MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Do you have a bicycle?

Do you have a bicycle?

posted 5 days ago by MaximRecoil (4265)
62 replies | jump to latest

If so, what kind is it, and how often do you ride it?

I have two BMXs. One is based around a 1984 Univega Pathfinder frame that I built into a complete bike in 1997 and the other is based around a 1984 Mongoose Californian frame/fork set that I built into a complete bike in 2020:

Univega: https://i.imgur.com/ONFkLDp.jpeg
Mongoose: https://i.imgur.com/QTKTPt4.jpeg

I just ride them (usually the Mongoose now, since that's what I really wanted, but never got, when I was a kid) up and down my street (I own the house I grew up in so it's the same street I learned to ride a bike on in 1982), around town, and sometimes on the old railroad tracks that they tore up in the 1990s and turned into a "recreational trail" for bikes, motorcycles, ATVs, horses, snowmobiles, etc.

A BMX, especially a 1980s one, is far from the ideal bike for me from a practical perspective, since I'm 6' 2", ~190 pounds, which means I can't have the seat and handlebars at the proper height for me without making it look like something other than a BMX (and ridiculous to boot), and I can't be particularly rough on it because even the best '80s BMXs were weak compared to modern ones, especially the 1" threaded headsets / quill stems that were standard on all bikes back then. But '80s BMXs are the only kind of bikes that really interest me, so that's what I have. It's mainly a nostalgia thing.

[–] StoneKeeper (22811) 5 days ago

ive Had many bikes and often said they were the best one I’ve ever had but the one I have right now is this one:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/supercycle-comp-hardtail-mountain-bike-26-in-black-green-0711779p.html?gbraid=0AAAAADojZphyW0FrkHLaTrV0Dp_RGBCbd&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm5oW3j2OHB0aFpCFqNUhgaxBxZA7o7ePqdfp3XfpHShPQbTXi1aeIUaAv2lEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=191

And yeah, it’s the best one I’ve ever had!

I bought my son of BMX a few weeks ago. It’s beautiful (black & gold) and he loves it.

Yours are nice AF too.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 5 days ago

How old is he? I got my first BMX for Christmas, 1983, when I was 8, almost 9. It was a Murray, the exact same model as this one:

https://i.imgur.com/D7ud3Rq.jpeg

That one is all original except for the missing pedals and the tires (it originally had gumwall tires exactly like the ones on this different Murray model - https://i.imgur.com/p3rqLO3.jpeg).

My older brother got one at the same time, same make and model (which my parents did so that neither of us could complain that the other got a better bike).

The thing that sucked was waiting until spring to ride it for the first time. The first time my brother and I rode those new bikes was in late March or early April, and there was still some snow on the ground here and there (especially in places where snowplows had piled it high during the winter), but the streets and sidewalks were all clear.

[–] StoneKeeper (22811) 5 days ago

He’s 9 and he got the two pegs on front wheel too. For some reason the chain keep falling off so I have to put it back and get my fingers all greasy and shit.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 5 days ago

Make sure the chain isn't too tight or too loose. There should only be a couple of inches of slack in the chain at the most (i.e., a couple inches of movement if you grab it and move it up and down), and about an inch of slack at the least. You can get away with less slack than that if neither your chain wheel nor sprocket are out-of-round in the slightest, but that's highly unlikely.

Also, check the alignment of the sprocket (small rear gear) and the chain wheel (larger front gear). This is a picture of my Mongoose which has perfect alignment:

https://i.imgur.com/aJcmbTp.jpeg

And you can check it with a straight-edge like this:

https://i.imgur.com/hQdyPcw.jpeg

If both gears don't simultaneously sit flush against the straight edge, that can cause the chain to fall off. Best case scenario for misalignment is if the sprocket is just a little cockeyed relative to the chain ring, because that can usually be fixed by repositioning the rear wheel within the dropouts. Worst case is if the sprocket is on a significantly different plane than the chain wheel. The only way to fix that is by adding or removing axle spacers, which might involve taking the hub apart (or adding or removing spacers between the bottom bracket and the chain wheel, but that only applies to certain types of crank sets).

[–] StoneKeeper (22811) 5 days ago

I don’t think I can add axle spacers as there would be… no space but I think you might be on to something with it being too tight.

I did notice when putting it back on 4 or 5 times that it was very tight.

Thanks man

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 4 days ago

"I don’t think I can add axle spacers as there would be… no space"

In a situation where you'd need to add/remove axle spacers, it's usually a matter of shifting things around, so nothing changes in term of space, but it shifts the sprocket to the left or right. For example, suppose it originally had a half-inch axle spacer on one side and no spacer on the other side, and you determine that the sprocket needs to be shifted a quarter-inch to one side. You could remove the half-inch spacer on one side and replace it with two quarter-inch spacers, one on each side.

"I did notice when putting it back on 4 or 5 times that it was very tight."

Yeah, that can do it. Try moving the rear wheel forward slightly so that the chain has a little bit of slack.

Also, it's a good idea to make sure the chain is reasonably clean and lubricated. I use Break Free CLP for both cleaning and lubricating, but there are many types of lubricants that work fine, such as 3-In-One oil, which is sold at any hardware store. Some people use motor oil or automatic transmission fluid. Some people use products that are specifically labeled as bike chain lubricants. I just put it all over the chain and then wipe off as much of the excess as I can with a paper towel.

