I bought a bike from a pawnshop for a few reasons:
- I need a way to get from my house to the gym in a reasonable amount of time since I don't have a license
- It'd be fun to learn some trails with a few friends
- I like the exercise
- I like servicing things and learning how to fix things
So, I bought the bike, and it's now my main form of short-distance transport. I plan to go to a few trails nearby with my friends once they get bikes and once I finish fixing mine up to a reasonable extent. I noticed that my clothes had started to turn black after I used them, primarily my shins, and since it's my first time using a bike in well over 6-7 years (I'm 16), I looked it up, and turns out my chain was just really dirty. So, I bought a WD-40 Degreaser and White Lightning All-Purpose Lube and started cleaning. I wasn't sure what I was doing, so I looked at the directions and followed them from there. I asked ChatGPT what to do and it told me to:
- Spray the degreaser
- Use an old toothbrush to get the dirt and grime off
- Use a bucket to wash away the dirt and grime (I don't have access to a hose)
- Dry the chain
- Apply the Lube
- Let it air dry
- Wipe off Excess
So that's what I did, and when I went to test the brakes, I heard a loud squeak, so my question is how do i tackle these problems and prevent them from happening in the future, and what are some answers to these questions:
- What should I expect from pursuing this hobby?
- Is exercise supposed to be this hard?
- Did I buy the wrong things?
- Is it a matter of experience?
- What are some resources I can use to help me?
- Are the tires I have good for both trails and roads?
- Do I need new brakes?
I'd be happy to give further specifications on the bike that I've bought, and I hope to have these questions answered 🙂
by Good_Boy_From_Mars
6 Comments
I’m probably the wrong person to chime in as I came in late to the sport about 5 years ago from road cycling but here’s my opinions.
1. Have fun and don’t put any expectations or pressure to enjoy MTB’ing.
2. It can be as hard as you want to make it but training will pay off and you will find as you carry on that you can better trails, longer routes, etc. it’s not a rush and enjoy the journey.
3.internet is a great source of information but riding and figuring things out on your own is probably the best way. I would read all sorts of videos talking about how dial in suspension or tyre pressure but in the end trying it out for my self worked best.
4. Depends on what you want to achieve but generally speaking MTB tyres don’t work well on the road and vice versa. You can always get something In between but as you ride more you may find that upgrading your tyres is one of the best things you can do to improve your ride.
Lastly i know it’s not popular but I always hot wax my chains. Helps with performance and means I don’t get greasy hands or marks on my clothing.
Best of luck with the riding and enjoy the sport!
Cantilever brakes make noise, you can sand down the pads get new one or clean all the things. They are polarizing. I just recently learned how to set them up during a rebuild. It’s harder than the other systems. You can switch to v brakes pretty easily but why worry now. As long as you can stop then go with it. Tires look to be commuter tires so be careful with that. Ride for fun, if you want to peruse the sport then look at newer bikes. If your friends are riding full suspension bikes you aren’t going to be able to keep up. Find a local community bike shop that rehabs old bikes for kids and sale. Usually they are nonprofits that donate to kids and people in need while selling bikes and parts to support their cause. They will teach you how to maintain and upgrade your bike. Maybe volunteer if you can and slowly build up your own bike. It will be a fun as you make it.
That bike is quite old.
Not a problem just not really what this sub is about .
Seems like you’re doing fine with the chain.
I would recommend new brake pads.
Google is your friend – search for bike maintenance video on YouTube etc.
Those tires are ok for rec path and smooth dirt or gravel but not rough trails.
You probably did fine for the money. Bike will be fine for commuting and exercise.Â
After you get a few things sorted out there will be less maintenance.
Best of luck.
Mounting biking or trail riding is a super fun way to get some good cardio in, especially with friends. There is a lot of work that goes into keeping your bike in tip-top shape, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be doing your post-ride maintenance in just a few minutes.
From what I can see in your pictures, your tires are going to be your biggest limiting factor on dirt trails. A knobby tire will give you the best chance of holding grip on a loose surface. The tires you’re using now are probably fine for the road but definitely not the tires of choice for a sandy trail. The CST Rock Hawk is a great tire for the price if you’re looking to upgrade.
The way you cleaned your chain is perfectly fine, be careful using excessive amounts of water on your drive parts though. As far as greasing your chain goes, lithium grease is not your friend. The lubricant you are using will allow dirt and debris to get caught in your chain and gears. They make specific lubricants for bike chains that would better suit your needs.
The noise coming from your brakes is most likely soap residue or excess lubricant on the rim or brake pad. Brakes are noisy, it’s just the nature of the beast unfortunately. If you eventually upgrade to a bike with disc brakes, you will be plagued with an irritating squeak every time you breathe on them LOL. Nobody likes it but it’s better than not stopping at all.
Equipment is only part of the game. I ride a cheap entry level hard tail bike and burn most people on just about any trail. Try it out, see if you like it and then invest accordingly.
Reddit is the best place for any advice you need in the future. Have fun and wear a helmet!
Don’t use ChatGPT, it isn’t 100% flawless.
Look up Youtube videos. You can see what needs to be done.
I don’t know if this would be seen, but I think I’ll rock with this bike for a few months, then sell it and put the money towards buying a newer bike, specifically made for mountain biking on rough trails and such, later down the line. My question for you is, what should I look for in a newer bike? And don’t worry, I’m not just depending on y’all for information like a bum, but I’ll be researching as well, I just wanted some advice from people who are already in the hobby that have up to date information 🙂 Cheers!