tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919432872771641105.post2295643176564081682..comments2012-02-14T09:47:59.224+00:00Comments on MCRcycling: Cheap, Utilitarian TransportDr C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10234078254243840589noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919432872771641105.post-79599917095569524252010-10-31T12:56:35.767+00:002010-10-31T12:56:35.767+00:00Anything with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub is usua...Anything with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub is usually pretty indestructible. All of the 30 year old + bikes I have worked on have been relatively easy to sort out, usually just needing a clean and a new chain. Derailleur bikes of similar age are rarely as straightforward, unless they were well cared for by the previous ownerDr C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10234078254243840589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919432872771641105.post-5178356731988053632010-10-29T16:04:28.087+01:002010-10-29T16:04:28.087+01:00PS - the BSA Twenty was a lucky find for £8 (I kid...PS - the BSA Twenty was a lucky find for £8 (I kid you not!) and the Dawes Tourer was £150, which I think it's still a great price, considering that the alternative brand new bike I was looking at, a Trek, was £500+ ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8919432872771641105.post-79465617164639945122010-10-29T16:02:34.909+01:002010-10-29T16:02:34.909+01:00Great post! I enjoyed Veluria's post too, but ...Great post! I enjoyed Veluria's post too, but I knew I did not have the technical knowledge of bike components to put a post together :) <br /><br />Could I just add, as a non-mechanic person, that many of the old, second hand, vintage bikes are usually in pretty good knack for simple, everyday city use. Of proper second-hand bikes I have had the BSA Twenty shopper and now the Dawes Tourer, both are/were in great conditions. I admit that the Dawes is only 13 years old so it needs a bit of fine tuning onlu, but the BSA was 40 years old with everything original (including the 3 gear S-A) and with just a bit of oil i.e. good old WD40, was brought back to its shine and smoothness (no rusty noisy etc).<br /><br />So, even for someone with no-mechanic skills whatsoever, aka me, I would def recommend going for a vintage/second-hand bike. You get much more for your money than a brand new one. And I've learnt, while I was looking for a tourer, that brand new you'll never get anything really decent unless you look to spend around £500.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com