Refurb or buy

Hi guys, it’s been a while.

I bought a Saracen off marketplace during Covid, just as a general get around bike. Team Saracen, Trax? All silver/chrome in colour. Full rigid, 2 x 7 gearing.

I’ve decided I’d like to do a wee bit off road after years of just road biking. mainly looking at trails around Whitelees Windfarm.

The bike is in reasonable condition, however, would need a few things done, which I’m willing to give a go. The question is, would it be worth the expense, or would i be better getting something more up to date with a budget of £500?

Work needing done: New front wheel, fully replace v brake system including levers, new shifters, new pedals, new cables. The frame and forks are sound, but do have surface rust. It’s rideable as it is, but wouldn’t want to use it much unless the front wheel and brakes are sorted.

It was £85 4 years ago. Just wondering if it’s worth the effort or not?

You could refurbish it and have some fun on it. I don’t think that you should, unless you particularly hanker after riding an outdated bike around. At £85 it doesn’t owe you anything, and with that outdated spec and a frame and fork that are on the way out, I’m not sure it’s worth the time and investment to refurbish it.

Bin it and get a Bizango: https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/voodoo-bizango-mens-mountain-bike—s-m-l-xl-frames-452670.html

Loads around second-hand, you can work out age by the colour.

Best mountain bike: the ultimate trail, XC and enduro bikes at all budgets

it sounds like you should just leave it as a hybrid set up and buy something for off road riding, even a modern gravel bike sounds like it could be more competent for off road use

If it does the job still I’d look to keep it going, but that’s just me, I like an old bike.

New 26″ front wheels can still be had cheap off eBay if you don’t fancy lacing a new rim, for maybe £30ish. While you’re at it I’d look for fresh tyres.

Maybe chuck a new, cheap 1x group at it Cues or advent (easiest if the chainrings aren’t riveted to the crank and you can just bolt a N/W ring on) for simplicity sake.
Although thinking about it further an older 7speed HG hub probably won’t accommodate more sprockets, so perhaps just going 1×7¿? I can forsee compatibility issues in your future…

And then just give the V-brakes a refresh with new cables and pads?

The main benefit (IMO) of having done this work for yourself would be hat you’ll be more familiar with how the thing is put together and works that bit better, The downside is your expended time, you might save a couple of hundred quid on parts but you’re going to need to spend a couple of evenings faffing and getting frustrated rather than cracking on and riding a shiny new bike, which (at least to begin with) will work better by default.

The question is really how much do you value your own time?

Thanks for the replies.

All good answers and make me lean towards maybe upgrading to something newer for off road.

Time. I like to think I’ve got plenty and it would be an interesting project, but do I want to? Probably not.

If it helps the decision I’d put an honest cost against the refurb option, this could also help set an appropriate budget for your new bike, fire up a spreadsheet:

Make a list of all the work you would do to the old Saracen, add a ‘parts’ column and cost out all the parts from interwebs and then add a ‘time’ column, look up tutorials for each job on YouTube to help estimate the time it would take you. Then add a ‘tools’ column for any tools you don’t already have, as with the parts cost tools out.

Tott up the parts/tools cost, then tott up the hours spent and multiply by at least 1.5 (because you will be under) and multiply the number of hours by your nominal hourly rate at work (or against the NMW if retired/not working).

The total for parts/tools plus (your) labour is an appropriate basic budget to set for a new bike I reckon. You’ll probably be surprised at how expensive it can be to fix/assemble and maintain a bike…

That was a good way of looking at it cookeaa, thanks.

Looking at around £400, wow! That’s put a whole new spin on it, I think I’d be better off looking at something new.

@roscoemck Decathlon do 7 speed cassettes so you’re not going to be stuck. For riding around a Whitelees I can’t see why you need anything more. Personally I’d just fix it with bits from Decathlon and call it done, for your use case you don’t need a gravel bike, a Bizango or whatever else people who would rather burn money say.

Of course that’s not to say don’t replace if you think it’s just going to be too much of a time sink but if you’re not sure what you’re doing Bike for Good in Glasgow have free tools and will teach you how to use them. Alternatively pick an old copy of the Haynes Bike Book and it will tell you everything you need to know for that vintage of bike.

@roscoemck if you work out a list I’ve got some brand new 7 & 8 speed stuff, gear changers, triple chainset, chains, cables and stuff. You can have anything you need for the price of the postage. Wheels and tyres can be got cheap even from your local shop. Direct message me a list when you’ve worked out what you’re doing.

If you decide to refurbish Just to add on to wheelsonfire I have a spare 26″ front MTB wheel and tyre you can have free if you collect it. Rim brake. No name hub and rim but running true and 36 spokes.

I’m in Milngavie or could meet you at an arranged time at Cardonald where I work.

I like seeing old bikes kept going. I’m running a 90s Kona hardtail.

Some cheap hardtails on the classifieds

It’s very much a buyers market out there right low – if get a new hardtail with modern geometry and parts. Air suspension forks / discs / 27.5 or 29er wheels etc.

Voodoo Bizango / Vitus Sentier / Nukeproof Scout / On One Scandal / Canyon Stoic etc all came in under or around £1000 depending on spec and should have some secondhand options around the £500 budget.

Ideally try and get something with a Rockshox Recon or better or Bomber Z2 etc. although a Suntour Raidon Air etc isn’t the end of the world – just needs a bit more tlc to keep running well.

@joebristol yeah I’m sure that spec will really help with the windfarm tracks.

Keep the Saracen for runs to the shops or the pub. If you can stretch to just under £500 you can have a brand new half-price Salsa Rangefinder. https://www.lyonequipment.com/bikes/bikes-frames/salsa-rangefinder-21-advent-x-29__3249

1×10, 29er, boost axles, more progressive geo, etc. By all means learn how to fix a bike but why not do it one bit at a time as they wear out, not all at once and have a better riding bike to boot.

When I bought my Salsa from Lyon it arrived the next day. 😀

Some absolutely fantastic advice guys and also thanks for the offers of parts, much appreciated.

Was having a chat with the wife last night and she said just get a new bike, I’ve not had a new bike in years. Result!