Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 1971 Schwinn Sport Tourer conversion?

Ive had this bike for some time and had considered converting it to a FG or SS. Thing is I think/thought it was to nice to covert. But this past week end I took it for a ride (like I always do) and the bottom tube FD cable guide braze on snapped! I kinda fixed it by adding a clamp on cable guide. :( So heres the question, should I do the conversion or keep it as is? Here are pics of the bike and the snapped cable guide. The snapped guide can be seen just above the chrome clamp on one.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/sporttourer004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/sporttourer003.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/sporttourer002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/stumpyspic/sporttourer001.jpg

so?

so?

"Ive had this bike for some time and had considered converting it to a FG or SS. Thing is I think/thought it was to nice to covert. But this past week end I took it for a ride (like I always do) and the bottom tube FD cable guide braze on snapped! I kinda fixed it by adding a clamp on cable guide. So heres the question, should I do the conversion or keep it as is? Here are pics of the bike and the snapped cable guide. The snapped guide can be seen just above the chrome clamp on one."

probably means your frame is internally rusted. how would a conversion to a singlespeed change this or be any less affected than leaving the bicycle with gears?

probably means your frame is internally rusted. how would a conversion to a singlespeed change this or be any less affected than leaving the bicycle with gears?

It seems to me your asking questions based on your assumptions (that happen to be wrong) :) First thing I did when I got the bike was check for internal rust and there was none. Its an old bike, if you ask me the cable guide may have been bent inward during a crash, or maybe during storage something whacked into it, I did notice that the cable guide was slightly bent inward when I got it so this may indeed be what happened, it was bent some time in the past, maybe even a micro fracture where it bent in, and finally cracked and broke off from the pressure the cable housing created while shifting. So it leaves me with my orig question, Do you (or anyone else) think it would be a good candidate for a FG or SS conversion?

take it to a mechanic and have him/her inspect it - no one here has any idea if your bicycle has any cracks or the status of its structural integrity. if there are problems, I'd find another frame.

take it to a mechanic and have him/her inspect it - no one here has any idea if your bicycle has any cracks or the status of its structural integrity. if there are problems, I'd find another frame.

I dont expect anyone to know the structural integrity of my bike but me. I also dont need some kid thats been a wrench for a few years telling me what I already know. No cracks, dents, or bends anywhere on the frame or fork :thumb: and no signs of a crash anywhere on the bike. Not to mention the fact that Schwinn didnt make junk. Most cyclist who ride vintage frames know this. If youre really truly trying to help I thank you, but if your just dicking around please stop :) all I would like is the opinion of the forum members based on the info I provided. I dont need anyone adding imaginary problems to the bike. If it had any other problems I would have mentioned it ;)

you seem convinced that everything is fine.

But to my eye, there seems to be a large hole in your frame that will soon serve as a vector for rust. If there is not actually a hole and your pictures are deceiving and I am wrong, then what's the problem? if the cable guide is just busted, how would that affect your bicycle if you plan on converting it (i.e. removing the gears)?

I still do not understand the point of this thread. Is this an aesthetic question and not a safety question? if so, then I vote no on the conversion because I think they're usually bogus and tacky. but that's just my opinion that doesnt really matter to anyone but myself.

you seem convinced that everything is fine.

But to my eye, there seems to be a large hole in your frame that will soon serve as a vector for rust. If there is not actually a hole and your pictures are deceiving and I am wrong, then what's the problem? if the cable guide is just busted, how would that affect your bicycle if you plan on converting it (i.e. removing the gears)?

I still do not understand the point of this thread. Is this an aesthetic question and not a safety question? if so, then I vote no on the conversion because I think they're usually bogus and tacky. but that's just my opinion that doesnt really matter to anyone but myself.

You obviously DONT understand the point to this thread. That being said I know all of my personal bikes inside and out, they wouldnt be my personal bikes if I didnt ;) by the way, your eye is wrong :) the pictures must be deceiving you. There is no hole on the frame. The cable guide being busted will not affect the conversion in any way, shape or form, hence the reason why Im thinking on converting it, because The cable guide being busted does in fact affect the bike as a safe to ride orig vintage geared bike :) by adding the "clamp on" cable guide the bike is no longer orig. and before you bring it up, I do have the orig Brooks saddle and seat tube ;) but as a FG/SS the missing cable guide is irrelevant :) But thanks go out to you for answering my question. I appreciate it! :D Although I think that vintage bike frame conversions are the cats pajamas! But thats only my opinion and it doesnt change a thing for those that think otherwise ;)

Just wanted to give a big "Thank you!" to all the memebers that took the time to read my post and not have the courtesy to at least say, "Sorry, cant help you" :thumb:

if that's one of the high-tensile steel schwinns, it might be better to find a chromoly bike to convert.

I am a fan of the old Electro forged Schwinns like this. Bummer your cable guide broke. These old Schwinns are in demand. I was looking for one a few months ago and every Schwinn like this I found - people were wanting between $75 and $175!

