how long does your commuter last? AND, changing handlebars

[scouserinlondon]

My trusty Trek Valencia is three months old and going really well. However the shefflield stands at work are taking their toll on the paintwork on the seatstays and forks. This caused me to wonder how long to commuter bikes tend to last? I know that cosmetic damage will always happen and TLC will keep them going longer, but there must be an average lifespan?

AND

My gull-like handlebars have got to go, in favour of flatter slightly narrow bars with with bar ends, can anybody recommend anything/anyone to do this?

I'm assuming its easy right?

 

[Slim]

I have a two year old Specialized Sirrus and the paint chips VERY easily. Luckily it's plain black so getting touch-up paint is easy (no colour matching).

 

[scouserinlondon]

I'm hoping the bloody thing lasts at least three years so I get the BTW payback, however I'll probably buy a road bike next year then the poor commuter will never see the light of day again.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Jeeez
Commuter bikes (any bike) should last donkeys years with a bit of TLC, and 'worn' looking bikes are less attractive to thieves than nice shiny pristine ones.
So, either a bit of touch-up paint if you're that fussed or maybe something to protect the areas that get damaged, tape whatever, or, just leave it looking a bit chipped.
I'm commuting on a bike 25 years old, the chipped/scratched rusty bits are just wiped-over with a touch of grease and they're fine.

Changing bars should be easy as long as you check thet the bar centre is the right diameter for the clamp on the stem and that the diameter of the rest of the tube is OK for the brake levers and shifters etc. It's a pretty easy swap usually.

 

[scouserinlondon]

Cheers Fab, that's what I thought, may even attempt to do it myself rather than LBS.

My lovely wife is going to nail varnish over my scratches (the bike not me obviously).

 

[dondare]

Mine's at least 25 years old.

 

[fossyant]

Stop leaning it on the stands then.........

 

[palinurus]

My Muddy Fox courier did me 11 years. It was fine when I got rid of it (wish I hadn't, but had no space).

I used a Marin MTB for the next five or so, that's still going strong- I gave it to a friend who commutes on it. It looks like shoot (so many dings it's like someone has flogged it with a length of chain) but it goes well enough.

I've had a few in the last few years, none have been retired due to mechanical issues. I've just not settled down with any one commute bike recently.

You'll wear out parts of course: transmission, rims, bearings etc.

 

[Davidc]

If its the same bit of the bike up against the stand every time you can protect it. Self amalgamating rubber tape works well. If you haven't used it - you need to stretch it while applying it and make sure there's enough overlap of rubber on each wap round.

This is a fairly cheap one

http://cpc.farnell.com/rotunda/seamtape/tape-self-amalgamate-19mmx10m/dp/SEAMTAPE?in_merch=true&

 

[The Eighth Man]

My road bike is two and a half years old and covers 80 miles a week and still looks good, I just try to wash it once a week. I have had to replace consumables ie brake pads but that is it.

 

[neslon]

My 'wet' bike has been going since '90, the fixie is from the early '80s. Bikes should last for donkeys years, as long as you replace moving bits when they wear out - no point saving carbon by cycling if you spoil it all by buying new bikes every couple of years

 

[TheDoctor]

My main commuting bike I've had since 1990. 531ST, it'll last forever.

When the paint gets too hideously chipped to contemplate, I'll either gaffer-tape it all or brush hammerite on. I certainly shan't get rid of it, I've been all over Europe on that bike...

 

[nigelnorris]

Wrap a rag or something round the stand and leave it permanently padded? Did that to my drainpipe at work. Not convenient if you can't be sure of the same parking space every day though I guess.

 

[scouserinlondon]

Since I bought my proper sized lock it's getting a lot less scraped now, but thanks for the link to the tape, that looks just the ticket to protect the top of the fork which is in regular contact with the stand.

 

[jimboalee]

The date code on the Sturmey hub in my commute bike said 09-82, which means September 1982.
I've just changed wheels to a 07-91 date code Sturmey.

My BSA 20 is 06-74.

I have a Dawes Giro 500 from October 2006. I have replaced the chain once, brake blocks twice and four new tyres. 18,000 miles only.

I was chatting to my sister over the weekend because she has a 1958 Triumph ladies bike with a Sturmey Dynohub ( which I want ). She still uses the bike to visit the shops, so I won't get it anytime soon.