…got another bike… December 30, 2007

…well, I went with the Craigslist purchase. I don’t think this will be a long term bike for me. It’s a tad too small. I’m going to work on it a bit, and try it out for a while, but I’m already planning on reselling it after a couple changes.

So, the to-do list:

• Replace the pedals. The toe clips have to go. CrankBros Eggbeaters?
• Replace the seat. The seat has to go. Brooks B-17 Champion Special?
• Replace the bar tape. An inexpensive upgrade that does wonders for the overall look.
• Wash and wax the frame. Again, an easy way to make the whole bike look $50 better.
• Thoroughly lube the bike. I think the chain has the original wax on it.
• Adjust the cables. They don’t look like they need replacing.
• Remove minor corrosion. There are some fasteners that look like they’ve suffered a bit of weather.

And of course, fix the problems. So far, the only thing wrong with the bike mechanically is that the front dérailleur is frozen. I attempted to shift it and the cable popped loose. It doesn’t look like anything too serious. The bike looks like it was probably stored outside on a lanai (patio for the mainlanders), and has a little bit of corrosion on the cheaper fasteners. So, the front dérailleur probably seized, and he unloaded the bike for a deal rather than fix it.