First off, the little 12" blue Specialized HotRock the boys learned to ride on went to a new 4 year old today. Quick clean Craigslist transaction. Good little bike, hope we have enough photos with kids on it.
Little Blue goes to a new home!
To keep the universe in balance, I brought home a bike from the wet backyard of Mr Neutron, a bike his own son used heavily until he outgrew it, but somehow was left in the backyard, in the rain, rusting, graciously passed on to my older son who is in need of a bigger bike than his 20" bmx.
Its a small framed Trek 4000, 26" wheels, 21 speed. I cleaned it up, bearings were fine, replaced shift cables, put on a shorter stem lower on the stack (might cut it, notice the extension) removed clips for now. Unable to remove the 7 speed freewheel despite having the right tools, I managed to find a used 7/8 speed chain in my collection to replace the solidly rusted one on the bike. This was a find, as replacing with a shiny chain alone would not likely work, a used was needed - it was even a workable length. Put on the chain, ran the park chain cleaner on it with citrus stuff, rode it around in the back a bit past midnight. Its really a sweet little bike, glad we saved it. Thank you Mr Neutron!
TODO:
- Get him on it riding for adjustments
- The cyclometer LCD and buttons are functioning but it needs some adjustment/maybe new battery.
- I will put in spare "slime filled" schraeder tubes sitting on the shelf,
- maybe shorten the bars(have spares)
- maybe try a smaller saddle for his small sit-bones
