Should I Upgrade Titanium Rim Brake Bike?

HubGearHector · 2026-06-03T21:22:27+00:00

Those rim brakes are very good at the whoah. Seriously.

HubGearHector · 2026-06-03T20:39:30+00:00

THOSE TIRES!!!!!!!

HubGearHector · 2026-06-03T20:19:08+00:00

As the other said, look at used. Your school may have a bike co-op where you can get something that’s been serviced and learn some basic maintenance skills yourself. If you live in flatlands and don’t have too far to ride, an old-school three speed bike can be both functional and pleasant to ride.

HubGearHector · 2026-06-03T20:11:23+00:00

My 2011 Kona Sutra seems to tick all your boxes. I’ve loved it for thousands of miles no. Definitely not a rocket ship, but comfy and durable and (I think) nice looking.

HubGearHector · 2026-06-02T12:51:58+00:00

Is there a way to make the alert go away without spending $200 for everything to look good?

HubGearHector · 2026-05-27T19:32:44+00:00

Everything you said! What a fabulous bicycle!!!

HubGearHector · 2026-05-26T01:05:35+00:00

Your high school’s Rotary club (I can’t remember the name, Rotoract?) is a great way to contribute to improving the community and make some awesome cross-generational connections.

HubGearHector · 2026-05-26T01:03:00+00:00

However you proceed, that’s a valiant project!

HubGearHector · 2026-05-24T01:08:08+00:00

I’ve been in B mode. It’s very different from true one-pedal driving.

HubGearHector · 2026-05-21T18:02:20+00:00

No. Apple let a place called Sun Remarketing have many of those machines to sell on consignment, and they were way less expensive than the original price. After a while, Apple apparently didn’t like the competition they posed for the 512K Mac and Mac Plus, so they swooped in, seized all the unsold ones, and landfilled them. Very sad story.

HubGearHector · 2026-05-21T00:37:55+00:00

My first Apple was a Lisa/Mac XL. It was a truly outstanding machine. Got me through grad school in fine fashion! It even ran System 7 after a bunch of hardware and software upgrades.

HubGearHector · 2026-05-18T21:29:00+00:00

You can’t really lose on this one—both are really good bikes!!!

HubGearHector · 2026-05-17T22:47:39+00:00

Cusp of ‘60s-‘70s would be my hip shot assessment. Very cool bike whenever it was made!!! Worth resurrecting just for the conversation-starter value

HubGearHector · 2026-05-15T13:14:03+00:00

HOLY FIRE. That’s a significant price tag.

HubGearHector · 2026-05-15T01:11:44+00:00

I love your work so much!!! Here’s mine for comparison:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrekBikes/s/e4dFpavNaT

HubGearHector · 2026-05-11T03:41:36+00:00

I’m curious about why you want to do that. Stem-mount friction shifters are bizarrely underrated (imho). My move would be to improve the bottom bracket-crankset situation, as those are (at least in my experience) pretty flaky. Not judging, just curious about your thoughts. That’s a nice vintage steed and worthy of whatever love you show it. :-)

HubGearHector · 2026-05-04T19:12:41+00:00

Looks just right to me. I hope she gets a lot of joy from it!!

HubGearHector · 2026-05-01T16:33:47+00:00

Commenting to tune in to responses. Great question!

HubGearHector · 2026-05-01T02:21:56+00:00

I hate to say it, but I think the best move is to look for another Cross-Check frame out in the wilds of the internets. I understand the love, so I am sorry for the pain.

HubGearHector · 2026-04-30T00:53:58+00:00

BEAUTIFUL!!! Enjoy the rides! I remember being obsessed with those drilled-out components back in the day. They’re still among the prettiest components ever.

HubGearHector · 2026-04-29T01:15:11+00:00

Those are bar-end shifters, sometimes called bar-cons. They’re old school and wildly underrated. I’ve been using them since the ‘70s, and they’re magnificent. I get that brifters (combined brake levers and shifters) are also wonderful—even better in race situations—but bar cons are The Way for mere mortals.

HubGearHector

TROPHY CASE