calamarichris

Ding!

(edit: Sorry, you're looking for a 21--this is a 22.)

Thanks Rat! Really looking forward to building her up with my Sweetheart.

rhenning

I just had this Peloton given to me a bit more than one week ago. Date code is 0176 which I believe makes it a January 1986 bike. The best part is it was free. Roger

calamarichris

Van Nuys, Van Nuys... Shimano 600 drivetrain, it looks like? Excellent taste in bar tape color...

Orrery

Free peloton, very nice!

That eBay one is pretty damn minty. Wish I was taller and richer right now. I like the duct tape on the wheel.

calamarichris

Haha--perhaps a redneck version of pulsating antilock brakes to enhance stopping power?



The makeshift outhouse in the background seems to support this conclusion.

ParaWK4

I have been riding my Peloton this summer, serial number 3535 which I think suggests it was made at the very end of 1985.

thenomad

Update -
I'm still waiting to build mine up after I sell a few bikes and parts. It may actually be built up when my dad gets here so he can ride with me. He's lost 80lb so far and is hoping to get a nice bike to ride like he did when I was young. I think it'd be a real treat for him to get a shiny 'new' vintage bike, one that he could never afford when we were young.

oberthecat

Im waiting for my 86 to return from the powder coater. Im trying to be patient. I have been riding my 85 some while I wait..

ChicAgo steel

An '84 for sale:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Schwinn-Pelo...#ht_500wt_1344

An '85 frame only for sale:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Vintage...#ht_500wt_1344

This is long over due, in no particular order:
nomad sounds like a terrific plan, let us know how it goes.
Chris, you are pure magician, conjuring these steel beauties out of thin air when needed. Is GF's bike road ready?
Para, welcome to the magic kingdom of lugged steel!
I've been enjoying the summer riding practice paceline, (the C team if you will, 18-24 MPH) among the nicest folks, most riding CF bikes. The downtube shifters really get comments.
Roger for free?! I hope she fits you man.
Ober are you getting some miles on the frame you picked up? Our head badges have the same date stamp.
Rat your bike is the bomb! I honestly do not think I could drive that bike very far for very long. ; )
I'm going with tubulars, getting my full monies worth. Flats are painfully expensive.
Veloh did you break in the '85 yet? it looks show room new!

Anyone ever look at the '86 Panasonic catalog and spy similarities to their hand built offerings?
I'm guessing the '84-'85-'86 Schwinn Peloton frames were hand made. What do you think?

Edit: Could have been hand made.

jeebusaurousrex

A case for hand built: Panasonic's high end Team series were all hand made and had very similar specs down to the Columbus tubes for frames and forks. The only thing I haven't been able to match up in the catalogs are the fork crowns and dropout stamps (Peloton was Superbe-Pro).

A case against hand built: 1986 Pelotons were $850 msrp (according to old Bicycling Guide mags) and that's with top of the line Superbe Pro stuff with a few Cinelli bits in the cockpit. Panasonic's Team America model with DuraAce was $1100 (according to this reference on the Panasonic online museum). The Peloton's pricing is closer in line with the DX-5000/4000 which, I assume, weren't hand built.

Either way it's a win-win to me. If it's hand built? Then sweet, it was made by artisans sweating over a torch, painstakingly brazing each joint to perfection. If it was made by robots? Then sweet, Panasonic had one of the best automated factories at the time pumping out precisely aligned, high quality frames.

ChicAgo steel

Either way it's a win-win to me. If it's hand built? Then sweet, it was made by artisans sweating over a torch, painstakingly brazing each joint to perfection. If it was made by robots? Then sweet, Panasonic had one of the best automated factories at the time pumping out precisely aligned, high quality frames.
--jeebus


Very well stated. I just can't read the '86 Panasonic catalog numbers for frame angles and such and would like to educate myself. To me it kind of looks like the Team Japan bike? I don't know. Thanks in advance if you look further.

Directly from the Schwinn scans for '86:
Frame material- COLUMBUS SL & SP mixed chrome-moly, double butted frame tubes, Suntour forged dropouts with adjusters.
Fork- COLUMBUS blades with full sloping crown, Suntour forged drop outs.
Frame Geometry 23"- head-angle 73 deg, seat-angle 74 deg, wheelbase 39.5"
Crankset- Sugino 53/42T

For '85, the frame was identical.
Fork- COLUMBUS blades with semi-sloping crown, reinforced tangs and Suntour forged drop outs.
Crankset- Suntour Superbe Pro 53/42T

For '84:
Frame- COLUMBUS SL &SP mixed chrome-moly, double, forged dropouts with adjusters.
Fork- COLUMBUS blades with semi-sloping crown, reinforced tangs.
Frame Geometry 23"- head-angle 73.5 deg, seat-angle 74 deg, wheelbase 39"
Crankset- Sugino 53/42T

