Mesoam Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt b Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Rollers are great if you know how to ride them. Cyplops trainers are rock solid, I got 12 years out of my 1st one and the second one still looks brand new after 2 years. Best trainer IMHO, if you have the cash: Lemond Direct Drive trainers. Pricey ($500-$700) but no wear on back wheel and excellent quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Slice Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Travis, I've never seen that until I started looking on PerformanceBike.com. That's actually pretty cool. Are they difficult to ride? Matt, that wouldn't be too bad, I wasn't trying to spend that much but I'll have to look into it. I'm on a bit of a budget as it is and wasn't looking to spend more than really $300, but is there anything worthwhile in that range? Edit: Just watched a few roller fail videos on YouTube..they look like they take some getting used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Hey guy, need some ideas on how to mod my nearly mint original 1984 Schwinn Mesa Runner. It's one of there early ATB. I've been thinking about leaving it mostly stock except changing out to aluminum rims and 2.3" fat tires, foam grips, meat tenderizer pedals. I've added a big ole fat quilted spring seat, but I'm going to ditch that maybe. I'd like to lighten it up as much as I can considering it's over 30lbs! Wish I could do something about the sidepull brakes but I think other then getting good pads I'm stuck with them. Kinda thinking making it a 26" BMX cruiser style, like the Sidewinder or King Sting retro cruiser. I'm mostly going to use it for trips into town to the shops, groscery runner, beer runner and taking my kid around on a child seat or trailer on the local rail trails. BTW the bike below isn't mine but in the same shape, mine is a bit better. I found it sitting next to a dumpster outside my buddies house about 10 years ago and stored it in the basement of my folks house till now. I started riding it before it got too cold and it's a blast so comfy, just heavy as sh*t and not much style. Any suggestions??? 1984 Schwinn Mesa Runner by vwluc, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesoam Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 not to burst your bubble but that thing was a peice of crap when it was new...donate it and go through CL to find something to meet your needs... I built up a great around town bike for less than 200 bucks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 You can convert it yourself. I don't know if there is much for drops (even less than 6inches), roots, ruts etc on your trails, but those rims are going to bend like a cheap spoon. Putting $100 in to those just seems silly. I'm cheap, and I ride old equipment... and even I think that's a waste of time. You can put the same puncture filler used in tubeless (Stans NoTubes) in to any tube with a removable core. I've done it, but I found it to have a bit of a learning curve. It was probably not worth the effort compared to converting to tubeless. I don't face the same challenges with cacti, but thorns are pretty miserable. I had a lucky streak of replacing tubes every other ride last summer. Drops aren't bad for the locations I'll be riding but I'm certainly considering switching rims. I imagine these stock cheapos will look like eggs in a month, haha. All in all I probably wont do anything to crazy to the bike as that money could just go into a better bike if I choose to stick with it. Right now is just the testing phase. If I can find enough time to ride despite all my projects I'll pick up a much better bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 LOL bubble not burst. I hear you on building something better. I've always built up used bike. Best one I did was my Trek y22 years ago that I wittled down to 20lbs for about $200 with Cane Creek Ti spoke rims. I have my first (and only) new bike I ever bought '99 Rockhopper A1 Comp FS that could use, all it needs is a replacement Thudbuster and seat thanks to my little brother. I was just looking for something that I can leave at the store and not worry about and most of the parts I have laying about waiting to be reused. Plus I wanted something with a little style. Also if I use a rear child carrier I don't want that on the Rockhopper, I would make the Mesa Runner the "kid bike". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesoam Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 You don't have to go crazy on a build, even if you find something already done just needing a little TLC. That bike I started with was a StumpJumper M2 ! The used bike market is very good right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I know I picked up a brand new Bianchi Milano Citta in celestiel for my wife for Christmas for really cheap. Didn't even have pad marks on the rims. I do like having a light weight bike, which that Mesa Runner would never be. It's a tank. Been thinking of listing it on CL for $200obo. This bike is kinda along the same lines but modded a bit and it's going for $400. http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/bik/4283009822.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icerockt Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Drops aren't bad for the locations I'll be riding but I'm certainly considering switching rims. I imagine these stock cheapos will look like eggs in a month, haha. All in all I probably wont do anything to crazy to the bike as that money could just go into a better bike if I choose to stick with it. Right now is just the testing phase. If I can find enough time to ride despite all my projects I'll pick up a much better bike. Walmart bike + swapping wheels < should have spent the same on a good used bikeHell I would have sold you a late 90s homegrown with a manitou black fork and all XT components for @$400 shipped.Maybe $450.. But still 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 If I had found one available I would have jumped on it. I've now regressed from having disc brakes which by itself is pretty crappy. But it will work for my goals just fine. I've only ridden it once so far so if I can't dedicate the time I'd rather have spent $200 than $500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurgerBob Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 Bought a Madone for $1200. Rode it for 6 months and resold it for $1150. Built an Orbea for $650. Rode it for a few months and sold it for $800. You bought a Mongoose for $200 - good luck selling it for $50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 You're comparing road bikes to MTB. I'm not sure that's a good comparison. Either way, he already made the purchase, and started riding. I don't think he needs his nose rubbed in it. Sounds like he's relatively satisfied with the purchase too, as hard as that might be to believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 I'm not concerned at all with resale. Call it a $150 experiment vs a $500+ dollar experiment. All that matter is that it accomplishes the goal of letting me see if I have the time and desire to ride again. That said, any issues with the bike only need to be resolved to the point that it allows me to run the experiment. I don't need an amazing machine to do that job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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