teh_d3th_st4r

So, I'm working on a custom Schwinn Le Tour ca. 1980.
The steerer tube is 1"
I've been looking into getting a carbon or aluminum aero fork, but their hard to find in 1" but 1 1/8 seems to be really common... Will it work? It looks slightly possible.
I guess it's more of a question about bearing cups than it is about the fork.
Can I go ahead and get 1 1/8" forks, or should I keep hunting for 1"?
Any input would be great.

cny-bikeman

An aero carbon/aluminum fork on a LeTour? I'm not being snobbish when I say that's like putting a rear spoiler on a golf cart. It's a waste of money for absolutely no measurable benefit. Take the $150+ dollars you would have spent on fork, headset, stem and bars, sell the LeTour, and get a better bike.

they are = they're (hard to find)

teh_d3th_st4r

So... Thanks for nothing?
If you know where to find carbon forks, a head set, stem, and bars for $150... Please, enlighten me.
This is my bike, not yours. I wanted to build a unique traffic attack bike from a generally unloved frame. I have other/better bikes (De Rosa Primato, Bianchi, and a couple older Cannondales) and I'm not nearly as fond of them.
Oh. Thanks for the spelling and punctuation correction. You must have taken 'overly sanctimonious and insecure trolls 101'


Now, I'm interested in some advice from an individual that isn't a mouth breathing sack of ****.

teh_d3th_st4r

...and criticizing my desire to customize my Le Tour was incredibly snobbish.

dsbrantjr

Please fill out and submit this form: https://www.lolwithme.org/?p=159

surreal

First of all, CNY has posted here for years, and is among the more helpful ppl on this forum. Emphatically NOT a troll.

On to your question: Nope. You can't run a 1.125" fork in the LeTour's headtube. While there are old Schwinns that were originally 1" that can take a 1.125" fork with a modified headset, the LeTour ain't one of them. The reason being, it's not a real Schwinn. It's a Panasonic, most likely, given the year.

Solution: I googled "one inch carbon fork" and came up with this in about 5 seconds. https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_174894_-1___ I'm sure there are others. Measure your existing fork's steerer to select the proper size. Your stock fork is likely a 27.0mm crown race; the nashbar is a 26.4. So you'll want to get something like a Tange Levin with a 26.4mm crown race, and take any difference in stack height into account.

One final caveat: I like LeTours a lot, but you've got to know that putting a cf fork on one is going to raise the ire of snobs everywhere.... and it's going to bring out the snobby side of otherwise accepting ppl. Also, it's not a good idea to hop onto a forum and insult a respected senior member in your 35th post, especially if said member was responding to your request for help....

cny-bikeman

I said $150 plus for a reason - I'm not going to go out and source prices.

You can of course do what you want. You gave no background, so for all I knew you were piling money into your only non-gravity bike. There are lots of posts here from people who get in their head that "custom" means better, that adding light parts will make them go faster, who don't get that it's easier and cheaper to customize a good bike than to build from scratch, etc.

I did not criticize your desire but rather the utility - aero and light weight do not mesh with a heavy, low performance frame. The golf cart analogy was pretty accurate - might make it look more snazzy, but no functional advantage.
Yes, it will be "unique" - mission accomplished.

I don't know what is sanctimonious about a straightforward correction of grammar. Some people simply aren't aware of the error, and I provided the correction in that spirit.

Although I did have some problems with adenoids when I was young I was not aware that residual problems showed up in print, and as I've had my morning defecation for the moment I'm quite comfortable, thank you.

As for being snobbish, The most expensive bike I've ever owned was a Cannondale ST500. When it was stolen I build a bike from a Motobecane Super Mirage (curb) and a Schwinn Voyager 11.8 (garage sale). I currently own one bike - a Novara Randonee. So as I own no high-end equipment I have no personal opinion of those who do. If they seem unaware of the trade-offs they are making I will post my opinion, especially when they say:

Wilfred Laurier

wow

you are right that someone is insecure

good luck with your pos bike with a shiny new part on it
i am sure you two will be very happy

cny-bikeman

Responding in kind is not worth it, neither for effect on the recipient nor for the effect on how others view you. The poster's response speaks for itself.

oldbobcat

When the going gets tough the creative go to eBay. Here's a listing by Bike Island: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNCUT-CA...-/380684289173. If your bike has 700c wheels and you can fit a new threadless 1" headset to it (or have a shop do it) this fork should work fine.

