Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Schwinn Circuit, info, worth it?

I recently picked up a Schwinn Circuit road bike, complete in great shape for $100.00, I paid another $120.00 for a set of continental Duraskin tires and a basic tune up. I know the bike is old but I'd call it close to mint, with nary a scratch, original tape, Sante gears, clips, Concor white seat,Columbus Tretubi tubing decal , even brake pads original, and it rides absolutely wonderful, light as a feather. I'm just wondering, did I pay too much?, I can't find any info on the bike on the web, other than listings for a new one. A friend told me it was, could've got a newer one for less, I don't know, it does ride real nice, Thanks

Tell your friend to go find you a newer, higher quality bike for $220, and not call you until s/he does.

It was a steal! Nice find.

That's a really nice find - I've been looking for a Circuit in my size around here, but no dice yet. I love the Concor Profil saddle yours has.

Yes! The Circuit was second only to the Paramount in Schwinn's 1988 model line-up. You did well.

1988 Circuit catalog page (http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1988_08.html)

1988 Specifications (http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1988_16.html)

You did very well.
(No reason to think the braking isn't adequate, but you could optimize it by going non-original with some up-to-date cables, housing, and or kool stop pads, should you so choose.)

Yes! The Circuit was second only to the Paramount in Schwinn's 1988 model line-up. You did well.


Stan, you would maybe know the answer to this. Some of those Sante components have a reputation for being non-interchangeable. How much of an issue would you say that is with a bike like this? Should I ever be tempted by a Sante-equipped bike, I'd like to know what spares I should keep an eye out for.

Your friend does not know squat about bikes. You got a very competent performing bicycle that is a huge step above entry level. Its going to serve you well.

You got a very reasonable price.

You did quite well. The Sante groupo was a designer "boutique" groupo that fell in between Dura-Ace and Ultegra. I bought a circuit a thrift store and stripped it down because it was too small and used the parts to build up a vintage trek 510. You can still find parts for sante on ebay and some old bike shops still have stuff in stock. The only thing you have to worry about replacing is the rear cassette. I want to say it is the old uniglide cassette that are hard to find. You could also change out the the hub body to accept the more modern hyperglide cassette. You can see my trek at http://vintage-trek.com/images/trek/JenningsKilgore/Liam7_1140.jpg. The only thing I have changed is I bought the bar end shifter pods from Rivendell and moved the downtube shifters to the bar ends. Sheldon Brown talks about the cassette issue here http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#uniglide

Stan, you would maybe know the answer to this. Some of those Sante components have a reputation for being non-interchangeable. How much of an issue would you say that is with a bike like this? Should I ever be tempted by a Sante-equipped bike, I'd like to know what spares I should keep an eye out for.
I don't have an answer; sorry.

Do you mean that some Santé components have a reputation as being incompatible with components from other Shimano groups (Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105, etc.)?

Maybe someone else knows. All I've ever heard about the Santé group has been very positive.

Stan, you would maybe know the answer to this. Some of those Sante components have a reputation for being non-interchangeable. How much of an issue would you say that is with a bike like this? Should I ever be tempted by a Sante-equipped bike, I'd like to know what spares I should keep an eye out for.

I think thats 100% incorrect. As far as I know its only idexed Dura-Ace thats incompatible with other Shimano components. Sante had wierd features like smooth chainring bolts and brake claiper pich bolts but I wouldnt consider that to be an interchange issue.

I wouldnt hesittate to buy a Sante equipte bike. If you disregard it as being a 'boutique' group and look at it from a finctionality perspective you'll find that Sante is a top notch group that works very well.

Yeah, you did VERY well, and your friend either wanted it for himself, or knows squat about bikes. I'm jealous, hehe. You probably couldn't find another Circuit for $220 if you tried for a couple of years? Well, maybe a basket case? Keep an eye out around the bottom bracket joints. for some reason the Schwinn Columbus frames tend to start rusting there. Not sure why, but almost every one I've found has it.,,,,BD

As far as a new bike for less than that... you'd be getting a GMC Denali or one of those LOW end Schwinn's that are sold at your local X-mart. If you're friend thinks he can get a better deal on one of those, tell him to buy one and go race you.
See who gets smoked.
-Gene-

Wow, I'd agree with everyone, don't worry I'm keeping the Circuit indoors, apparently the person I bought it from, his father also kept it indoors, I like the old ways, down tube shifting, toe clips, all the basics, my friend says the technology is old, and steel isn't the way to go nowadays, I told him who cares if it rides so nice, mitch

Wow, I'd agree with everyone, don't worry I'm keeping the Circuit indoors, apparently the person I bought it from, his father also kept it indoors, I like the old ways, down tube shifting, toe clips, all the basics, my friend says the technology is old, and steel isn't the way to go nowadays, I told him who cares if it rides so nice, mitch
Mitch, it sounds like your friend has bought into the myth that you need to have the latest carbon fiber or titanium racerboy bike to be competitive.

