Have you ever thought about taking up biking, but you didn’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for bike? I have been biking for a long time, but only on an older Schwinn. When I went to see what it would cost to get a new bike, or even a used one, I was shocked! I was looking at hundreds of dollars, and here I had paid ten bucks for my trusty road bike that is still running, at almost twenty years old!

So I decided that it might be worth the effort to put a little time into my bike, and I learned along the way. Here is how you can take an old, ugly road bike from a garage sale for ten bucks, and turn it into a well-riding bike.

1.       Handlebar Grip Tape

One of the ugliest things I see on old bikes is the ragged, tearing, and sometimes nonexistent grip tape on the handlebars. It costs about twenty dollars to get some new tape, and the difference is worth it. The handlebars look and feel much more comfortable, and you won’t be afraid to ride your bike in public!

2.       Seat

More often than not, an old bike’s seat is either a lightly modified rock or a good excuse for a pillow, minus the cleanliness. A new seat doesn’t cost much, maybe twenty bucks, and it can be well worth it for an old bike. Maybe you can answer this question for me, though. How do you try out a seat in a store? Does everyone who buys a seat at Wal-Mart know exactly what they are doing and don’t need to try it, or do they all walk around holding seats to their rear ends and pretending they are pedaling a bike? I still don’t know how to get a good feel for a seat, and I’m too cheap to buy them all and return the ones I don’t need.

3.       Chain

One of the problems with older bikes is that their chains wear out. I know that mine crunched every time I bent it. It bay have had to do with its twenty years of age, but my guess is that it was the repetitive biking of the Kal-Haven trail with no wash routine that did it in. A new chain cost me ten dollars at Wal-Mart, and I can tell the difference in my shifting and pedaling. Once you do get a new chain, don’t be like me. Clean off the chain with some mineral spirits and lightly (lightly, I said!), grease it.

4.       Cleaning and Lubing

Good upkeep can keep a bike healthy for a long time, and sometimes the same techniques can restore an old one. Go over the entire bike with a rag, and give special attention to the derailleur and other parts that are hard to spell. If you want to get old grease off, use mineral spirits or paint thinner. It works absolutely great, but don’t forget to re-apply lube where necessary.  Speaking of which, you should oil the cables at connection points, as well as the moving brake components and don’t forget the wheel hubs.

After doing all this to an old ten dollar garage sale bike, you should be pretty happy with it. And believe me; it doesn’t have near the sticker shock effect as buying a new one! If you ever see someone with a new looking road bike, just stop and ask them what they paid for it. Then tell them you got yours at a garage sale for ten bucks. Enjoy!