Mountain Bikers -- advice needed please.

[crumpet19]

Where can I find (online) some decent parts? Nothing high performance, just need to get the bike working again.
Also, how easy would it be to repaint the frame? The original brownish orange paint is scratched to hell.

I've got an old school Gary Fisher Wahoo! from (I'm guessing '96 or '97). No way to really tell and I bought it used several years ago. Well, for the most part the bike is trashed. I'd like to get it working again. I dont want to use any high performance parts as I'm in college so it might get stolen, and I dont plan on trail riding with it.

Things I've noticed I'll need:
Cassette
Chain rings
Cantileaver brake pads
Levers
Cables
Rear derailleur
Handlebar
Possibly shifters

Just looking for basic gear.. cheap stuff.
Thanks!

 

[Anubis]

http://www.pricepoint.com - prob get everything there most likely cheapest also
http://www.beyondbikes.com/
http://www.supergo.com
http://www.webcyclery.com/
http://www.mtbr.com - forums reviews and FS forums for hard to find things
http://www.performancebike.com/

 

[Homerboy]

trick is with needing all that (Im guessing you'll need a chain too BTW) you'll require special tools etc etc... You maybe jsut better off getting a complete/workign bike used or even just a cheap-ass new one if its really point A-B riding.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
trick is with needing all that (Im guessing you'll need a chain too BTW) you'll require special tools etc etc... You maybe jsut better off getting a complete/workign bike used or even just a cheap-ass new one if its really point A-B riding.

I would concur. Just those parts will cost in the neighborhood of $200, and you will end up with a bike worth considerably less. I would look for a decent used bike instead.

 

[Homerboy]

well the 2 I question are cassette and Chain rings... why do you feel you need them? Chain rings hardly ever "break" unless the bike was really hammered on and landed on them or something similar.

Take the $200+ and buy a nice used bike ready to roll from a dealership in town that deals in them.

 

[vegetation]

I wouldn't do it either, the parts would cost too much plus you will end up spending a lot of time cursing while putting it together if you've never done it before. And after all that, you would still only have a mediocre bike (no offense).

 

[crumpet19]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
well the 2 I question are cassette and Chain rings... why do you feel you need them? Chain rings hardly ever "break" unless the bike was really hammered on and landed on them or something similar.

Take the $200+ and buy a nice used bike ready to roll from a dealership in town that deals in them.

Well, i just bought a Haro V-1 this last weekend. I was just interested in reparing the Wahoo cause I realy like the steel frame on it. And I wouldnt care if i beat the bejesus out of that bike. But, yeah.. it looks like its going to cost some $$ to get it good again.

 

[xenos500]

Good to see some mtn bikers here. I feel pretty alone in my hobby, at my college.

And a h3ll yea for gary fisher, I have a joshua X1

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: xenos500
Good to see some mtn bikers here. I feel pretty alone in my hobby, at my college.

And a h3ll yea for gary fisher, I have a joshua X1

ex-biker/mechanic

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

I just bought a LeMond Wayzata.

List is about 1100, i got one for 700. Its a great bike. Wheels are awesome and the steel frame is smmoooootth. Fast too. I use it to commute when weather allows (10 mi round trip).

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: crumpet19

Originally posted by: Homerboy
well the 2 I question are cassette and Chain rings... why do you feel you need them? Chain rings hardly ever "break" unless the bike was really hammered on and landed on them or something similar.

Take the $200+ and buy a nice used bike ready to roll from a dealership in town that deals in them.

Well, i just bought a Haro V-1 this last weekend. I was just interested in reparing the Wahoo cause I realy like the steel frame on it. And I wouldnt care if i beat the bejesus out of that bike. But, yeah.. it looks like its going to cost some $$ to get it good again.

Haro is a GREAT bike for the money isn't it?

(I sell them)

BTW: If you need chain rings and a cassette, your chain is toast as well. If you replace the cassette and NOT the chain, it WILL skip under a load!

 

[misle]

While we are on the subject: I have a pretty decent Schwinn Mtn. Bike that I've had for about 5 years. The only problem I've ever had with it are the wheels. They bend all the time. If I ride a rough, rocky trail, I have to take my bike to the shop and get the rims straightened out.

