I got a new (used) bike!

"mazda616" (mazda616) 07/22/2020 at 12:00 • Filed to: Bicycling

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A Schwinn road bike. Paid $160 for it and it came with two extra tires, two tubes for the existing tires, a distance and speed tracker, a taillight, a new package of handlebar wrap, an air pump, and chain oil.

From what I can tell based on my research, it’s a 2007-ish model. The previous owner installed the water bottle holder, distance/speed tracker, a n ew seat, and a set of new tires.

Now, I have to sell my junky old Walmart special mountain bike.

I also have a doctor’s appointment/check-up tomorrow to examine my heart and such to make sure that’s all okay. I’d appreciate any prayers and/or good thoughts.

PartyPooper2012 > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:09

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ugh! Prelude!

Should have gotten Integra Type R. I know they are more expensive, but worth it.

Tripper > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:09

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It is astounding how quickly you can get places on a road bike. Before I got hard into mountain biking I used to ride my roadie  everywhere. I can ride 30 miles easier than I can run 2.

For Sweden > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:13

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That water bottle is not aero

just-a-scratch > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:23

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It looks like it was barely used. Nice.

Good luck on the check up. Hopefully it's all good news.

arl > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:24

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Nice bike. As you get used to it you might want to think about swapping out that seat for something a bit lighter. Not a race seat per se, but something in- between that “comfort” seat and a “race seat”. Those over-sized seats can cause your posterior to move around a lot and it can cause a sore rump. Oddly enough harder-feeling seats can be more comfortable. A reputable bike shop will let you buy a new saddle and swap it out if it doesn’t work for you (but ask first).

I also see that they’ve put a tall stem on it. You might want to replace it with a lower one a s you get more fit. The handlebars are also rotated very far up. This might look more comfortable, but can actually put a strain on your wrists and make it hard to grab the brakes. It’s easy to loosen the bolts on the stem face plate , rotate the bars down, and tighten the bolts back up.

Also, if you’re not mechanically inclined with bikes, I would suggest getting a tune up at the local bike shop. They can inspect the cables, chain, and brake pads for wear, tighten loose bolts, and get the shifting and braking working just right.

One more thing - while you’re at the bike shop get a set of bright flashing lights. Doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, but it’s shown that even during the daylight that flashing lights help driver’s see you better.

Too bad you’re not driving a 90's Honda (my cheesy Prelude joke.... )!

One more, more thing. Global Cycling Network (GCN) has a great youtube channel with good advice on all sorts of bike setup stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC710HJmp-YgNbE5BnFBRoeg

VincentMalamute-Kim > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 12:25

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That saddle looks over stuffed which is comfortable for short around town rides but not for long rides. The sleek, hard saddles are the opposite, they’re not comfortable until you develop the biker butt. I’ve found saddle positioning is huge which took me a year to figure out.

That’s a weird pump mount spot.

Good looking bike and components.  Get out and ride!

mazda616 > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/22/2020 at 12:48

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It came with an extra seat - the original one. I’m thinking about putting it back on.

TheRealBicycleBuck > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 14:33

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“ Now, I have to sell my junky old Walmart special mountain bike.”

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Prelude was sold at Walmart too.

As long as you are diligent about keeping it garaged and drying it off when you get it wet (especially when you sweat on it), and properly lubing everything, the components will last a while. With bottom-end components, the biggest problem is rust. That includes all of the small fasteners like the water bottle cage bolts, the stem bolts, etc.

When you do wear out consumables like the chain and the cables, just replace them with the cheapies you can get from Walmart. When the derailleur breaks, you can probably find a cheap one on Amazon. The shifters are going to be a lot harder to find. I haven’t heard anything positive about that style of shifter. An inexpensive set of barcons would probably work better (I use high-end Shimano barcons on one of my bikes). If you want to upgrade to brifters on that bike, don’t. You’ll end up with a pair of brifters that are worth more than the rest of the bike . I highly recommend a good pair of Koolstop Salmon brake pads, especially if the current brake pads are old and hard . They will make a big difference in the stopping performance.

As VincentMalamute-Kim said, you’ll probably discover that you butt is really uncomfortable on longer rides. Soft seats tend to squish your soft parts, causing numbness and pain. It’s counter-intuitive, but a thinly padded seat is much better for long rides once your butt gets adapted to it. A good pair of cycling shorts or underwear with a chamois will make a huge difference in comfort.

