parts for ageing bikes - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

02-13-2005, 01:29 AM

Dear All,
I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a source
of older bike parts/accessories?

02-13-2005, 02:53 AM

"Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk> wrote in message
news:420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com ...
> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a
> source of older bike parts/accessories?
If it helps any:
Older small bike shops typically have some old parts laying around, but you
may have to go farther to other cities to find them.
You could substitute parts (even upgrading too).
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] may be a good source for old parts too. Just check it on a
frequent basis.
Another source is old bikes at garage sales or left in the alley to be
picked up by the garbage truck.
I found a decent 1970's vintage JC Penney 10 speed touring bike this way.
New tires, tubes, and a chain got it nicely going again.
Also any part made by man can be remade by man. If you have access to a
milling machine and or lathe yoi can make your own parts.
Bearings and even loose bearing balls are fairly easy to still obtain.

02-13-2005, 02:53 AM

"Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk> wrote in message
news:420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com ...
> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a
> source of older bike parts/accessories?
If it helps any:
Older small bike shops typically have some old parts laying around, but you
may have to go farther to other cities to find them.
You could substitute parts (even upgrading too).
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] may be a good source for old parts too. Just check it on a
frequent basis.
Another source is old bikes at garage sales or left in the alley to be
picked up by the garbage truck.
I found a decent 1970's vintage JC Penney 10 speed touring bike this way.
New tires, tubes, and a chain got it nicely going again.
Also any part made by man can be remade by man. If you have access to a
milling machine and or lathe yoi can make your own parts.
Bearings and even loose bearing balls are fairly easy to still obtain.

02-13-2005, 03:18 AM

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:29:51 -0000, "Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk>
wrote in message <420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com>:

>I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
>difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a source
>of older bike parts/accessories?

Try Sheldon ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

02-13-2005, 03:18 AM

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:29:51 -0000, "Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk>
wrote in message <420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com>:

>I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
>difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a source
>of older bike parts/accessories?

Try Sheldon ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

02-13-2005, 09:58 AM

"Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk> wrote in message
news:420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com ...
> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting
increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone
advise as to a source
> of older bike parts/accessories?

I'm just guessing that they are old 27 inch road bikes.

1. Old local bike shops. Look for the ones that recently had
"Schwinn" in the title, and haven't changed locations in
decades. Don't go in when they are busy. These shops often
have a bunch of old inventory "somewhere" and will be happy to
unload it -- often cheaply -- if you give them time to find
it.

2. Bike swap meets, where there are sometimes people selling
old parts they have stripped off.

3. If you look long enough, you will find a nice bike at a
garage sale for, say, $10, which can be mined for some old
parts. This strategy produces a lot of basement clutter,
though.

4. There's Sheldon's site, always a good place to try.

Here's Sheldon's list of 27 inch tires:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Lickton's also has some older stuff.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Here's Lickton's list of road tires. You can see some 27 inch
tires (like Continental Top Touring) and even an S6 tire for
old Schwinn rims:
<http://www.lickbike.com/sectionsublist.asp?SECTION='0018'&SUB
SECTION='100'&SECTIONNAME='Tires'&SUBSECTIONNAME=' ROAD'>

I haven't used these guys myself, but these guys have parts
for sale:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm looking forward to seeing other answers on this thread.

02-13-2005, 09:58 AM

"Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk> wrote in message
news:420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com ...
> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting
increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone
advise as to a source
> of older bike parts/accessories?

I'm just guessing that they are old 27 inch road bikes.

1. Old local bike shops. Look for the ones that recently had
"Schwinn" in the title, and haven't changed locations in
decades. Don't go in when they are busy. These shops often
have a bunch of old inventory "somewhere" and will be happy to
unload it -- often cheaply -- if you give them time to find
it.

2. Bike swap meets, where there are sometimes people selling
old parts they have stripped off.

3. If you look long enough, you will find a nice bike at a
garage sale for, say, $10, which can be mined for some old
parts. This strategy produces a lot of basement clutter,
though.

4. There's Sheldon's site, always a good place to try.

Here's Sheldon's list of 27 inch tires:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Lickton's also has some older stuff.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Here's Lickton's list of road tires. You can see some 27 inch
tires (like Continental Top Touring) and even an S6 tire for
old Schwinn rims:
<http://www.lickbike.com/sectionsublist.asp?SECTION='0018'&SUB
SECTION='100'&SECTIONNAME='Tires'&SUBSECTIONNAME=' ROAD'>

I haven't used these guys myself, but these guys have parts
for sale:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm looking forward to seeing other answers on this thread.

02-13-2005, 11:41 AM

> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a
> source of older bike parts/accessories?

Could you be more specific? Brand, model & approximate year would be great.
Some older bikes are easy to get parts for, others can be nightmarish. For
example, if you have an older French bike, with a still-usable
French-threaded rear wheel, good luck trying to find a freewheel for it.

Also, you might need to balance the hassles of fixing up an older bike vs
getting either a new one or a newer used one. Sentimentality comes into play
here... could be that you really want to keep those old ones running because
of what you've been through together. But, if not, it may not be worth the
time & expense.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-13-2005, 11:41 AM

> Dear All,
> I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
> difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a
> source of older bike parts/accessories?

Could you be more specific? Brand, model & approximate year would be great.
Some older bikes are easy to get parts for, others can be nightmarish. For
example, if you have an older French bike, with a still-usable
French-threaded rear wheel, good luck trying to find a freewheel for it.

Also, you might need to balance the hassles of fixing up an older bike vs
getting either a new one or a newer used one. Sentimentality comes into play
here... could be that you really want to keep those old ones running because
of what you've been through together. But, if not, it may not be worth the
time & expense.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

02-13-2005, 11:50 AM

Unfortunately or fortunately I live in the U.K. but thanks for the
suggestion.
"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:29:51 -0000, "Neil Smith" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].uk>
> wrote in message <420f2c1f$0$29411$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pipex.com>:
>
>>I have two bikes which, unlike me, are ageing. It is getting increasingly
>>difficult to get the parts I want for them. Can anyone advise as to a
>>source
>>of older bike parts/accessories?
>
> Try Sheldon ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].
>
> Guy
> --
> May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> 85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound