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Hi, I am new to cycling and to this forum. I am restoring a bike for my girlfried. It is a Schwinn Passage 7-speed triple crankset somewhere year 1999 or so. As it was left outside, the rims, hubs, and derailleurs are corroded beyond using. My question is would it be better and maybe cheaper to either stay with current 7-speed parts and restore or convert over to newer parts (crank, derail., 9-speed, etc.) I have been researching some, but would like some other opinions. Thanks, John S.
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I think the determining factor on the upgrade direction would be cost. I just completed an upgrade on my 1985 Bianchi and by the time I was done I could have bought a new bike instead. If you move forward with the upgrade I would recommend replacing the current parts with the most affordable new parts you can find. The technology of bikes have changed so much that if you attempt installing 'modern' parts on an old bike you'll eventually run into insurmountable issues. But as I said I'd do a total cost estimate before starting by researching parts (eBay, harris cycles, loose screws to name a few places to start) and then if deciding to move forward stick within that budget.
Newer bikes, particularly the larger sizes, tend to have considerably longer top tubes than older ones. This is good for racers, bad for most everybody else. A racer likes a very stretched out upper body position, with the back nearly horizontal. This is, in fact faster. If your legs are strong enough to keep pedaling hard all the time, the reaction to the pedaling force will allow you to maintain this position without undue strain to your upper body...but if you are heavier than a typical racer, and do not pedal as hard all the time, an aggressive upper body position will lead to resting too much weight on your hands. This can lead to serious problems with your wrists, shoulders, neck.
I began tuning I noticed a grumbling sound while in the front large ring & the rear smallest...*This is not a grinding...but a grumble so to speak...the best I can compare is when you get to far over on the highway with your car & hit the rumble strips.
*Does not do it in small front...just in big front... *This is only on the stand right now...I have not had it on the road yet...so it might be transfer vibration through
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