Bike repairs and the 1980s...

[Flick of the Elbow]

As Dodo says, swings and roundabouts. Except when it comes to lighting. Absolutely nothing good to say about the lights of old, nothing at all.

 

[Sara_H]

When I first started riding as an adult in the mid 90's I never did any bike maintenance at all.
My first bike was a BSO from Big W. I rode it for years without so much as putting air in the tyres!

I've learnt the error of my ways now, I do occasionally clean and oil the chain, but not much more than that!

 

[Drago]

I recall as a kid that ride at night without lights and within seconds a policeman would appear from nowhere and clip you round the ear. Do it today and nothing happens. That's progress for you.

 

[raleighnut]

I recall as a kid that ride at night without lights and within seconds a policeman would appear from nowhere and clip you round the ear. Do it today and nothing happens. That's progress for you.

That also went for riding on the pavement or down 'jitties' and you daren't tell your Mum and Dad cos then you'd get another one.

 

[Smokin Joe]

When I was a lad I used to go all over the place on the old 5-speed. Never took any tools with me and had no idea how to fix a puncture

I still go all over the place on the 2x10 speed now...but I wouldn't go out without spare tubes, pump, multitool, tyre levers.

I wonder if I was full of the recklessness of youth or maybe I've become a cautious old fogey now

Equal measures of both I reckon.

 

[Flying Dodo]

You beat me to it with cotter pins. Utter rubbish. Thankfully they are no more (I hope).

Sadly not. Whilst doing a Dr Bike session at a local school last week, there was a fairly new bike with cotter pins. Might have been an Ammaco.

 

[Mrs M]

Got my first "serious" bike in 1980, a Halfords 5 speed "racer".
Did all my own maintenance and puncture repairs, with the aid of the instruction manual that came with the bike and an assortment of "tools", mostly borrowed from the kitchen.
Last puncture was on this bike. Don't do any maintenance now, just take to LBS, they are very good.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

Sadly not. Whilst doing a Dr Bike session at a local school last week, there was a fairly new bike with cotter pins. Might have been an Ammaco.

This saddens me a great deal

 

[cyberknight]

Round my way some mates got moped handle bars on their bikes

Round our way some lads had old mopeds with the accelerator like a friction shift lever on the bars, no end of fun on the wasteland ,

 

[TheDoctor]

Brakes back then were absolute crap. And that was in the dry - in the wet they didn't work at all!

 

[Smokin Joe]

Brakes back then were absolute crap. And that was in the dry - in the wet they didn't work at all!

And clincher tyres were just as bad. Heavy, stiff and no wet weather grip. If you raced, tubs were an absolute must even for the rawest beginner.

 

[flyingfish]

Brakes back then were absolute crap. And that was in the dry - in the wet they didn't work at all!

The amount of back tyres I got through 1 of mine worked

 

[MichaelW2]

So, to summarise:
Good in the olden days:
Chain life, sprocket and chainring life

Good in the newfangled 21st century:
Rims, spokes, hubs, tyres, lights, brakes.

I have fettled numerous bikes from all ages and grades. Metallurgy in some older bikes (eg 1950s raleigh) was very good, esp when it comes to nuts, bolts, cotter pins, cones, ball bearings, spoke nipples, cable ends. New manufacture versions of typical grade are now much softer. Even mudguard metalwork is softer now than that found 20years ago. The bike industry is perfectly capable of better, its is just penny pinching.

 

[JMAG]

Even mudguard metalwork is softer now than that found 20years ago.

There may have been a trade off with weight. Weren't old mudguards made of cast iron ?

 

[Dogtrousers]

So, to summarise:
Good in the olden days:
Chain life, sprocket and chainring life

Good in the newfangled 21st century:
Rims, spokes, hubs, tyres, lights, brakes.

I got a new SRAM Apex equipped bike 18 months ago. It has done 4,000km. It has been well looked after and cleaned/lubed after every ride.
The BB seized a couple of months ago and had to be replaced.
I have completely worn out the transmission (Chainrings, chain and - almost - sprockets).

What utter cack. Modern life is rubbish.