Questions tagged [frugal]
Inexpensive bicycle goods and services. Maintenance and repairs done cheaply, etc.
118
questions
4
votes
1
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116
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Bottom bracket has play. Can I still tighten this, or do I have to replace it/fix it properly? Tools? (incl. videos and photos)
I'm staying with a relative and borrowed her bike for a ride. It now has play on the bottom bracket - as shown in videos below.
TL;DR
Is it possible to judge if I can still just tighten this, or do I ...
- 2,285
3
votes
1
answer
81
views
Are chain breaker pins manufacturer specific?
I broke the second (spare) pin of my Lezyne chain breaker and now need to buy more. There are no pins from Lezyne in the shop but there is a ParkTook breaker of the same basic design and spare pins ...
- 7,462
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can I replace my rear cantilever brake with a caliper brake?
Can I replace my damaged rear cantilever brake with a caliper brake?
I assume there are two things to consider: frame and lever.
Frame
The frame has a black, hook-shaped part, which I believe Sheldon ...
- 2,285
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Brake post broke off the boss. How do I replace it?
A brake post has been broken off the boss on an old BSO (bike shaped object). I'm exploring my options for reinstalling a brake.
There is a hole where the post was, some 6 mm in diameter. I bought an ...
- 2,285
2
votes
1
answer
196
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MTB BSO rear hub – bearing size dilemma
Background
I am fixing up an old MTB BSO (MTBSO? Or even MBSO?). I reckon it's from the 1990s or early noughties. My ambition is to do it myself and as cheaply as possible. The fault is that the axle ...
- 2,285
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Two ill-repair bikes into one?
I have started a new job, cycling roughly 17 miles (or 27 km) each day into work. Previously, it was a very short ride (less than 2 km) into university.
I have two bikes that are currently falling ...
- 83
4
votes
1
answer
429
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Is Tesa packing tape the same as some tubeless tapes?
I've seen Tesa 4289 packing tape marketed as an equivalent to cycling tubeless tape. It looks very similar, to me, to some cycle-branded tapes. Some report that it is the same as tubeless tape such as ...
- 12.7k
3
votes
1
answer
439
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Cantilever brake is missing its mounting screws and washers, how do I replace them?
Context
I am fixing up a BSO where the rear cantilever brake is missing. I want to keep this project green and cheap, and there is a good supply of used cantilever brakes online. But they often come ...
- 2,285
8
votes
8
answers
4k
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Are there limitations to how much you can upgrade a cheap bike?
I’m hoping to buy a used bike for ideally 200 Euros and make it a hobby project to keep investing in the bike piece by piece to make it a nice bike, upgrading one component at a time when I can afford ...
- 181
1
vote
2
answers
150
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Specs of a bike for single trails on budget
Few months ago was the first time I did singles with my friends and I really liked it.
I decided to buy my own bicycle.
Since I know that I won't ride that much but yet I want to have the option to go ...
- 113
5
votes
2
answers
1k
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Consequences of using smaller replacement pulley/jockey wheels in the rear derailleur
I have a new rear derailleur (Microshift Advent X) which uses somewhat oversized cog wheels with 12 and 14 teeth. I am known to wear these wheels during the winter season, so I am already planning for ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
2
answers
241
views
Can a conventional seat be reversed 180 degrees to be used as a noseless seat?
I am interested in potentially switching to a noseless seat (also called noseless saddle). Instead of buying one, can I simply reverse my conventional seat 180 degrees and sit on the edge of the new ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
119
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Maximum load of seat and quality of cheap carbon seats from China
I ride daily a single speed bike in the city, where is a lot of bumps, pothole etc. I would like to replace my current heavy seat (550g) for something very light. On eBay are available some cheap “...
- 11
4
votes
1
answer
327
views
Shimano TZ rear derailleur cable entry at strange angle causing wire rub
I have a cheap (but very nice!) secondhand bike I bought that I am slowly servicing/repairing using YouTube, forums etc.
I am stuck on the rear derailleur, I can index it properly and it shifts fine, ...
- 43
5
votes
2
answers
884
views
Flipping or rotating pads?
I went to replace the pads on my front mechanical disc brake.
I noticed the pad on the stationary side had significantly less wear than the pad on the actuated side.
Could I get away with flipping ...
- 151
2
votes
1
answer
250
views
Need new chainwheels for a cheap racing bike - which price range makes sense?
A couple of years ago I bought a rather cheap racing bike after my mountain bike was stolen. I didn't use it much at first. Now, with corona I spent a lot of time on my bike and probably did around ...