I would say if you like this bike, keep it as is and enjoy riding it as is. Converting this bike to SS or FG presents some challenges. For one, finding decent tires to fit the stock rims is difficult. New rims are sized different and may present problems if you are wanting to use brakes that line up on the rims properly. The cranks would need replaced or you would have to cut off (ruin) the extra chainrings. If you keep the original cranks - pedals are a concern because the threads I think are 1/2". You might find yourself buying parts that wont fit on a newer non-Schwinn frame like adapters and other weird stuff.

People convert these to SS/FG all the time but if you really like this bike, In the end you might end up with a SS/FG that you are not all that happy with.

Good luck!

Just wanted to give a big "Thank you!" to all the memebers that took the time to read my post and not have the courtesy to at least say, "Sorry, cant help you" :thumb:

you're bat**** insane if you think every person who reads this thread but can't help should post.

First let me say that my last post was just a bit of a nudge to get you guys to help me ;) I am going to keep it as is as its one of three bikes that were fillet-brazed and not electro welded :D ZiP0082, it is indeed a chromoly frame ;) Heres a link to Sheldons Browns site where it explains the difference. :thumb:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html Thanks for the reply abe, its what made me make my decision not to convert. Thanks.
I am a fan of the old Electro forged Schwinns like this. Bummer your cable guide broke. These old Schwinns are in demand. I was looking for one a few months ago and every Schwinn like this I found - people were wanting between $75 and $175!

I would say if you like this bike, keep it as is and enjoy riding it as is. Converting this bike to SS or FG presents some challenges. For one, finding decent tires to fit the stock rims is difficult. New rims are sized different and may present problems if you are wanting to use brakes that line up on the rims properly. The cranks would need replaced or you would have to cut off (ruin) the extra chainrings. If you keep the original cranks - pedals are a concern because the threads I think are 1/2". You might find yourself buying parts that wont fit on a newer non-Schwinn frame like adapters and other weird stuff.

People convert these to SS/FG all the time but if you really like this bike, In the end you might end up with a SS/FG that you are not all that happy with.

Good luck!

Personally I don't like the looks of the non-lugged Schwinns. Even if yours is fillet brazed, it looks like one of the Electro forged ones, which I associate with heavy crap. I know this is not the case on yours, becuase it has the built-in derailer hanger. Additionally, it looks like it has TA cranks, which would have been kinda blingy on a bike of this vintage.

As for the conversion, it seems like you know bikes pretty decent, so... I don't know.

Like I said, I don't like how the frame looks. Strictly personal preference. If it was me, I'd swap the cranks, sell them to a Rivendell fan for $$$. Take the Brooks off. Do a ****ty conversion on the frame and flip it for $$.

you're bat**** insane if you think every person who reads this thread but can't help should post.

all Im getting is clicking sounds? :p

Personally I don't like the looks of the non-lugged Schwinns. Even if yours is fillet brazed, it looks like one of the Electro forged ones, which I associate with heavy crap. I know this is not the case on yours, becuase it has the built-in derailer hanger. Additionally, it looks like it has TA cranks, which would have been kinda blingy on a bike of this vintage.

As for the conversion, it seems like you know bikes pretty decent, so... I don't know.

Like I said, I don't like how the frame looks. Strictly personal preference. If it was me, I'd swap the cranks, sell them to a Rivendell fan for $$$. Take the Brooks off. Do a ****ty conversion on the frame and flip it for $$.

I know, I felt the same way till I found out the differance between electro welded crappy steel and fillet brazed chromoly ;) beside the goodies you mentioned it also has a Phil Wood BB, alloy stem, alloy rondanier bars, alloy brake levers and calipers, alloy wheelset and hubs, and forged drops. :D Ive got a 74 Schwinn Super sport too. So let see where this goes = )

Dude,

Take it to Bilenky (about 20 minutes from your house) http://www.bilenky.com/Home.html. They can add a cable guide for $25. You can then hit it w/ some Testors yellow and stop messing with the kids in this sub forum. Also don't you already have a Madison? Why 2 single speeds?

I'm not so impressed by 'alloy stem, bars, brake lever, calipers.' Those are *kinda* common.

Seems like you love the frame, though. Make it whatever kind of bike you want. Do it up. Go crazy. Get canti bosses put on and the fork hole filled!

It's nice, but not so nice that it really matters what you do.

Dude,

Take it to Bilenky (about 20 minutes from your house) http://www.bilenky.com/Home.html. They can add a cable guide for $25. You can then hit it w/ some Testors yellow and stop messing with the kids in this sub forum. Also don't you already have a Madison? Why 2 single speeds?

1: Thats a great idea! 2: Messing with the kids in this forum? OK? If you say so? 3: Why not? :)

I'm not so impressed by 'alloy stem, bars, brake lever, calipers.' Those are *kinda* common.

Seems like you love the frame, though. Make it whatever kind of bike you want. Do it up. Go crazy. Get canti bosses put on and the fork hole filled!

It's nice, but not so nice that it really matters what you do.

OK, Its not the rarest bike in the world, but when was the last time you saw a 1971 Schwinn Sport Tourer?