Have 16mi (32mi round) commute and vary little (ok NO) money to rebuild the bike in my garage ($100 in parts just to get it going) and modify it to fit my one armed needs. Could get this and modify it for well under $100. What do you all think, get it or not?
by bionicpirate42
5 Comments
A brand new Trek FX1 is $499.
That isn’t a good commuter bike, OP. 16 miles is a long way on a bike. You’ll need something that’s comfortable & reliable. If it was me, I’d spend more & buy a 1x drivetrain to eliminate the 2-3 front rings.
As long as it’s in sound mechanical condition and it fits you, it would be fine. I ride an old steel bike 12 miles one way. You might want some more relaxed handlebars and eventually want to upgrade things like the brakes and the wheels to 700c if possible. 16 miles is a long way though, so make sure the fit is good.
EDIT: just reread. There’s a lot going on. What does one-arm needs mean? What kind of repairs does it need to get going? What modifications? Tag says excellent. Need more details to make a call on whether or not this would work for you.
That thing is super heavy and will be difficult to maintain these days. But if you want to use a museum piece to get to work at least you will be riding a piece of history.
These older style bikes can be fine, especially for flatter terrain. My mother still uses hers all the time on longer rides. They’re not as good on hills because of the extra weight compared to newer carbon or aluminum frames.
First question to ask yourself when looking at bikes …. does it fit?