Bike Island is the distributor of take-offs and spare parts for BikesDirect.com. I've purchased from them. They are reputable.

cny-bikeman

That's the other problem - the LeTour had 27 inch rims, 1 1/4 tires and fender clearance, so was equipped with long reach centerpulls. I can say with confidence that 700c would be a bad idea, and finding a 27 inch aero fork more than a bit of a challenge.

surreal

One could prolly fit a 27" wheel in most of these forks, if they run the lowest profile tire and swap the brakes to short-reach.

But, I still agree that this is a doomed project.

Jeff Wills

As others have said- no, a 1 1/8" fork won't fit. No how, no way.

Another issue- I think these were the last of the Panasonic (Japan) built Le Tours. What this means is that the inside diameter of the steerer is smaller than "standard" 22.2mm. It's probably 0.833" (21.1mm), the old Schwinn "standard". Shims are available to fit your existing stem in a new fork, but it's still a kludge.

Also, the crown race seat on your existing fork might be 27.0mm. If your new fork isn't this dimension (newer forks are 26.4mm), you'll need to find a different fork crown race.

I could install a newer fork in your old Le Tour, but then I was a Schwinn mechanic back then (1979-1984) and I've kept up with the changes since then. It's not straightforward, and it would involve tracking down oddball vintage parts.

Here's what I did with a slightly later "Mississippi Schwinn" Le Tour: https://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/letour/index.htm

teh_d3th_st4r

To those of you who were helpful,
Thank you. You made light work of my parts hunt. I really appreciate your patience and for not acting like some elitist prick.

To those of you who have nothing but disparaging remarks for MY PROJECT (re. not your project)
Get bent. I asked for information, not your opinion. People warned me not to join this forum, and I think you people are the reason why.

TrojanHorse

Holy cats, I haven't laughed that hard in days.

Speaking of acting like a pr*ck... well done.

cny-bikeman

Although the name-calling by others was no more justified than your initial attack, if you find yourself often at odds with others it's not because the world is overpopulated with other disagreeable people. Perhaps the warnings you received were due to knowing how you react to honest opinions that differ from your own. If you want a site where that is generally not permissible and everyone supports anything someone wants to do try the BicycleTutor.com forums. Adieu.

unterhausen

you can get a 1" steerer carbon fork: HERE
I doubt it has the right rake or axle to crown for your bike

You will need a new headset and stem

Reynolds 

What's an "unique traffic attack bike"?

surreal

Haven't you heard? It's the new hott niche bicycle subgenre. It's a LeTour with a carbon fork and a wald stem shim.



I seriously think I'm gonna find a LeTour and build my own UTAB.

Wilfred Laurier

also
dont let the door hit you
in the ass
on the way out

rebel1916

You grammar nazied the kid, and you are calling him a disagreeable person? That really is low.

cny-bikeman

Wow - I pointed out correct usage of "you're" - I didn't suggest sending the person to the ovens for the error. Again, what is so obnoxious about correcting a mistake in grammar in a polite way, when for all one knows the person is not aware of their mistake? I'm tired of people who think that ignoring rules of grammar and not caring about capitalization or typos is OK, but pointing out a post that is more difficult to read is rude. It's like standing up in a movie theater and then objecting because some people yell at you.

rebel1916

It's nitpicky and people take it the wrong way. Especially when the whole post isn't a disaster, just one word. But you knew that when you did it. And what's talkup?

rebel1916

Ah the old retroactively fix your post trick. You are a slithery one.

cny-bikeman

People make their own decisions about how to take things that are presented neutrally - apparently you take it the wrong way. That's not under my control. I don't believe in shielding people from reality because they might in some way possibly under some circumstances become somewhat uncomfortable.

Re: talkup (instead of "standing") - Editing error, what are you some sort of typo Nazi? Kidding - corrected and thank you.