LF: Bicycle

[dbcooper]

dont mean to hijack this thread anymore than it already has been..(hopefully help the op out)..but does anyone know of a good website re: cycle maintenance? This is my first bike purchase since i was about 12 or so, so im completely out of the loop on maintenance, what to look for and what to avoice. Would appreiate a site or something of that sort.

As for the op, have you checked the buy/sell portion of RFD? I saw a couple of bikes posted, hopefully some within your budget.

cheers

[Daijoubu]

Parktool.com?

[dasaylay]

You see... it's the thought and effort that you must conjure up before actually performing the required maintenance...
Yes, you're right in that it only requires a few mins to actually lube the bike... but first you must remember to do it (and when you do remember to do it, it's often at a time of inconvenience), then look for the lube (if you're messy and unorganized like me, you're gonna forget where you put it), and clothe yourself (jacket, shirt, pants) if it's winter and cold outside...
So you see... all hassle for a POS bike that you don't really care about...
That's what I meant about using WD-40... almost everyone's got it (and often people have them lying around all over the house)... and it's not TERRIBLE for the bike's drivetrain... I mean, it provides some sort of lubrication and protection against corrosion...

BUT... I may be preaching to the wrong crowd here... you guys seem like you take immense care of your bikes despite its worth and condition...

I'm on a mountain bike team buddy...so my bike isn't exactly dirt cheap

Yes you are right that WD-40 does provide some bit of lubrication, but the actual bike lube is differnet in the sense that a lot more dirt will catch onto the drive train. What's wrong with getting a lube that's both a degreaser AND a lubricant? It does the same job at the same time with no inconveniences.

[Alexo]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but it seems like there's a lot of wisdom to be picked from the participants...

Anyway, I was thinking of getting a bike for commuting (save some gas, maybe get a long overdue workout in the process) about 10km each way.

The problem is, I'm a small person (about 5'3" - 160cm) and the one-size-fits-all types of bikes are really uncomfortable for my frame.

On the other hand, although I could probably get a custom fit bike at a specialty shop, it would be expensive, and I don't want to invest a lot of money in something I'm not sure I'll continue doing.

So, what would you suggest for:
* A short person (maybe a ladies' bike?)
* About 95% road use with occasional trail use (family outings, etc) - no "extreme" stuff.
* Inexpensive.

Thanks.