I have too many bikes amd not enough time. Time is slowly coming back to me as the kids get older so I've started to use the bikes again. I've a 2007 SS inbred that I've set up as my commuter. A 2003 Whyte PRST-4 that has always been good to me and is perfect for if I get the opportunity to a quick blast round the rugged Notts landscape/Sherwood Pines and a 2006 Pinarello Galileo that owes me nowt amd is still a dream to ride (by my standards).
Thing is, the brakes on both mountain bikes are gone, two seperate bike shops checked them over but cannot stop them binding on both front and rear so I think age has got to the seals and moisture os getting in. I could buy replacement brakes but all the bikes are getting long in the tooth and they're all going to require more tlc as time goes on. So what to do, keep on giving the tlc as and when or flog them off and get a gravel bike to do the job of all 3? Doing that requires me to work out what I'd get for them and frankly I haven't got a ruddy clue.
I'd get rid of the Whyte, but you may not get much for it. Then save up and get a modern XC bike.
#stealthAd - Alternatively, I have a pair of Deore M6000 brakes you can have for £60 - I'm in North Notts
I think I’d keep the road bike and the commuter and then just decide what to do with the mtb (unless you can commute on the road bike and want to decrease your number of bikes in which case the single speed could go).
I doubt you’d get much for the Whyte - so if you don’t want to spend a load I’d just pick up some brakes for it - Clark’s M2s would probably do the job - around £50-£60 for a pair with rotors. So cheap - also a good option for the commuter.
Or if you’re happy to spend some money get rid of the whyte and pick up a decent 29er xc / trail bike. Voodoo Bizango on the cheaper end is decent with an air fork - bit more you could look at the On-One Scandal / Vandal or a Vitus Sentier.
If you want full suss it’s a chunk more and you won’t get much better on a budget than a Vitus Mythique in all probability.
Just thinking aloud - if you go down the second hand route for an mtb replacement I’d sun for 2017 ish or later and try and get as many up to date standard as you can - air fork / boost front and rear spacing / 29er wheels / decent geometry (maybe 67 degree head angle or lower / decent length reach / steep ish seat tube etc)
Personally I would take a 2007 singlespeed inbred over a 2003 full suspension trail bike for literally any possible cycling application.
While I've always had a slight nerdy interest in the PRST, that isnt the issue - its everything else of the era.
Cost effective solution:
flog the whyte, use the money for some modern brakes for the inbred.
The road bike will last forever with basic maintainence.
I’d love to hang a load of modern parts off a PRST…
*Leaves chat before doing something ridiculous*
Definitely chase @tomhoward on this - clearly this bike is gagging for AXS / fancy shocks / trick stuff brakes and Berd wheels with carbon rims 🤣
This bike is clearly retro gold to the right buyer.....
I’d love to hang a load of modern parts off a PRST…
*Leaves chat before doing something ridiculous*
Nope nope nope nope
I have too many bikes
You are deluded about this. The solution is to buy more bikes.
If the only thing wrong with your current bikes is the brakes, then fix the brakes. It sounds to me like the pistons are sticking in the calipers. A good clean and lubing the seals usually sorts that out. Otherwise, replace the calipers.
For the extreme terrain of Sherwood Pines you need to add a gravel bike.
Then just buy some new brakes for the other two bikes.
You lot are not helping! Sell one bike then get another indeed! If only! I'm getting constant earache about the amount of bikes I have. If one goes, then 3 go to be replaced by a single do it all bike. Or keep them and buy two sets of Shimano brakes from Bike Discount for the MTBs. I won't touch Clarks again as the Inbred had a set of Exo's and they never worked. And I mean never. The gearing on the inbred has been set up for road riding (Halo twin rails as well so fast rolling) and while there is no real love for the PRST on here we got on great, still do. As a cross country machine its fast. Or at least it feels like it is. So from that point they both have a specific role to play, as does the road bike, obviously.
@tomhoward, there's a lovely looking Whyte on ebay that has been adorned with some nice bits, a newer JW2 I think. I say lovely looking, I'm sure most would disagree!
New brakes for inbred commuter. Overhaul the road bike. Sell and replace the Whyte with a more modern HT or full suspension depending on budget. New to you second hand.
This is pretty much who have just done, except my inbred is my local rides trail bike and the full sus is the bike park bike. Trouble is now I am looking at the inbred and want to modernise / upgrade that, mainly due to 27.2 seat post and steep ha...
As a cross country machine its fast. Or at least it feels like it is.
twitchy and on the edge of control?
tubeless 29er xc tyres with modernish geo will beat it any and all days of the week XC. OF course, speed is not I think your main aim.
If it's only the brakes on the Whyte that are in need of replacement then but a set of these https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-mt401-mt410-front-and-rear-disc-brake-set-261249.html and carry on enjoying riding it
Clarks m2 are much better than Exos- they actually work. Loads of people on here have used them and no dramas. Avoid the M3 as that is crap.
Or just pickup some bottom end Magura / Deores / Levels etc.
How about you sell the Inbred and the Whyte and keep the road bike for commuting.
Buy 1 xc 29er to replace the 2 sold bikes. A Bizango for about £600 could be sold to the wife as a bit more than buying 2 x brake sets (say £150 for 2 sets) whilst also giving you all new parts that aren’t going to need replacing anytime soon. Plus it’s one less bike taking up room.
Stick it on cycle2work for added cost savings.
Winner winner chicken dinner.
If you're as content with the bikes as you say, just replace the brakes.
If the only thing wrong with your current bikes is the brakes, then
fix the brakes.get a new bike
Keep the SS, ditch the other two and get a decent 29er HT second hand.
New brakes ordered for both mountain bikes. Thanks to StuE for the link, I was going to go down the BikeDiscount route but thanks for the reminder that Merlin still exist! Used them in the past and always been great (both mail order and in person) so glad to give them my money. Thanks everyone 👍
