decided to start using indoor bikes this winter to start cycling when it gets warm. don't have money for a nice bike but my dad has this pretty old mountain bike that will be good enough for now. two issues it's having are a squeak when peddling and that going into the lower gears is really hard it takes significantly more force than the higher gears. I can't even get it into first it takes so much force. for reference it's a Royce union isolator and it's a 21 or 3×7 speed
by Outrageous_Tooth_277
3 Comments
The squeaking is definitely that dry rusty chain. Just put one drop of lube on each link, cycle the pedals a few dozen times, then wipe off as much excess lube as you can while turning the pedals.
I would replace the shift cables and start from there to fix your shifting. Rusty, sticky cables will never be able to shift well or be adjusted correctly. You can learn how to setup new shift cables and adjust them properly from YouTube videos. Park Tool has a lot of really good videos on this. Old shifters like yours also typically have grease that starts to solidify causing issues with the trigger shifters. Spray them out a bit with a silicone based lube and use the triggers a bunch back and forth to get things worked free and smooth.
The shift cable and housing probably need replacing and the shifters and derailleur need some lube. That ought to fix your hard shifting issue. Chain looks pretty rusty and is probably what is squeaking. So replace that. Tires actually look pretty good but check for cracking. If the tires and brake pads are old they probably need replacing as well. Although you can freshen up brake pads with some sandpaper a new set of Kool Stop pads are cheap.
Clean vigorously and grease / lubricate. Stuff looks seriously neglected. Then check everything for function on a stand or a short test ride. Go after drivetrain issues first. Derailleur should not be binding in any gear so you can also check the cables for corrosion. Water / rust in a low spot of the cable housing can be the issue. Quick one would be to disconnect the rear derailleur cable and try it, and see if there is binding in the cable line when you “shift”. If so, replace it. Then the wheels / tires. Aesthetics can wait or even be skipped if you are into “patina”.