A bit of general advice

Ardennes1944

So, about 4 years ago I bought a standard Trek 1500 SLR like this

I used it every weekend for about a 40km ish spin for a year until my cycling buddy moved to UK and I lost interest on my own.

I live in Switzerland now and bought a Rockrider 500 MTB from Decathlon just for knocking around the forest near me but I am now starting to feel an itch to get cycling on the roads again.

I love my Trek, but it does need some loving. It has been in a shed for the last 3 years, the chain isnt shifting onto either the outermost or innermost ring on the crankset as a result of the front derailleur being wildly out of tune I believe.

It has full ultegra but I think the bike itself is from 2005 ish so rather old so Im guessing its ultegra is now the equivalent to an almost basic shimano setup these days. The front shifters are badly scratched from the previous owner and theres a tiny bit of paint peel/scarring on the top tube by the Trek lettering.

Its a 60cm frame (I'm 186cm tall) and Ive always felt that the bike is a little too big for me as I remember finding myself constantly on the front of the saddle.

So, basically, I'm returning home to Cork in June and want to bring the bike back, but I can arrange for the bike to be brought to a bike shop to do a general service/repair first. Id usually do it myself but I have no proper space here where I live. Can someone recommend a good bike shop in Cork city and also if I were to upgrade the shifters (the scratches annoy me) can someone point me in the direction of a replacement (I'm crap with spec and compatibilty etc).

I will be bringing the bike back with Ryanair and will be taking the "Put the bike in a clear bag to they can see what they are dealing with" approach.


Thanks for any replies.

Lumen

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

It has been in a shed for the last 3 years, the chain isn't shifting onto either the outermost or innermost ring on the crankset as a result of the front derailleur being wildly out of tune I believe.

Most likely just rusty/seized cables.

You may as well replace them and the shifters at the same time.

Your bike is 9 speed Shimano. The highest spec 9 speed is now Sora, but you might consider buying some cheap used 10 speed shifters and a new cassette and get the extra gear as there are people now upgrading to 11 (which is 105 and above).

Ardennes1944

Thanks Lumen, I remember you answering many of my questions here when I bought the bike years ago

Ok I didn't even know that as I cant find a correct spec list for my bike and cant remember either. So I cant replace my Ultegra shifters for a set of 9 spd new ones, I have to get the shifters and the rear cassette, is that all thats needed to change from 9 to a 10?

Theres a 10speed here on wiggle, didnt know they went for 200 quid! http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-6700-sti-double-10-speed-road-lever-set/

Brian?

Shifters, cassette, chain and rear derailleur for 10 speed. I'd pick up new cables and outers while you're at it.

TheBlaaMan

Looks like maybe the 2006 model. Spec here
http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2006&Brand=Trek&Model=1500&Type=bike

Lumen

Brian? wrote: »

Shifters, cassette, chain and rear derailleur for 10 speed. I'd pick up new cables and outers while you're at it.

New rear derailleur because the jockey wheels are too wide? I'd probably give it a go with the old derailleur first. Isn't it a bit like the 10sp chainrings with 11sp chain issue?

Brian?

Lumen wrote: »

New rear derailleur because the jockey wheels are too wide? I'd probably give it a go with the old derailleur first. Isn't it a bit like the 10sp chainrings with 11sp chain issue?

10 speed shifters + 9 speed derailleur = rough setup. I know the travel or 9 and 10 speed is the same but I for see issues.

I'd give it a go and the 9 speed derailleur I suppose, but may as well through in a new derailleur for "smooth like butter" shifting.

dastardly00

Buy a new bike?

Ardennes1944

A new bike is in the back of my mind too but I guess just giving it a service and carrying on with it as it is would be the smarter move for now anyway. Theres very little wrong with it mechanically its only my pickyness thats the issue

Brian?

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

A new bike is in the back of my mind too but I guess just giving it a service and carrying on with it as it is would be the smarter move for now anyway. Theres very little wrong with it mechanically its only my pickyness thats the issue

I just re read the OP. I think a new bike is in order. I'm 189cm and ride a 58, so I'd guess a 60 is too big for you.

dastardly00

I'm 187cm and I ride a 58cm frame.
If I was to choose again, I'd go for a 56cm probably (with possibly a longer stem).

I'd struggle on a 60cm frame.

Ardennes1944

Do you ride Treks though? Im sure theyre sizing is a bit smaller

Brian?

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Do you ride Treks though? Im sure theyre sizing is a bit smaller

That bike doesn't have any sort of sloping geometry, so I'd say it's as close to a standard 60 as you'll get. I'd say a 58 may even be too big for you.

My Fuji is actually a "large", which is a 56.5 or virtual 58. My merlin is a straight up 58.

Ardennes1944

Ok I guess Ill have to get measured again.

On that basic, how much do you reckon the bike is worth? Its general condition is "good" I would say.

magicbastarder

re the age; i'm cycling a bike which is a 7 year old ridley frame with 12 year old 105 on it; it's in good nick considering it was in storage for years, but the bike is still better than i am. as the others mentioned, size is probably a bigger issue than the condition of the bike.

Ardennes1944

The thing is though, I have been looking about at road bikes the last few days as well as parts for my Trek, Im completely lost with regards to new bikes. I dont want a full carbon but want smooth gear changes especially going up hills. I like the Cube Peloton Race and Specialised Allez and even the Btwin Allur 700 looks good too.

Brian?

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

The thing is though, I have been looking about at road bikes the last few days as well as parts for my Trek, Im completely lost with regards to new bikes. I dont want a full carbon but want smooth gear changes especially going up hills. I like the Cube Peloton Race and Specialised Allez and even the Btwin Allur 700 looks good too.

What's your budget?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Ok I guess Ill have to get measured again.

On that basic, how much do you reckon the bike is worth? Its general condition is "good" I would say.

I'd say not very much, keep it as it's worth more to you as a winter hack or commuter should you buy a new bike.

Ardennes1944

Budget would be up to a grand if I could sell my old one for 300ish. Don't want the second bike as I've nowhere here to store it.

I would like to buy second hand as there always seems to be good value on done deal from people selling soon after the cycle to work scheme.

ford2600

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Budget would be up to a grand if I could sell my old one for 300ish. Don't want the second bike as I've nowhere here to store it.

I would like to buy second hand as there always seems to be good value on done deal from people selling soon after the cycle to work scheme.

Get your bike in working order but without spending too much. Where's your base in Cork?

Ardennes1944

Cork airport/Douglas

ford2600

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Cork airport/Douglas

Robbies bike shop on Crosshaven road Carriagline would be fine for what you want. Its under new ownership and mechanic is fine for what you want. New cables, chain if needed. Good clean and sell.

You'll get a lovely bike 2nd for 1k

Brian?

This could do nicely:

http://www.adverts.ie/road-bikes/trek-domane-2-0/6498833

TurloughT

I think you will get at least CFH400 for the bike in Basel. (or the Saturday bike Market in Zurich)
With the exchange rate and cost of transport it would be worth selling and buying when you return to Cork.

Ardennes1944

I ran the idea past the missus of buying a new one and she was not impressed. What I'll probably do is when Im coming home to Cork in June, get it serviced, get myself properly measured, bring it over here and sell it if it is clear from the measuring that its too big cos looking at the classifieds and it being Switzerland I would get back almost what I paid for it.

I will keep an eye out for second hand bikes in Germany then too as Im on the border and can get bikes delivered to a forwarding service I used on the border