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

[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...?