Commuting - Finished project--'round town commuter.

I think I may have made it a little bit too nice for my intentions, though most of it is still stock. I started out with a late 80's Schwinn World Sport, put a cheap black powdercoat on it, upgraded to aero levers, cheap cloth handlebar tape, toe clips, purchased some nice suntour dt shifters off ebay and moved them from the stem to the dt, put some slighlty used armadillo tires on it, a brooks saddle that was sitting around, re-greased the bearings and cleaned things up a bit with chrome polish. :) I had hoped to use it as my 'lock up' bike because I'm scared to leave my LHT out of my sight. For my first ever build I think it turned out ok.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k131/brandonesp/side-bike.jpg

I tried to put NOS decals on it a few days back but they wouldn't stick to the powdercoat for some reason, though I have heard of this happening. I may try some others or just leave it clean looking.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k131/brandonesp/downtube.jpg

Clamp on dt shifters I was able to find on ebay for $15.

Before my LHT and this project bike I had always bought them pre-assembled. After these two I think I see several more 'projects' in my future....just to convince the wife.

Wonderful. My college bike was an '85 World Sport and I have a great affection for them.

That thing is beautiful. Wow.

Very nice maybe I can make my Nishiki that nice

Jullin, are those Cane Creek brake levers?

I think I may have made it a little bit too nice for my intentions, though most of it is still stock. I started out with a late 80's Schwinn World Sport, put a cheap black powdercoat on it, upgraded to aero levers, cheap cloth handlebar tape, toe clips, purchased some nice suntour dt shifters off ebay and moved them from the stem to the dt, put some slighlty used armadillo tires on it, a brooks saddle that was sitting around, re-greased the bearings and cleaned things up a bit with chrome polish. :) I had hoped to use it as my 'lock up' bike because I'm scared to leave my LHT out of my sight. For my first ever build I think it turned out ok.

Dude, that thing is dead sexy! Waaay too nice for a lock up bike, I'd steal that just for the Brooks :D Did you do the powdercoating yourself, and if not can I ask how much it cost? The only thing I woulda done differently is bar-end rather than downtube shifters, but to each his own.

Absolutely stunning. Sweet build.

--A

Oh, and leave it debadged (no stickers), makes it all the more sexy and mysterious.

Jullin, are those Cane Creek brake levers?

They're tektro r200 levers, which in my understanding from the guys in the classic\vintage forum are exactly the same as the cane creeks. They're also about half the price--great levers, highly recommended.

Nice build! I love the Schwinn world sport, that was my first non dept. store bike, and I must've put 25K miles on that thing before I sold it.

nice job. this will serve as a great inspiration for me as i get close to my first rebuild. an early '80s univega custom ten. i was planning on going the same route you did, mostly stock, repaint, regrease, but maybe fixed...
anyway, real nice job!

Dude, that thing is dead sexy! Waaay too nice for a lock up bike, I'd steal that just for the Brooks :D Did you do the powdercoating yourself, and if not can I ask how much it cost? The only thing I woulda done differently is bar-end rather than downtube shifters, but to each his own.

Nah, wish I could have done it myself. It cost about $100 including sandblasting. Considering it had quite a bit if surface rust, not a bad deal.

I've been eyeing my mtb for over a year now and wondering what it would look like w/ a matte black paint job. It won't look anything like that, but I'm getting some impetus to give it a makeover.

Looks good! I just picked up a vintage Trek 430 (beat up) and do the same thing.

Is it just me or is the small ring outside the large ring on that crank????

It is a great looking bike!!!
Craig

Looks Fantastic!!! I'm reworking an 82 Schwinn Traveler in much the same way. Love the clean, classic badgeless look btw. Looks like you get a lot more pull on your brakes with those levers... I'm using much older Dia Compes with those goofy safety bars. Makes it nice for commuting though because i can brake relaibly from anywhere on the handlebar. Again nice work!!

Wow. Very nice job. Where did you get it powdercoated, and how cheap was "cheap"?

Small chainwheel looks like its on the outside to me too. Probably want to swap it with the big chainring if it really is that way.

I would upgrade the single pivot brakes to modern double pivot ones (at least on the front). Stopping power is way better. Just make sure you get calipers with enough reach to get to the rims. Shimano and Tektro both make "long reach" dual pivot brakes.

Edit: Oh yeah, I like the bike. I like the "dark horse" look. Both my SS conversions are painted solid black with no markings also.

Is it just me or is the small ring outside the large ring on that crank????

It is a great looking bike!!!
Craig


OK, so it's not just me being overworked and undercaffeinated.

Aside from the chainrings being backwards, that is one sweet ride. I'd leave it unbranded because that powdercoat looks awesome without any stickering. I really love the tube-clamp shifters!

OK, so it's not just me being overworked and undercaffeinated.

Aside from the chainrings being backwards, that is one sweet ride. I'd leave it unbranded because that powdercoat looks awesome without any stickering. I really love the tube-clamp shifters!

Ack, well, let me fix that. >.> Shifts fantastic otherwise! :D

Ack, well, let me fix that. >.> Shifts fantastic otherwise! :D
So... does it work like that, with the big ring on the inside? The only problem I can think of would be the asymmetry of the derailer cage, and the fact that your chainline would be a little off in most of the commonly used combinations.

i like to badgeless look as well, but if you did ever want to put decals on it, i'd go here (http://www.bikenames.com/)

your own builds are the way to go, I agree. It's your bike then. I'm the same way.

Small chainwheel looks like its on the outside to me too. Probably want to swap it with the big chainring if it really is that way.

I would upgrade the single pivot brakes to modern double pivot ones (at least on the front). Stopping power is way better. Just make sure you get calipers with enough reach to get to the rims. Shimano and Tektro both make "long reach" dual pivot brakes.

Edit: Oh yeah, I like the bike. I like the "dark horse" look. Both my SS conversions are painted solid black with no markings also.

If the frame has nutted - type brake mounts like this one it limits your options. To upgrade her 70's Mercian's brakes my girlfriend got Shimano RX100s. The shop had to order two fronts to insure there was enough bolt to work with. She's very happy with the new setup. The brakes stop beautifully and fit nicely over the fenders.

Wow. Very nice job. Where did you get it powdercoated, and how cheap was "cheap"?

It was a place called Poweder Vision located here, http://www.powdervision.com/ and they charged right around $100. Considering they are not especially familiar with bicycle frames, it turned out alright I would say.

It was a place called Poweder Vision located here, http://www.powdervision.com/ and they charged right around $100. Considering they are not especially familiar with bicycle frames, it turned out alright I would say.

Sweet. Did that include the bead/media blast to get rid of the old finish?

Yep, sandblasting, taping, and all of that was included in the price....they taped off the bottom bracket and head tube without a hitch.