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I'm currently trying to organise service/fixing of my three bikes and some of the repairs/bits I need have already had the Swedish equivalent of teeth sucking because of the age of the bikes. Now, that's not a problem for the road bike and the copmmuter (spokes and BB are just a case of picking the bits that fit), but the full sus needs a service on the fork and rear brake and, according to the chap, Fox discontinues bits for forks older than 15 years and a new brake might be easier/cheaper than trying to find spares for a 14 year old Avid Elixir.
I know that the Stumpy is still functional (assuming rear brake and fork...), but at what point do I have to admit to myself that keeping, riding and maintaining a bike that needs odd, proprietary and increasingly rare spares is a false economy?
It is time for a new bike.
New bikes are always fun but I replaced the brakes on my wife's bike (18 year old Avids) with some new Shimano for £40ish the other week and forks as good as yours can be had for sensible money so it really depends what you want to do.
15 years? That’s a lot for a mountain bike in fairness.
I've been thinking similar recently with my 2014 Arkose CX bike, its like Triggers broom. Whilst I don't have so many parts and size issues like the OP on the mtb, I'm getting to a point where the only thing left on the bike original is the shifters and handlebars and they've both got gravel rash from a few offs and the shifters are less than optimal.
I keep thinking about a change and then recently ran it from Callander to Killin and back with minimal fuss (but minimal comfort) and just can't see the justification for change.
When it becomes a pain sourcing replacement parts.
I had the same with my old Cove. The forks (RS Psylo) couldn't be serviced anymore even by TF Tuned, no parts available.
Decent replacement forks for 26" wheel bikes with straight steerer were few and far between unless you go S/H at which point, the first issue of parts raised its head again.
Decent 26" tyres were becoming harder to find.
That was close on 20 years old and it really was looking a bit tired.
Avid Elixir? Do yourself a favour and bin them.
Suspension tech has moved on a lot. If you can change those parts then I'd definitely look at that. It's probably 26", which while not a fundamental problem will limit your options. Brakes is easier, some cheap Deore or some of the better Chinese brakes will be excellent. With improvements in geometry too, I'd say its time for a new bike. There are some great deals out there (Like GTs on clearance) or some really good second hand bikes. Its not just a false economy in terms of parts availability and cost, you can geta bike that is so much better to ride
Retrobike is that way -->>>>
😀
When replacement or servicing becomes uneconomical. If you need a new fork because you can't get parts for the old one, then it might be more than the bike is worth or really hard to come by the right replacement. And yeah, don't spend a single penny on Avid Elixirs. 15 years is a long like for an mtb. If it wasn't for that, you can usually get parts to replace nearly all BB's and headsets and brakes, and there's still a limited choice of 26er tyres about.
But yeah, for the price and hassle you could pick up a new or used bike that will feel pretty amazing compared to a 15 year old one, and you will doubtless get a lot of bang for your buck.
Well, road bike is going in tomorrow, I'll start work on the commuter then as well (chain and pads should be easy enough, BB I can live with) and the Stumpy will have to wait.
I've currently got a 2003 Patriot with Marzocchi Junior T's in the workshop, owner is currently £575 deep in service, repair, replacement parts but he likes the bike
I seem to be getting close with my Yeti Arcc which I still love and have no desire to replace. Problem seems to revolve around it not being boost. If the wheels are knackered, of which I already have one eyelet crack in the rear wheel, is it worth buying new wheels if I can find decent ones, or is it worth just getting a new rim built on to the existing hubs?
Similar with the crankset which is a Raceface Next SL. If that goes, is it worth sinking decent money into a non boost chain set?
Same with the forks. If they go, probably struggle to get a decent new non boost fork, but if I go to a boost fork then I need a new wheel or hub rebuilt.
All these will be less than a new high spec hardtail especially if Shimano xt goes electric only, but at the same time if feels like potentially spending a decent whack on components that would then not transfer to an eventual replacement frame.
All these will be less than a new high spec hardtail especially if Shimano xt goes electric only, but at the same time if feels like potentially spending a decent whack on components that would then not transfer to an eventual replacement frame.
Same with my Camber Evo.
I think I'd tolerate a boost fork + hub spacer kit and have in my head the next bike would be a 120/130mm forked hardtail home build (the word titanium just whizzed through my head 😂).
My On One 456 is ticking along until it's fork gives up or I've worn out the last few decent tyres then it will get turned into a hack bike. My eldest uses it for the occasional mountain bike ride for now so it should plod on for a while as he mainly rides road.
The rim braked road bikes (198x, 2005 & 2013) are probably each on their last pairs of QR, rim braked wheels. That's probably 3 years more and then I think we might be in mild trouble for anything "nice".
I was in this position with my 2012 NukeProof Mega last year.
It needed dropper service (v1 external Reverb), shock service (Fox Factory Float RP32), fork service (Lyrik U-Turn MiCo), new tyres (26"), brakes bled and a general drive train tune up.
