How to fix cracked chain wheel on Schwinn bike??

I bought a Schwinn bike from a thrift store a couple months back and fixed it up. Everything was working fine until I noticed that the chain wheel (I think that's what its called? The circle closest to the pedal and crankarm?) is cracked in a small spot. I used my sweet paint skills to make a picture to show this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/a...

The crack actually isn't even that big, and the wheel still moves in a circle fine. Is there an inexpensive way to fix this? Like use epoxy? The bike still works fine, I'm just nervous I might fly off while biking in the city. Thanks!

No, do not try epoxy. It most certainly will not work. The best route is to replace the chain ring. The second choice would be to find a local welder who is proficient in welding aluminum alloy and get him/her to weld it for you.

If the bike is cheap enough it might be steel, which is much easier to weld than aluminum

But, again, replace the chain ring. This is a dangerous condition.

You were close -- it's called a chain ring. The safest thing to do is to replace the chain ring. If you bought the bike from a thrift store, the cost of parts and labor at a bike shop to replace the chain ring might exceed what you paid for the bike. You should be able to get a quote from them. If that doesn't work for you, try the epoxy, but be sure to inspect the crack frequently to make sure it isn't growing.

HTH

Please do not like do anything, but this is the way you can actually fix it without just merely like fixing it. Replace the chain ring. nobody bothers to replace a part that is totally interchangeable.