
Hello all,
I need a sanity check before I commit to this.
I’ve got a 2020 Carrera Virtuoso from Halfords that’s been absolutely rinsed over the years. Hanger’s bent back, had a few run-ins with kerbs and the odd car door, but she’s always been kept inside so no rust. Frame’s heavy but solid, wheels are fine, and I want the environmental guilt of chucking a perfectly good frame just because the drivetrain’s knackered.
So I’m planning a full refresh and getting a local shop (I’m in London) to fit it all for £70 as part of their full service. Here’s what I’m buying:
• Shimano Claris RD-R2000 8 Speed Rear Derailleur (GS – Medium Cage)
• Shimano Claris FD-R2000 Front Derailleur (28.6/31.8/34.9mm)
• Halfords Replacement Gear Hanger C
• Shimano Tourney FC-A070 7/8 Speed Chainset (50/34T, 170mm)
• Shimano CS-HG50 8 Speed Cassette (11-28T)
• Clarks 6/7/8 Speed Chain
• Clarks Universal Inner Gear Cable
• Clarks Universal Inner Brake Cable
Planning to reuse the outer cable housing since it’s still alright. Brake pads and tyres are fine too.
Here is the bike
My questions:
1. Does this all work together? Anything glaringly wrong or incompatible that I’ve missed?
2. Chainset – I know the Tourney is technically a downgrade from Claris, but I couldn’t find another 50/34T square taper crankset at Halfords. Is this going to be a problem or is it fine for what I need? Open to suggestions if there’s something better that’s not stupidly expensive. (It’s a Halfords bike so I’d rather stick with stuff I can actually get from them without dealing with Amazon faff.)
3. Worth doing it myself? I’d love to learn but I’ve got literally no tools and no workstand. Is £70 for a full service + fitting all this lot reasonable for London, or should I just bite the bullet, buy the tools, and YouTube my way through it?
Backstory: I’m fed up cycling on a dodgy bike, she deserves some proper TLC, and I want to use her for triathlon training (not my actual race bike). Really don’t want to buy new, I just want to keep this one going.
Thanks
by Mental_Experience_92
2 Comments
You’re buying everything separately and bringing it to the shop to fit? Is the shop cool with that? Since you’re in London there are co-ops and bike kitchens around where you can take it all in and DIY with tools and guidance. They might also have some cheap used components hanging around. It’s all pretty basic stuff without a lot of finicky adjustments. Make sure the brake cable has the right ‘end’, though a lot come with road and mountain on either end.
Claris is fine, it gets the job done, and there’s no compatability issues adding a different crankset. There are other options that aren’t Amazon and Halfords too that don’t break the bank (SJS Cycles is my ride or die).
Cyclists Fighting Cancer have a London store and will sort you out.
https://cyclistsfc.org.uk/london-shop/