What Are the Dangers of Riding an Old Rusted Bike?

Question by ChengS: What are the dangers of riding an old rusted bike?
I just got a road bike from a friend, but the chains and frame are all rusted. What are the possible dangers that this may bring to me when I use the bike? Would using rust-remover on the chains enough to remove the danger, or would I need to completely replace the rusted chains?

Best answer:

Answer by Perchy
When dealing with chains, it is ideal to replace them regularly due to stretch. I have that problem with my current ghetto bike which even though I tightened the chain as hard as possible, it’s still prone to falling off. Which could result in a nasty crash. I’ve had one of those. I could barely muster the energy to walk the last block I had to be home.
But my bike right now has some damage my friend hasn’t seen before to the barrings in the handle bars. I wouldn’t fear the bike falling apart so long as the handle bars are okay. Which mine aren’t. The bike would need some major rust to fall in half.

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