I also would recommend a pair of toe clips and straps. They will help keep your foot in the right position on the pedals. The straps can be tightened down to really lock your foot in place, but it’s really not necessary for general riding around. I used to ride with clipless pedals, but have transitioned back to platforms with clips and straps. It’s impossible to find cycling shoes that fit my wide feet and I find that being able to reposition my heel throughout the ride is  easier on my knees.

A guy was famous on usenet for buying Walmart bikes, riding them into the ground, then buying a new one. His argument was that he could get more miles out of a cheap bike for less cost than the maintenance on a bike shop bike. Everyone always pointed out that the cheap bike wasn’t as comfortable or efficient as a better bike, but he was comfortable enough and he wasn’t racing anybody, so efficiency didn’t really matter. I don’t think he was riding really long distances on it either. I think he was more of a commuter with rides less than an hour long.

Good luck with the new wheels and enjoy!

mazda616 > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/22/2020 at 17:32

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What I mostly meant by “Walmart bike” is the brand. My current one is a “Next” brand “mountain bike.” At least this is from Schwinn, a halfway reputable and well known brand.

Thanks for the advice! You sound like an expert. I’m new at all of this.

Noodles > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 18:08

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You should order some Honda decals for that P relude. At least a badge for the front to replace the Schwinn one

TheRealBicycleBuck > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 18:34

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At one time Schwinn was a reputable brand, but they were sold to P acific Bicycles. Pacific started slapping the Schwinn name on cheap import bikes made in China or Taiwan and selling them in Walmart. Now Schwinn bikes are made in the same factories as Murray and Roadmaster.

What makes it less desirable? The frame may be aluminum, but it’s probably a cheap alloy and straight-gage. That means it will be heavier than a more expensive frame. The welds aren’t sanded smooth and they don’t give as much care to finishing other parts like the cable stops, mounting bosses and paint

Where they really get cheap is the components. As I mentioned previously, the cheap metals tend to rust. The bearings won’t be the same quality and many parts use bushings instead of bearings. Parts that would be metal might be plastic instead. The parts aren’t made to the same tolerances, so nothing will work as well as it would on a better bike. It’s hard to get replacement parts when they break and many bike shops won’t even touch them, so you’re on your own when things go wrong. That also makes upgrading a bit more difficult. It’s hard to know what might be compatible with the current parts.

I’m afraid you didn’t get as good a deal as you think. A brand new one isn’t that much more than what you paid.

On the other hand, this is an excellent opportunity to get some tools and learn the basics of bike maintenance. The specialty tools make working on a bike without damaging it much easier. There are some things I would do right off the bat. Clean and lube the important parts: chain, cables, and bearings. Check the spokes for even tension. Machine- built wheels are notorious for having unevenly tensioned spokes which can make the wheels go out of true very easily. Check the shifters and derailleurs   for any stickiness and lubricate if needed. Make sure the tires are mounted properly and everything rolls smoothly. Check the brakes for proper adjustment and replace the pads if they are hard or worn. Listen carefully for squeaks and rattles. Many noises can be traced back to a loose fastener which will need to be tightened. Everything should be nice and tight.

Above all, enjoy the ride. 

mazda616 > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/22/2020 at 18:42

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I found this exact model selling on eBay for $273, so I think paying $150 with a lot of extra parts was good. I’m not dumping used car money on a bicycle. I’m just not. I paid $1,800 for my Sunbird. The “legit” bicycles on the market now cost more than that. Not to mention they’re sold out everywhere thanks to the pandemic suddenly making bicycles a hot commodity.

TheRealBicycleBuck > mazda616 07/22/2020 at 19:02

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The pandemic has really jacked up the used market. The current version of the Prelude is at Walmart for $286, bu t it’s out of stock.

Like everything, once you know more about the market and know what you’re looking at, you learn to recognize a good deal. Most people have absolutely no need for a $1,000+ bike. Most people who spend that kind of money will never use it to the full potential. It’s like buying a Ferrari as your grocery-getter.

However, there’s a huge difference in quality between those bikes made for department stores and the low-end bikes sold at a bike shop.

I understand that you bought within your budget and I’m glad that you will be getting on the road with it. I just want you to be aware of the pitfalls that come along with buying a low-end machine. It’s going to require more upkeep and your options for getting help are going to be limited.

Enjoy the bike.