how much you spend fixing it up. If it has severe problems...might be different. Also, how is the bottom bracket...?