Don't believe it! Your new Circuit is still one helluva fine bicycle and will run circles around any new bike you could buy for less than $1,500. Also, don't forget you can upgrade it to 10-speed cassettes and brifters any time. :thumb:

Thanks Stan, You hit it right on the head !! I wonder if all these new tech bikes will hold up as well? Mitch

Thanks Stan, You hit it right on the head !! I wonder if all these new tech bikes will hold up as well? Mitch
I seriously doubt it. See HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/), HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-12-08T08%3A03%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=15), HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-11-12T06%3A48%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=15), and HERE (http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=158545).

Top score! The Circuit was a nice bike. Shimano Sante stuff is great. Functionally excellent, durable and somewhat original and cool in its aesthetics; I have a partial set on my Davidson and love it. Also, to reply to an above post, Sante is totally compatible with other Shimano, so no problems will arise in that department.

I seriously doubt it. See HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/), HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-12-08T08%3A03%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=15), HERE (http://bustedcarbon.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-11-12T06%3A48%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=15), and HERE (http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=158545).

Stan,

Thanks for posting links to this Cracked Carbon blog. I took the time to look through the entire blog. Quite a few interesting pictures which have thoroughly convinced me to stick with steel.

BTW, there was a posting last week in 50+ from a BFer returning to cycling after some extended time off the bike. He has a mid '80s Schwinn Prelude, which he had tuned and was back riding, and enjoying. :)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=503120

But curiosity was nibbling away at his old school joys. He had been to the LBS and was swooning during the sales pitch; "carbon will make you faster." I tried my best to bring him over here to C&V. Even dangled a picture of "Sporty" in front of him. No response. :mad: And all those 50 plusers who were flush with mucho cash kept chanting; "carbon, carbon, carbon" (place a "drink the Kool Aid" smilie here).

Sheesh, it was like those Levitra, Cialis, and Blue Pill commercials on television. No balance! :rolleyes: The poor guy didn't stand a chance. :o

Bob, in June of last year I e-mailed Mark Rhomberg at Bike Testing, Inc. (http://www.biketesting.com/) asking if he knew of any studies comparing the failure rates for bicycle frames of different materials. I indicated that I was aware it is a very complex subject and that any definitive analysis would be subject to many variables, but that I was interested in any industry-wide statistics of frame failures resulting in injuries to riders.

Mark replied that he couldn't imagine anyone touching the subject with a ten foot pole except, perhaps, the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Mark said his personal feeling is that any material is fine, and that it's the up-front engineering which seems to make the biggest difference.

I contacted the CPSC with the same question, but received no reply.

Carbon fiber is a wonderful material with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, but the failure mode where CF structures simply splinter apart with no warning is very scary to me. At most, a structurally sound CF frame that is built well enough to have durability characteristics similar to a well built steel frame might save a pound in the overall weight of a bike over a similar size modern steel frame, but even assuming the failure rates of CF and steel frames are similar, the anecdotal evidence suggests that the risk of personal injury inherent in the spontaneous failure mode of CF frames and components (handlebars, forks, and seat posts) is greater than it is for other materials (steel, aluminum, titanium) with failure modes that give more warning of impending failure.

Ultimately, the decision to ride a CF bike is up to the rider and his/her own risk/benefit analysis and comfort level with the nature of the material. Like you, I'm sticking with steel. :thumb:

Carbon fiber is a wonderful material with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, but the failure mode where CF structures simply splinter apart with no warning is very scary to me. At most, a structurally sound CF frame that is built well enough to have durability characteristics similar to a well built steel frame might save a pound in the overall weight of a bike over a similar size modern steel frame, but even assuming the failure rates of CF and steel frames are similar, the anecdotal evidence suggests that the risk of personal injury inherent in the spontaneous failure mode of CF frames and components (handlebars, forks, and seat posts) is greater than it is for other materials (steel, aluminum, titanium) with failure modes that give more warning of impending failure.

Ultimately, the decision to ride a CF bike is up to the rider and his/her own risk/benefit analysis and comfort level with the nature of the material. Like you, I'm sticking with steel. :thumb:

Very well said. What struck me from that blog is the lunacy of carbon steerers, spokes, bars. It's one thing to have a carbon frame (I previously owned one and loved it). But the idea that if some carbon is good, more carbon must be better, and carbon everything must be great, is typical marketing nonsense run amock. It reminds me of the drillium thing (which I also love). The Huret Jubilee with factory drilling is actually heavier than the non-drilled version because it had to be reinforced. This is when good sense has gone out the window, as it has done with carbon fiber. Or maybe it left for good with Delrin.