Classic & Vintage - Building a bicycle from the frameset

As soon as I round up a decent Schwinn road bike frameset, I'll be looking for parts to build my first bike. I've already bought and received a Traveler frameset finding out the chrome on the forks is flaking off and it only uses a single crank without using an adapter. So much for that frameset. My next try is going to be with a 1973 Schwinn Le Tour frameset. What can anyone tell me in general about using high flange hubs. I'm not a racer or a disatance rider. I only want something to ride that looks good. So far several people have told me that it will cost more if I try to build a bike than it would be if I just found a decent bike ready to ride. My problem is, I'm only 5'10" and can't ride a bike with a frame taller than 22" but really rather have a 21" frame. That so far, has been next to impossible. Anyhow, why can't I find a matching high flange hub to match this one. It's a Campy that someone here locally gave me and I know nothing about it. It's not a Record.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/Bicycle/PB120018.jpg

Anyhow, why can't I find a matching high flange hub to match this one. It's a Campy that someone here locally gave me and I know nothing about it. It's not a Record.

It looks like a Campy Tipo hub. You're correct about it not being a Record, but better than a lot of other hubs made in the '60's and '70's. They tended to be on entry-level racing bikes - and I mean bikes actually intended to be raced on, as opposed to entry-level 10-speeds like the Peugeot UO-8, which were never meant to be raced on (although I'm sure I'm about to hear from folks who won the Nationals on a UO-8 or a Varsity. :rolleyes:) A lot of folks who got into the sport that way upgraded their wheels (the most cost-effective way to increase a lower-end racing bike's potential, assuming the frame fits and has decent geometry). I'm guessing that left a fair number of used, unloved Tipo hubs to the tender mercies of the nearest landfill. :( Too bad - they were pretty good hubs.

Why can't you find a matching one? I don't know. All I can suggest is to keep checking eBay and/or Craig's List.

This is your 1st build. Putting together a wheel will be the hardest posibly most expensive part. Finding a decent set of used wheel is way easier. The La Tour is a good choice. Old schwinns arent to finickey, thay love to be worked on.

That hub looks untouched.

That is one fine looking Tipo!

Rear Tipos turn up on ebay now and then.

Sometimes they're labeled (by sellers) Gran Sport, or Nuovo Tipo. And search with the misspelling too: Nuevo.

Peugeot UO-8, which were never meant to be raced on (although I'm sure I'm about to hear from folks who won the Nationals on a UO-8 or a Varsity. :rolleyes:)
Not from me. I'm slow on every bike ever made.

This is your 1st build. Putting together a wheel will be the hardest posibly most expensive part. Finding a decent set of used wheel is way easier. The La Tour is a good choice. Old schwinns arent to finickey, thay love to be worked on.

Not necessarrilly. I`ve built, respoked, or replaced rims on several wheelsets, but never put together a bike. I`ve disassembled and reassembled the same parts, but never had to figure out which of the zillion possibilities for drivetrains would be compatible with each other, with the frame and with what I already had. Now THAT sounds like the tough part to me.

I'm in the same situation actually; I'm about to built my first bike from the the frame up. (As soon as Robbie gets it in the mail. :P)

What should I be most worried about finding/putting together?

If you are set on a Schwinn, I would add Schwinn Super Sport to your frame search. They are showing up on ebay regularly, and the pricing right now is down from where it was this summer. While stock the bike is heavy, with the right components, you could turn it into a sweet ride.

Another choice is to find a 1980s Japanese bike. I picked up a 1984 Lotus Classique in 21 inch size for $16 last weekend. It has cleaned up very well. I picked up a 1988 Miyata 712 for $100 in the 21 inch size as well.

So if you widen your search, I think you will find a worthy frame for your build.

What size frame are you looking for? I have a yellow la tour mid 70's on the small side.

I JUST sold a pair :(

You could get enough $ for the Tipo hub on Ebay to buy a craigslist Schwinn or set of wheels.

Oh man, I love those circular cutouts...
Was the Tipo the only model that had them at that time? I know there were F.B. made Campy hubs that had circular cutouts but those were much earlier (1940s?).

If you look at enough yard sales and check craigslist frequently enough, you're bound to find either an old Schwinn or an Japanese bike(Univega, Miyata, Centurion...) for less than $50. I found a Univega in the trash last week. My size! It'll definitely give you something to take apart, clean/repair then put back together. Or just junk the parts and build up the frame nicely.