Where can I get a decent set of wheels that doesn't cost much (up to $150, but prefered ~>100)? And I don't know anything about wheels, so what characteristics and/or brands are good?

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: misle
While we are on the subject: I have a pretty decent Schwinn Mtn. Bike that I've had for about 5 years. The only problem I've ever had with it are the wheels. They bend all the time. If I ride a rough, rocky trail, I have to take my bike to the shop and get the rims straightened out.

Where can I get a decent set of wheels that doesn't cost much (up to $150, but prefered ~>100)? And I don't know anything about wheels, so what characteristics and/or brands are good?

<---- Builds wheels

I suggest Velocity wheels, or at the very least a GOOD double wall rim. They WILL more than likely run you more than $100 though.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: misle
While we are on the subject: I have a pretty decent Schwinn Mtn. Bike that I've had for about 5 years. The only problem I've ever had with it are the wheels. They bend all the time. If I ride a rough, rocky trail, I have to take my bike to the shop and get the rims straightened out.

Where can I get a decent set of wheels that doesn't cost much (up to $150, but prefered ~>100)? And I don't know anything about wheels, so what characteristics and/or brands are good?

Uhhh... well you cant
Wheels (even moderatly decent ones) are not cheap period. The BASIC rear wheel will cost ~$50. What Schwinn make and model do you have? And if possible what wheels are on there.

Spokes themselves can play a tremendous roll into the strength of the wheel itself (mmmm........ DT double butted stainless) and certianly a hand built wheel (by a professional that knows WTF they are doing) will be much stronger than some machine built.

Sadly my friend, you are gonna have to fork out some solid $ for a solid set of wheels.

What type of riding and what type of... umm... build are you?
Bent wheels are just nature of the sport to some extent.

 

[misle]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: misle
While we are on the subject: I have a pretty decent Schwinn Mtn. Bike that I've had for about 5 years. The only problem I've ever had with it are the wheels. They bend all the time. If I ride a rough, rocky trail, I have to take my bike to the shop and get the rims straightened out.

Where can I get a decent set of wheels that doesn't cost much (up to $150, but prefered ~>100)? And I don't know anything about wheels, so what characteristics and/or brands are good?

<---- Builds wheels

I suggest Velocity wheels, or at the very least a GOOD double wall rim. They WILL more than likely run you more than $100 though.

Hey, I laugh at most of your jokes! ...does that give me a discount on wheels that you build?

I have a Schwinn Mesa something. There were three different models like Mesa GS or something. I'm pretty sure I bought the middle grade one.

I haven't rode since last summer and I'm hesitant to spend a lot of money on wheels if I'm not going to ride a lot. But I don't want to ride because my wheels are f'ed up. I only paid around $300 for the bike, so I'd hate to spend that much just for wheels.

I do *plan* on riding quite a bit this summer. Most of the riding is on rocky Ozark trails and a few hard packed single tracks that are that rough. But when I go down to the Ozark trails, those mothers are rough! And very fun.

 

[Brutuskend]

I might be able to hook you up.

I have a almost new set of Velocity Synergy's (SP) on my bike now, and I want to "upgrade".

The front is laced to a XT disk hub and the back it laced to a USA built Pulstar hub. (Sealed bearings, straight pull spokes) both have alloy nipples. The front has never been ridden (well maybe 2 miles ON road) and the back maybe 5-6 road miles. I upgraded to a frame that will allow me to use disks front and back so I need to build a new rear at the least and I've decided to go to disk specific rims this time and better hubs. (sealed front and rear)

LMK if you're interested and I can get you some PICS and more details if you like.

I'm off to work now or I'd give you better details now.

 

[LS20]

cambriabikeoutfitters is the cheapest online store for me

as others has said, it is much more cost effective to buy a new bike...furthermore a 7 year old Wahoo frame isnt anything worth saving.

what would be fun, though, is if you get a few parts here and there (hub, relaced/dished wheel), and turn it into a fixed-gear MTB !

Painting isnt hard, at all. It might not be worth it if you have a nice vintage bike with a few scratches here and there..but if your paint job is bad spray paint the thing yourself. Sand off the frame with Steel Wool #2... primer it... run it lightly with 600grit wet-dry sandpaper, and throw on the paint & clearcoat

i did a super hack job... but its way better than before. i dont have the pic of the paint on yet, tho