Rode 30 tonight with the nicest group. 95 deg's and humid. We made a stop for gelato after, just so we could recover. ; )

ParaWK4

I've been riding my Peloton a lot this summer and it has moved to the top of the lineup ahead of a Fuso and three mid-80s Paramounts. What a nice ride, I come home just tired, not tired and feeling beat-up. I feel like I can get the seat back further than on the Paramounts and this is the only bike I have been on that encourages me to lengthen the route mid-ride. A fabulous land cruiser, not the most nimble on the hills but not bad. Let's not tell anyone how nice they are as I'm now looking for an 85 and I don't want the prices to go up.

oddjob2

Site unseen, will pick it up from the western Michigan Goodwill store next month. It can't be too bad, it has Campy hubs, there rest of it looks in good condition. It is a 19.5" frame, too small for me, but will be a nice restoration project.



Although I don't consider myself an avid Schwinn collector, I did manage to score a third Schwinn within the week, last night right her in NJ. Also red, a very clean SPEEDSTER, with a nice large frame. So much a better value than a Raleigh Superbe.

rccardr 

OK, you've sold me. I've got to give the Peloton thing a try.
Bought a lovely '85 red frame off of fellow BF'er Shnibop, just got done ordering a compact crank, 9 speed FD/RD/STI's, new modern Shimano/Mavic wheelset, new tektro R530 brakeset, etc.

ChicAgo steel

Whoa...

I can feel the vibe coming from the lab. ; )

rhenning

One of the members asked how I liked the "free" Peloton so I said I would repost what I told him and some new pictures. I have about 100 miles on the bike. I have done a mechanical overhaul and tweaked it so it fits me. Very impressed with the bike. Ride quality is similar to my 1974 Paramount. Responds quicked to input but the Paramount is a P-10 so it is a touring bike and is a bit more laid back design. The 12 years newer/better drive train is significantly better than the Campy stuff on the Paramount. Both the shifting and braking are much improved. I have some Spin (I think) composite wheels on the bike right now. I will take some pictures and post them in the Peloton thread along witth this response. Roger

thenomad

PM me and I'll take those wheels off your hands, I just can't agree with their choice for the Peloton.

rhenning

Gee I bet you wouldn't give me the $125 I paid for them either. I had my Aero Spokes on it before but they shudder at certain speeds and are annoying. Wheels are NFS. Sorry. Roger

thenomad

No I'd definitely give you the 125 for them.

HoustonHemi

All these pictures of these Pelotons are making me jealous. If any one could bare to part with one I would be more than happy to help. I would make a WTB thread but I guess I do not have enough posts yet. I also wouldn't mind a paramount. Nice bicycles, enjoyed looking at yalls pictures. Hopefully soon I can look at an actual one.

ChicAgo steel

For sale:


https://omaha.craigslist.org/bik/3135968200.html

[h=2]1986 Schwinn Peloton - $300 (Omaha/C.B.)[/h][HR][/HR]Date: 2012-07-17, 1:55PM CDT
Reply to: nmkfs-3135968200@sale.craigslist.org[SUP][Errors when replying to ads?][/SUP][HR][/HR]
Excellent condition survivor. 24" frame, 33" standover.

Top showroom racing model offered by Schwinn in '86. All original components except pedals, tubular tires, grip tape and Schwinn brake cables.

You won't find another in this shape.

Owners manual and catalog included.

List of components can be found here: https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...986Ltwt07.html

calamarichris

D@mmit. If I didn't already have two already (one in that very size), and if I wasn't saving up to buy a larger condo, and if I hadn't told my gf that my Look was The Last Bike I'll Ever Buy for Myself...
sigh... that bike is in seriously beautiful shape.

ChicAgo steel

Hey, any picks of GF's XS? I do hope that project is on schedule and on budget.
Her B-day present as I recall. This month too!


I'm smitten with riding this '86 Schwinn/Panasonic Chris and have you to thank, my friend!

calamarichris

Sorry, no pics yet. It's still sitting at Cyclart, waiting to get spread to 130 and touched up.
There's no timeline for this, or budget. Probably going to take forever and cost a fortune like my last two.
I'll take pics along the way though.

jeebusaurousrex

I had a chance to see a few DX4000 on the road recently and they specifically said "hand made" or "hand built" (I forget the exact wording).

So...there's a pretty good chance that these Pelotons were also hand built! Personally I think the hammered seat stays on the seat cluster lug as well as the high end tubing and components and attention to detail all point to hand built.

Not to thread hijack, but I'm actually more interested in the Greenville plant's details. Were the high end frames built by robots or hand made? Was there a transition from hand made during the early 80s when it first opened to robots when they had to work with aluminum?