Bicycle: What should I do?

[hirubhaiambani]

So I have a crappy old ass mountain bike which I bought used off craigslist for $70 about 2 years ago and it collected dust ever since .
I did basic maintenance last month and rode it about 15 miles every other day.

Now the freewheel is stuck and I cannot coast without pedaling. The local bike shop quoted me around $120 for changing the chain, freewheel and trueing the rear wheel. I think I can get a new bike from walmart/target for that amount of money. I just ride around the park every other day so getting an expensive bike or spending more than $150 is not an option.

What should I do?
1. Get a new bike
2. Get bike fixed at the shop.

[adouglas]

Fix it.

1) The world has way too many crappy bikes in it already. We don't need another pile of Chinese junk floating around (hey I made a funny!)

2) Walmart is an evil corporate giant that kills small businesses and turns thriving main streets into boarded-up wastelands wherever it goes. The local bike shop is run by your neighbors. Who do you want your money to go to?

3) Sustainability (get used to it, people, it's necessary) is about reducing consumption first. Reduce, reuse, recycle in that order. If you fix it, you're reducing consumption. Bike does not go to landfill. It continues to serve a useful purpose. You get big karma points and can pat yourself on the back for doing the right thing.

Just my $0.02, but I have some simple rules for spending my money.

A) It's always better to spend money close to home. Every dollar you put into a local business comes back to you because it makes your town healthier and also puts money into the local tax base. The order goes home town > home state > home region > home country > internet > offshore.

B) Supporting your local economy is worth money and inconvenience, within reason. If buying local costs me a few bucks, incurs sales tax or requires a reasonable drive, no problem. If they have to order something and make me wait they've lost the sale… I can order it myself, get it faster and save a second trip. If they're charging too much they've lost the sale…. wake up, your competitors are eating your lunch. Get with the program.

[hirubhaiambani]

Thanks for pointing that out, makes much sense. I didn't really think about the 4R's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repurpose. I'd like to be a little more environmentally friendly - so I will fix the bike.

Just ordered the freewheel cassette and chain from amazon. Will get the wheel true'd at the bike shop.

Thanks for opening my eyes.

[hirubhaiambani]

How do I close the poll?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by hirubhaiambani

How do I close the poll?

/done

[CynicalC]

Agree with everything adouglas said (wow, huh?) But just because it's good to support your local economy, doesn't mean every shop in town deserves it. Used bike parts cost nothing and your shop should have buckets of them in the back. Even a brand new freewheel cog shouldn't cost more than $20, and $100 for labor to install it is absurd. My opinion: Look on craigslist and I bet you can find a free bike to scavenge parts from. Fix it yourself, then go back to the shop and tell them why they missed out on your business.

[Apex]

I second the whole fix it thing. I WANT a new bike all the time, but I constantly convince myself that what I have works dang well.

Two mountain bikes (one HT, one FS), a roadie and a cargo bike. I'm set.

Also...you may be able to get the mechanic at the bike shop to fix it after hours. Sometimes no rush on repair time, some cash, and beer goes a long way.