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My ongoing midlife crisis vehicle swerves in a different direction: I bought a 1988 Nishiki 1207 at a yard sale for $40. Mostly stock save for a new seat. With

My ongoing midlife crisis vehicle swerves in a different direction: I bought a 1988 Nishiki 1207 at a yard sale for $40. Mostly stock save for a new seat. With the wheels out of true, the stickers plastered over with garbage, the brakes loose, the front tire visibly cracking, the rear cassette visibly rusted, and the rack mounts stripped, the bike needs some work. I am motivated to finally really learn bike maintenance after putting it off for 30 years

Hnrobert42 2mo ago
Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, if you are looking for a solid resource.
- slow_typist 2mo ago
  Zen. It's great but apparently not a maintenance handbook. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_...
  - Chilko 2mo ago
    No, I believe they were referring to this book: https://road.cc/content/review/192116-zinn-art-road-bike-maintenance-lennard-zinn https://road.cc/content/review/192116-zinn-art-road-bike-mai...
compass_copium 2mo ago
It's a rewarding project! I fixed up a freebie old Schwinn roadbike a few years ago and it's so much fun to ride. I have a freebie Nishiki too waiting for a decision on what to do with it--touring bike or fixie conversion. Enjoy the time turning wrenches and then on the road!
- lapetitejort 2mo ago
  I added a MIK rear rack with pannier rails. I bought a seat post collar with screw holes in order to attach it, only to realize the bike doesn't have a seat post collar! And the collar was 1/4 inch too wide for the seat post. I wedged some green tire protection strips in there and it works great. I biked home two full panniers and a watermelon in a basket from a farmer's market. Bad idea in retrospect as the whole bike wobbled from being back-heavy. And the kickstand cannot handle even the slightest amount of weight. I might invest in front pannier rails. So I guess I'm going in the touring bike direction!
jerlam 2mo ago
Riding on a wheel you have built from parts is a joyous thing.
- kraquepype 2mo ago
  My favorite bike was an early aluminum framed Trek that I upgraded practically every part of myself. The bonded frame creaked but it rode great for thousands of miles. It got stolen and I haven't felt the same about biking since. Miss the hell out of that bike.

Hnrobert42 2mo ago

Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance, if you are looking for a solid resource.

slow_typist 2mo ago
Zen. It's great but apparently not a maintenance handbook. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_...
- Chilko 2mo ago
  No, I believe they were referring to this book: https://road.cc/content/review/192116-zinn-art-road-bike-maintenance-lennard-zinn https://road.cc/content/review/192116-zinn-art-road-bike-mai...

compass_copium 2mo ago

It's a rewarding project! I fixed up a freebie old Schwinn roadbike a few years ago and it's so much fun to ride. I have a freebie Nishiki too waiting for a decision on what to do with it--touring bike or fixie conversion. Enjoy the time turning wrenches and then on the road!

lapetitejort 2mo ago
I added a MIK rear rack with pannier rails. I bought a seat post collar with screw holes in order to attach it, only to realize the bike doesn't have a seat post collar! And the collar was 1/4 inch too wide for the seat post. I wedged some green tire protection strips in there and it works great. I biked home two full panniers and a watermelon in a basket from a farmer's market. Bad idea in retrospect as the whole bike wobbled from being back-heavy. And the kickstand cannot handle even the slightest amount of weight. I might invest in front pannier rails. So I guess I'm going in the touring bike direction!

jerlam 2mo ago

Riding on a wheel you have built from parts is a joyous thing.

kraquepype 2mo ago
My favorite bike was an early aluminum framed Trek that I upgraded practically every part of myself. The bonded frame creaked but it rode great for thousands of miles. It got stolen and I haven't felt the same about biking since. Miss the hell out of that bike.