Is my bike worth fixing? Will it be easy?

[Dave5N]

He's an academic Dave probably never got anything nasty under his fingernails yet.
Give the guy a break .

Welcome to the forum Jon... we are not all grumpy ol gits like Dave lol

Most of us are though!

 

[peanut]

Most of us are though!

What was the question again?

dunno losin the will to live here

 

[Dave5N]

What question?

There was a question?

 

[jon the student]

Cant you get someone locally who can see the bike to advise ?

Sorry, forgot to mention I took it to OCW (Oxford Cycle Workshop) after a friend recommended them. They took a look at it, put two new derailleur cables in (which really sharpened up the triggers and made them feel a lot tighter), realigned the front V block brakes as one was catching, and also cleaned and greased the freewheel.

I did ask them to replace it, but they said it was just gritty. I attacked the gears outside the shop, but the crank wouldn't slip so I paid up and took it home. But it's started slipping again now (think perhaps it's the chain jumping?)

Thanks,

Jon.

 

[jon the student]

Mickle you have PM.

Thanks Peanut, but I reckon Dave has got a fair point. I have a 60-page build thread on the Corrado Forum for my car, so I really should know my bike inside out! I think because it's my "daily driver" so to speak, I can't be bothered with pulling it apart but then again i've just finished for christmas so maybe I will get the spanners out.

End of the day, I'm 6ft2, about 12stone and just don't have much confidence in the bike now. If I decide to push down hard I don't want something mechanical failing on me. I mean, what's the fun in cycling slow (I guess I'm an A to B man) plus I use it as a workout so getting my heart rate up is the aim of the game.

Wth regards to the frame, as far as I know it's a Raleigh Avenger Tioca( says on the handlebars?) it'll be early to mid 90s spec, costing around £500 back then if that helps any. It has a 'crossfire' sticker on the back fork (model name?) ad is kinda purple and black...Probs easiest if I just get some pics up tomorrow (yeah, today's pics didn't happen).

Thanks for the warm welcome, I think perhaps I am the grumpy old man on the corrado forum! ha ha.

Jon.

 

[jon the student]

A bloke called Rob van den Plas has written some excellent general bicycle repair books. Get hold of one and a lot will become very clear.

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep an eye out for it

 

[jon the student]

can you tell us what the frame make is ? are there any stickers on the frame? and how many sprockets do you have at the back ?

if sprockets are cogs then I have 7, it's a 21-speed. but the crank slip / chain bounce happens a lot on the bottom and middle 7 (i.e. small and medium chain wheels) so I leave it in the top 7. This kinda proved my theory that the chain is stretched as the top 7 gears is obviously largest chainwheel so it takes up more of the chain slack if that makes sense.

 

[Dave5N]

Jon, measure the chain with an ordinary decent steel rule.

Bike chains are half inch pitch so over 12 inches you will have 24 links exactly. Measure rivet to rivet. If the last rivet is more than a sixteenth past the 12 inch mark, you need a new chain.

Hope this helps.

Sorry for my grumpiness earlier and welcome!

 

[jon the student]

Grumpiness was justified, so it's ok! Thanks again for the welcome.

I will get steel rule out and go have a look now.

 

[jon the student]

I'm thinking that this chain has stretched more than 1/16". Opinions?

 

[Dave5N]

Yep. Time for a new one.

TBH I'd get a new cassette for the back at the same time.

 

[jon the student]

Ok cool, thanks for the confirmation. Do you know whether, for example, I would have to buy like for like (Altus C10) gear parts should I want to replace the derailleurs or is there a compatibility chart somewhere? No doubt gear mechs have come on leaps and bounds in the last 20 odd years.

 

[longers]

TBH I'd get a new cassette for the back at the same time.

And replace the chain before it gets too worn next time and you shouldn't need to change the cassette next time. Cheaper

 

[jon the student]

And replace the chain before it gets too worn next time and you shouldn't need to change the cassette next time. Cheaper

Good thinking batman yeah I really haven't maintained this bike very well

 

[Dave5N]

Probably won't need a new mech