I recently got myself a used bike for free from the local police department. They keep stolen bikes they confiscate for one year, in hopes that the owner will claim them. If no one can show that they are the owner of the bike after one year, the abandoned bikes are given out to the community for free.
Anyway, I got myself someone's abandoned Mongoose Quartz AL. It looked nice enough to take home, as I was a total newbie to bikes, but I soon found out that the bike was in severe disrepair (you don't get what you don't pay for) and would cost $150-$200 to fix. That's the price quote I got from a local bike repair shop.
Front brakes need new pads, back brakes need to be replaced entirely, slightly bent front wheel, front derailleur is rusted badly and also needs major adjustment as it actually runs into (not over) the largest gear of the chainwheel, and squeaky pedals. On the plus side, the bike has an excellent sturdy attractive frame, great gearshift, tires, and chain. The rear derailleur, chainwheel, and cog are in okay condition.
I live in a town of 50,000 in the Northern US on the side of a mountain that gets a lot of snow in winter. Paved streets, yes, but many potholes. I intend to use my bike for transportation mostly on paved streets with very steep hills with the occasional off-road stunt over rocky fields whenever it's a shortcut.
Do you think it's worth it to repair the bike I have, or should I try to get another used bike?
What should I look for in a bike given the conditions I have described?
Anyway, I got myself someone's abandoned Mongoose Quartz AL. It looked nice enough to take home, as I was a total newbie to bikes, but I soon found out that the bike was in severe disrepair (you don't get what you don't pay for) and would cost $150-$200 to fix. That's the price quote I got from a local bike repair shop.
Front brakes need new pads, back brakes need to be replaced entirely, slightly bent front wheel, front derailleur is rusted badly and also needs major adjustment as it actually runs into (not over) the largest gear of the chainwheel, and squeaky pedals. On the plus side, the bike has an excellent sturdy attractive frame, great gearshift, tires, and chain. The rear derailleur, chainwheel, and cog are in okay condition.
I live in a town of 50,000 in the Northern US on the side of a mountain that gets a lot of snow in winter. Paved streets, yes, but many potholes. I intend to use my bike for transportation mostly on paved streets with very steep hills with the occasional off-road stunt over rocky fields whenever it's a shortcut.
Do you think it's worth it to repair the bike I have, or should I try to get another used bike?
What should I look for in a bike given the conditions I have described?