Adding up just the cost of servicing the dropper and suspension I decided it was going to be too expensive so posted it on Facebook Marketplace along with a list of everything that it needed doing and some young dude ended up buying it for £450.
Judging by all the interest I had in it I probably sold myself short but the buyer was local and planned to do all the servicing himself so all good.
Anyway, my answer to the OP's question is when the cost of servicing becomes too high or the ability to easily source parts becomes a problem.
a mate who does a zillion miles a year said dont get emotionally attached to bikes, get a new one and sell the old one.
The rim braked road bikes (198x, 2005 & 2013) are probably each on their last pairs of QR, rim braked wheels. That's probably 3 years more and then I think we might be in mild trouble for anything "nice".
I snapped up a set of Prime carbon wheels in the dying days of the CRC sale.
I had a pair previously which eventually delaminated (they were a few years old by then) and since it's my ancient road bike, not ridden much these days, I decided I'd best keep it in rideable condition so bought the wheels at about 75% off!
Like you, I was having the same thoughts about QR, rim-brake wheels. It's getting difficult sourcing decent ones now!
The rim braked road bikes (198x, 2005 & 2013) are probably each on their last pairs of QR, rim braked wheels. That's probably 3 years more and then I think we might be in mild trouble for anything "nice".
I snapped up a set of Prime carbon wheels in the dying days of the CRC sale.
I had a pair previously which eventually delaminated (they were a few years old by then) and since it's my ancient road bike, not ridden much these days, I decided I'd best keep it in rideable condition so bought the wheels at about 75% off!
Like you, I was having the same thoughts about QR, rim-brake wheels. It's getting difficult sourcing decent ones now!
Whilst I objectively agree that modern disc road bikes are mostly better than rim brake ones, I think we are a wee bit premature in calling death on the whole rim brake genre.
Spares are becoming hard for obsolete componentry, so good luck in finding 11-21 7 or 8 speed racing blocks (frankly, good riddance) and 130 bcd 39/53 rings (ditto). However there's nothing really to stop you putting a 11/12 speed road rim brake groupset such as 105 on an old frame.
The challenge is more on wheels and tyres. Wider rims struggle with older road frames, as do wider tyres. I've got some frames that can just squeeze a 25mm on the rear, or a 23mm on a fatter rim.
I'm not retiring the old bikes though, for as long as I have space to store them and ride them occasionally.
1994 Carbon trek - with a threaded -to-ahead adaptor runs well with Sram Red and 25mm tyres on Hunt Carbon
2014 Look aerolight is running rim DA12, but v tight clearances on the rear wheel/tyre.
2015 Canyon Ultimate CFR has much better clearances
The old rim brake CX framesets from 2006, 2007 and 2008 are all fine for 35 mm tyres and v brakes / cantis.
Road bike is back with a fixed rear wheel and is rideable (just in time for the rainy weather!), but the chap did tell me to expect to need a new cassette, chain and large ring after its winter on the trainer. I'd more or less expected that, so it's all good for that bike.
The Stumpy goes in today for a new rear brake and a rear wheel true. I can live with the fork as it is and, if I am brutally honest, I just enjoy riding it, even in the state it is in now with only a working front brake. It's playful, fun, does small jumps, makes me smile. If I was really honest about what I needed for the local conditions I would switch out the tyres to something fast like Race Kings front and rear, but I can cope with the current setup.
The commuter bike has been done myself. New chain and brake pads are easy replacements and not really worth the time in the shop.
With all that said, I did see a lovely 2021 Stumpy Comp 29er for sale for a tempting price, but it sold this morning so I don't need to worry about it.
I'm running three bikes that are 30-35 years old. Two road bikes, with Ultegra and Dura Ace, and a daily commuter MTB with XT and LX.
Consumables are still available - I do have to hunt for large chain rings for my Commuter as it has an unusual BCD and I wear them out in 12 months. If all else fails, I'll just get a generic SJS or SPA chainset. The Dura Ace bike isn't ridden much, but I have a stock of 'Uniglide' sprockets, and a spare cartridge headset for it. The UN91 BB is never going to wear out.
I can see where suspension components can't be fixed.
Wheels haven't been an issue. I built up some new wheels for the commuter. Sourced some XT parallax hubs (vintage and period) off ebay, then built into some new Ryde Zac rims. I've worn the rear out, so just replaced the rim with the same. There are plenty of lightly used parts on ebay, even for 30 year old stuff.
You can still get most rims for older bikes. Some of the more 'modern' standards might become a little more difficult as they swap and change too much.
Just had a message from the workshop: Stumpy is ready for collection. Damn they are quick. Also looks like (from the cost) that they managed to fix/bleed the rear brake rather than it needing a new one, which is nice.
I might have to go an thrash it round the local trails again tonight.