- 201
3
votes
4
answers
183
views
Identifying features of a mountain bike specific to a tall and heavy rider?
I recently found some local bike trails that have everything from flat gravel to dirt bike jumps. I'm looking for a bike that can hold me through off road biking. I don't plan on doing any jumps or ...
- 39
3
votes
5
answers
1k
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What are the hazards and risks if I keep using a worn rear tyre?
I found similar questions:
What are the risks of fenders/mudguards?
What are the risks of untrued wheels?
But I haven't found a structured analysis on the subject of tyres.
Stack exchange ...
- 2,285
1
vote
1
answer
148
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My tyre has hollow knobs, is it normal/desirable/essential for maker to disclose?
I noticed my back tyre has hollow knobs and I can't remember ever seeing this before. Some of the knobs have turned out to be hollow inside. I know YGWYPF, my questions are:
Is it normal? I got no ...
- 2,285
8
votes
5
answers
377
views
How to get a decent workout on a mid sized, flat parking lot?
I'm looking for a way to have a bicycle based workout in the middle of the COVID-19 quarantine.
I do not own a roller trainer of any type, nor materials good enough to make one myself. In my country ...
- 12.4k
3
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Methods for selling used bike
I have a used bike I would like to sell. It's relatively high end (retail price was about $3.5k). I put the bike for sale on Craigslist at what seemed to be a good price, especially relative to others ...
- 274
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1
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2k
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Cheap Apollo forks: The fork suspension feels too soft
I have a cheap Apollo brand bike which has very soft suspension and sometimes leaks brown rust coloured fluid if compressed hard enough. both sides have a plastic cap which prys open (not unscrewed) ...
- 247
2
votes
2
answers
320
views
Inexpensive 1x10 gearing?
Can I use a single speed crank (like a Shimano Vee) paired with an 7 speed rear derailleur and 10 speed 12-32 rear cassette to make an inexpensive 1x10 gearing, for non-technical trail riding?
Is ...
- 21
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Multiple master links on the same chain
Not so long ago I put a new PYC SP1101 chain on my bike, but several rides in I managed to snap the rear derailleur off, which also bent a bunch of chain links. No way I'm throwing a perfectly good, ...
- 5,709
4
votes
3
answers
374
views
Am I freeloading at my LBS?
I try to make all my bicycle-related purchases (parts, tools, accessories, etc) at my LBS, but I have never bought a new bike at a LBS, and I (very) rarely take my bikes in for service. On average, I ...
- 759
3
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Homemade handlebar tape?
Because road bikes are usually ridden on smooth surfaces, the pedals scraping against the asphalt/gravel/cobblesones/tree roots/sand/mud/dead branches seem to protect the frame and drivetrain against ...
- 13.6k
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Inner tube valve cut from stretched rim tape?
I was trying to fix my sisters flat tire to make some money by charging her fees cheaper than the bike shop.
I found the leak to be on the actual valve piece. Near the base there is a small cut ...
- 37
5
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Restoring/modernizing an old cheap(ish) bike
tl;dr;? Just see bullet points below...
My mom recently gave my wife her old Raleigh Horizon bike. She must have gotten it around the year 1990, and there's no way she spent much on it (she's kinda ...
- 167
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votes
2
answers
5k
views
If you buy and install a brand-new chain, but never clean or lubricate it, what will happen?
When you buy a new chain, it comes lubricated with a factory-installed grease-type lubricant. This lubricant is similar to hot wax. (Reliable sources — including Sheldon Brown, Shimano, and ...
5
votes
3
answers
261
views
Why are bicycles priced the way they are?
This question may not fit the criteria here.
Feel free to close or edit it.
I spent six hundred dollars Canadian funds on a Norco Yorkville Hybrid.
The rationale being that for that price I would get ...
- 415
1
vote
1
answer
321
views
Getting a Brompton on and off a plane without going broke
After the damage done to my Brompton by StarPeru, and from the information in my previous question, I now have a Chubby. It protects the bike better than the B-bag, and my carry-on goes in it between ...
- 495
4
votes
1
answer
143
views
Should I care about brands of tires?
My MTB is due for a tire replacement. I'm also trying to get into long distance biking. Budget is a big concern right now but also I don't want to have to replace my tires so soon.
Is it worth ...
- 171
0
votes
2
answers
710
views
Failing hub bearings on a beater bike (freewheel) -- time to replace the bike?
