Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - is it just me or does the schwinn le tour look really long

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nowitsshowtime
06-04-09, 09:30 PM
I have a 70s Varsity, and I have to admit it does kind of look long, especially compared to many of todays bikes, but I may trade for a bigger le tour (would probably fit me better if its not too big) and I'm looking at pictures and they seem even longer. I think its an 80's model Le Tour.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is it the camera angles? Not much of a fan of these long bikes, but I'll deal until I can afford something else.

Rustyoldbikes
06-04-09, 09:41 PM
The Le Tour models made in the '70's and '80's had an "average" wheelbase for that era...about one inch longer than the "racing" models of 2009, but similar to the typical hybrid bike of 2009. That extra inch gives a better ride and makes it easier to put a rack on the back of the bike if you want to carry stuff on weekends.
jollysnowman
06-04-09, 09:55 PM
I have an early '80s Le Tour. The chain stay is a little longer than a racing bike, and the headtube angle is hella slack. Add to that a long-rake fork and you get a pretty long bike. It's really comfy for just riding around though.

devilshaircut
06-05-09, 07:40 AM
I also have an early 80's Le Tour. I don't have the exact measurements but I can tell it has a shorter wheelbase than my other conversion, which is an early 80's department store bike (Free Spirit).
WeirdOddity
06-05-09, 08:47 AM
I have a "free spirit" fixed gear conversion. The wheelbase is about 43" long, with a pretty slack angled headtube. By comparison, the Kilo TT's wheelbase is about 39" long.

I guess these older bikes were made for crusing.
devilshaircut
06-05-09, 08:48 AM
Yeah the Kilo is super tight.
vinfix
06-05-09, 09:42 AM
I have an '84 Letour Luxe, last year made in US. It has a long wheelbase, it's a touring bike after all.
patrickgh
06-05-09, 10:08 PM
I have a Le Tour (i forget which year) but it doesn't seem very "long" to me.
howl
06-05-09, 10:34 PM
I have an early 80's le tour that is slightly too large for me and it is long as ****.
SRTboy
06-06-09, 07:15 AM
It is at least worth checking out as far as fit goes and then you could see if its length bugs you. Mine doesn't seem to be too long but it is longer than my road bike by a little. It rides nice and I am sure it weighs a lot less than that Varsity. I was going to build a 70s Varsity when I found a Le Tour frame for 10 bucks.