[–] sslssg (30257) 5 days ago

Yes I do. Not riding it as much as I should right now, but I'm hoping to remedy that soon.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 5 days ago

It's definitely good exercise, especially if you live in a town that's as hilly as mine.

[–] sslssg (30257) 5 days ago

I live in a neighbourhood that has hill in the name. :)

[–] BrandNewPoster (8405) 5 days ago

No, I don't. I did when I was a kid.

[–] Anotherday (8591) 5 days ago

I have two.

My mongoose mountain bike is for groceries

My Trek road Bike is for going to church and fun.

[–] olioz (3393) 5 days ago

I have a vintage road bike. I ride it every day, often for hours.

[–] Daft_Munks (4284) 5 days ago

I have one in the bike shed, don't ride it very often.

[–] nyctc7 (41964) 5 days ago

1972 De Rosa / Campagnolo Nuovo Record

I wish. I haven't owned a bicycle in many years.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 4 days ago

Those vintage, high-end road bikes were beautiful, especially the Italian ones. When I was a kid I went to the library and read books about bikes, and they were mostly published in the 1970s and were full of bikes like that. I never saw them in real life because almost everyone around here, including me, had inexpensive bikes from Sears, Kmart, Western Auto, etc.

Campagnolo made beautiful components. Functionally, they may not have been better than the Japanese stuff (e.g., Shimano, Sugino, Suntour, Dia-Compe), but they definitely looked better.

I think the modern high-end road bikes with their carbon fiber frames and rims are ugly as homemade shoes, regardless of how light and high-performance they are. I'd take a vintage steel-framed road bike (especially one with a Reynolds 531 tube set) over one of those any day of the week.

[–] nyctc7 (41964) 4 days ago

Oh, I so agree about those bikes vs today's carbon fiber. The craftsmanship with the brazing of the lugs was gorgeous. The bikes were sleek. I lusted after them the way most teens lust after cars. They were all over the place on a weekend in 1970s New York Central Park.

[–] GlenEllyn (21239) 5 days ago

You can laugh, but I still have the bike I got way back in 6th grade. Ladies' Schwinn "Hollywood" model, 26 inch, blue. It's vintage, but before too long it might be considered "antique."

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/0508/28/schwinn-hollywood-26-girls-bike-1965-model-as_1_62baa66b7ba2a59fff7f714855183782.jpg

I haven't ridden it yet this year because I've been recovering from a knee injury.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 4 days ago

That is wicked awesome! Not only the bike (Schwinns were very well-made back then, and made in the USA to boot), but the fact that you've had it since you were a kid too.

Who has done the maintenance on it over the years, things like changing the tires and tubes, adjusting the spokes, adjusting the brakes, adjusting the headset, bottom bracket, and hub bearings, etc.? If it hasn't been done already, after all these years it could probably benefit from cleaning and regreasing all of the bearings, and maybe even replacing all of the bearings with new ones in the process, depending on how much you've ridden it over the years.

[–] GlenEllyn (21239) 4 days ago

I took it to a bike shop a couple of years ago and had them do a tune-up and put on new tires. It's showing its age, but it still rides nicely so I see no reason not to keep it. I prefer its coaster brakes over hand brakes.

A number of years ago, I did end up getting a newer bike with hand brakes. I was out for a ride on it and it happened to be that my son had arrived with his girlfriend/eventual fiancée and wife. They started out on a walk, hoping to meet up with me. They did and I made a great first impression with her — as I rode up to them, I did a face plant off my bike right in front of her. Another reason why I don't like hand brakes, probably. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

That newer bike sat in my garage for years. I ended up giving it away during Covid to a woman who had asked if anyone had a ladies' bike that they'd like to sell for a reasonable price. She was confused that I didn't want any money, and I told her that I'd rather see someone using it than having it sit there gathering dust.

[–] MaximRecoil (4265) 4 days ago

"It's showing its age, but it still rides nicely so I see no reason not to keep it."

Definitely keep it. It will last forever as long as something drastic doesn't happen like it getting run over by a car, or being left outside for a long time to rust away. Those "Electro-forged" frames are very cool, and are unique to vintage Schwinns.

Bearings and cones/cups can wear out but those can easily be replaced. The biggest thing would be the coaster brake, which is a type of drum brake. If that wears out you'd probably need to find a complete replacement rear hub (for example - https://www.bicycleheaven.org/products/schwinn-bicycle-five-speed-road-bike-hub-others-1970) because I doubt you'd be able to find new internal parts to rebuild it. Most of the old/good ones were manufactured by Sturmey Archer or Bendix. In fact, Sturmey Archer still makes them, which is what I'd buy if I needed a replacement (because who knows what the internal condition of an old used original one might be?):

https://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/products/detail/s1c-silver

This is a good article about coaster brakes in general, including pros and cons:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/coaster-brakes.html

"They did and I made a great first impression with her — as I rode up to them, I did a face plant off my bike right in front of her. Another reason why I don't like hand brakes, probably."

LOL. I love front brakes (they have more stopping power than rear brakes due to weight transferring to the front when you brake), but you do have to be careful with them. When I was a kid a lot of other kids were scared of using their front brakes because of what you described, and I was too when I got my first bike that had front brakes. But once I discovered that I could shift my weight rearward when applying the front brake and I'd never go over the handlebars no matter how hard I braked, I really liked how quickly I could stop with the front brake and it wasn't long before I was using it more than the rear brake. These days I almost always use both brakes simultaneously and shifting my weight rearward when I do it is second nature rather than something I have to consciously decide to do.