I run an old Raleigh Michigan that only does about 12 miles per week and lives outside a station mostly exposed to the elements. While replacing the rear derailleur cable yesterday (it had almost ...
- 57.3k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Internally-geared hub and chain case: running away from maintenance chores and grit damage
First off, the context of my question is 80% urban commuting and 20% weekend road trips of up to 70km, with a bit of casual trail riding mixed in. I ride my bicycle for transport and I value minimal ...
- 441
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How much does the price of a new bicycle drop a year after buying it?
I'm planning to buy a bicycle "on a budget" (I'm sure yet if I should buy a new or an old one). But since I'm going to use for just a year, I'm wondering how much I'm going to sell it for next year (...
- 479
1
vote
2
answers
220
views
Diagnosing faulty circuit in vintage incandescent headlamp
I've got a steel-framed bike with incandescent lights, probably from the '70s. Unfortunately, despite all my efforts to get it working, the headlamp refuses to work.
History
About six months ago, ...
- 3,405
3
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Would rotating or flipping disc brake rotors make any sense?
Front brakes take the brunt of braking forces - so the front rotor wears faster than the rear. With mechanical disc brakes, the rotor gets pushed in one direction only so wear is also uneven.
For ...
- 29.1k
0
votes
2
answers
145
views
Should I buy a crank, derailleur, cassette, etc. all from the same company or are the parts of the drivetrain not super specific [closed]
I am looking to build my own bike and was wondering whether the bike and the drivetrain would work better with matching parts or not. I work at a bike coop and it would be much cheaper to be able to ...
- 45
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Would using compressionless brake housing for derailleur be a problem?
... since derailleur cables are a smaller diameter? Would they be too loose in the bigger housing?
The housing might also not fit the shifter hole.
Any thoughts on this?
The 'why' behind the ...
- 197
0
votes
1
answer
88
views
how to go from front suspension to full suspension?
I got a bike for my birthday, a cheap one, 200€ 27,5 with front suspension, but I want a full-suspension bike. My question is: is it cheaper to buy a full-suspension frame and move the parts to the ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
194
views
Very sloppy shifting on smaller cogs (BSO)
I have very few complaints with my BSO, but this is one of them.
My rear derailleur seems to hold the same 'up and down' tension across all the cogs. So when I'm on the first couple of cogs (32 and ...
- 5,690
0
votes
0
answers
115
views
Storing a nice bike outside cheaply in the city during winter (weather/security) [duplicate]
I'm no longer able to store bicycles in my flat, as my current place is less than 20m² in size; Is there any way to store a bicycle outside in a way which will significantly minimize weather- and ...
- 3,405
24
votes
8
answers
58k
views
Putting pin(s) back into chain
While trying to put a new chain on a bike, I rather stupidly removed the "wrong" link in the chain, and it's already very short, so I can't simply remove yet another link in order to get the "correct" ...
- 3,405
4
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Is my bike too big for me?
I recently bought a bike online for use in college and after trying to get on the bike, and I think it's too big. The problem is that I'm pretty small. Like 4'11", 27" inseam small. Little legs, yes. ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
601
views
Salvaging valuable parts from a broken vintage bike
I've got a 1971 Motobecane Club frame which is now about 1cm shorter than it used to be due to an unplanned merging of the front of the bike with the hood of a car which was in the process of turning; ...
- 3,405
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Chinese carbon clinchers - cheap but safe?
Ok. I won't mention links, ebay posts, or anything that may tempt you in any way, like I was. However, they are growing in popularity at my local and some guys swear by them.
We all know buying local ...
- 1,282
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why do low-quality bikes have horizontal dropouts, even though they aren't fixed speed?
Though convenient vertical dropouts and standard derailleur mounting are appearing on low-end bicycles, a lot still use horizontal dropouts, without any fittings for trim to return the wheel axle to ...
- 2,720
4
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How to remove old kickstand
I'm trying to cannibalize an old bike but am having trouble removing the kickstand:
I've tried screwing the bolt counter-clockwise†, which indeed made it looser, but it's not getting loose enough to ...
- 3,405
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
Saving frayed cables? [duplicate]
I've got a '70s road bike with shift cables which work quite well and so I see no immediate reason to replace them, but the cable ends were not crimped with end caps and so they've frayed out to ...
- 3,405
10
votes
9
answers
23k
views
How good or bad would chainsaw bar lubricant be as a bicycle chain lube?
A former coworker asked me this today, and I don't have a good answer. He has access to plentiful quantities of chainsaw bar lubricant, the stuff that helps a chainsaw's chain move around the metal ...
- 121k