Michael Angelo 

Hello Guys,

I'm working on a 1970 Schwinn continental. I should post this in the sale area but I think it would get more exposure here. I'm in need of a few parts, I know this is a lower end Schwinn, but my Neighbor wants me to "fix it" for him. I have most all the parts to do this except a good chrome one piece crank. I have thrown out many of these myself thinking I would never need or use one. But here I am looking for a decent one to use here , also A good seat post, not as rusty as this one here. Any help would be appreciated. Admins can move this to the sale forum if need be.








Note: The stem was stuck and had to be cut out, it was not correct for the bike anyways. I have a good Schwinn Stem and Handlebars. The owner has bought really nice alloy wheels, so this project is a go.

pastorbobnlnh 

Mike if the owner is switching to alloy rims, convince him/her to do a BB conversion and mount a traditional three piece crankset. It is really worth doing. Let me check but I think I have a good seatpost. Save the saddle clamp, those can be hard to find in that size. And don't loose the brake cable ferrels.

Michael Angelo 

Hello Bob,

Thanks for any help. I already tried to convince the owner into swapping to three piece cranks, says he wants it to look original. Did I mention he's the original owner? It's been in his shed for ever and a day. I do have all the ferrules, good headset, clean set of derailleurs, brakes, handle bars, most everything I need but those cranks. Would you believe I threw out a perfect set last year? I kept tripping over it, so into the trash it went....couldn't be any more sorry I did.

sonatageek

I did a similar era Schwinn bike for a friend with a crank that looked that bad (or maybe a bit worse) that came out beyond my expectations with a oxalic acid bath clean up.

That is where I would start before putting in too much time trying to find an already sparkly replacement.

wrk101

I'd find a donor. Parts like that tend to bring $ on eBay.

pastorbobnlnh 

Mike,

I've tossed a few Conti-Varsity-SS cranksets myself! If by chance you find a donor Continental from the '70s, I'd be glad to buy the handlebars for a fair price.

Or if the owner would like to add NOS chrome fenders, I'd make a trade. A south Floridian needs fenders to protect from sprinkler run-off on the streets. I might be able to hand deliver them the week of Thanksgiving.

Focus1

Here's one for sale in *****assa:

Old Schwinn Continental

NormanF

Get rid of all the boat anchor parts, lighten everything up but the frame, you'll get down to under 30 pounds.

It won't be a lightweight road bike but it will be a pleasant ride.

USAZorro

Any chance of finding a replacement bike in the same color and size? Would be so much easier, and not very expensive.

Michael Angelo 

Sadly The Handelbars are not Original and the Stem was stuck really tight. The handlebars were bent downwards and I had to cut the stem out. I do have a nice older "S" stem and correct handlebars. Also These were the narrowest bars I've ever seen maybe 36cm.

Michael Angelo 

The owner told me if I can't find a clean crankset to have these rechromed, his money not mine.....

PatTheSlat 

Can you take a picture of the crank removed from the bike, maybe with a tape measure for size reference? I have a box of old Schwinn single piece cranks, but I think they're all from old single speed cruisers, not sure if the varsinental used the same one.

sailorbenjamin

I probably have chainrings. Not sure about the cranks. PM (pester me) cause I've got a lot of irons in the fire and I'll forget.

nesteel 

Two words: local co-op. I can't tell you the number of old Conti-varsitys we've parted out.

jhaddad8

I'm pretty sure I have the crank, chain rings and chain keeper disk, but need to check when home from work. Pm me tonight if you're still looking.

nlerner

I'm also pretty sure I have an Ashtabula crank from a Super Sport in the corner of the basement. You can have it for shipping, but it is really worth it from MA to FL? Cheaper than rechroming, I suppose. I also have a set of those stem shifters if you're in need.

lord_athlon

Ill be the first, are the forks straight?

dddd

This bike's restoration is refreshing, i.e. not restoring a chosen Continental because it is in so good of a condition, but almost as if it is being restored because it is not!

Great to have taken "before" photos, something I have too often neglected to do with a bike that, initially, was just being put on the road, perhaps for pure utility or for quick sale...


I think the original-style crankset is worthy of keeping on board, what with it's sophisticated, patented dual-plateau chainring assembly that is 52-39t and shifts perfectly even using 9s chain.

Hopefully the new wheels can be persuaded to play nice with this bike's front and rear dropout spacings. 700c sized rims would be no problem on such a bike.

Good riddance to any too-narrow or funky-bended handlebar. These bikes thankfully ride fine with all manner of "upright" bars if the stem length is adjusted accordingly. I would say that these bike's frames/geometry were originally designed with an upright-handlebar setup in mind, so the drop bars is perhaps more for style, or in this case for originality. I often struggle to come up with yet another sufficiently-wide, traditional-bend road handlebar having a 25.4mm clamping area, my very last one just went on a Super Course.
I continue to suffer along with my 1962 Continental's original alloy handlebar, despite it's narrowness and sharply-down-sloping ramps which only aggravates a borderline too-short head tube.

Hopefully both derailers can be made to move freely, and that a modern chain and at least semi-modern freewheel find it's way onto this bike, for a less-crochety shifting response.

lord_athlon

I have a 1971 Brooks B15 that would be perfect for this.

Michael Angelo 

The restoration is coming along quite nice, I'll post pictures once i paint the frame next week.

noglider 

I have a complete Schwinn Varsity that I took apart and don't want to put back together. Let me know what you need. Email me at the address below.

I won't have access to the parts for a couple of weeks.