Ooooold mountain bike

[chinny]

My Raleigh Discovery mountain bike (circa 1992) has a problem going up hills as the front chainset teeth are very badly worn if not missing all-together. I don't want a new bike so was hoping to just replace that.
I've counted the teeth and there are 48/38/28. The existing front chainset is a Shimano 200GS.

Is there anyone around here that could point me to the cheapest replacement (preferably Shimano) as I don't really know enough myself and don't want to get ripped off in a shop. Would rather DIY it.

[Tumble]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=40496

You'll probably have a square taper bottom bracket on that, so the above link will give you a new BB and a lighter chainset, whilst giving you the same gearing. Best thing to do, is get the bits, and if you aren't confident/don't have the correct tools, take it to your local bike shop, and ask if they can show you how to do it - that way it'll get fitted by someone who (allegedly) knows what they're doing and you get to see how it's done for the future

[chinny]

Excuse my ignorance but does it matter that my current one is a 7 rear cassette and that is for a 9?
How do I know if it is a square bracket? Would it be useful if I take a photo tomorrow when it's light and chuck that up here?

[Tumble]

if it's from '92, it'll be a square taper and it shouldn't *really* make a difference about your rear cassette being 7 speed - the front's still 3 after all. I think it just means it'll take the slimmer chain/has a wider gap between the rings to allow for a more extreme chain path.

[Zak33]

how on EARTH Tumble knows this belies all my inner instincts...

but fair play.

( i hate bikes)

[chinny]

@Tumble - thank's very much. Will hopefully get the bad boy back on the road soon :-)
Cheers.