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85 Schwinn Traveler

Old 02-11-14, 10:40 AM
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85 Schwinn Traveler


Last edited by dmott; 11-14-19 at 05:29 PM.
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Old 02-11-14, 11:08 AM
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You've got the utility thing going on- it'll do what you need it to do.

If you're happy with it- awesome! 1985 was the apex of "touring" bikes, and the Traveler definitely benefitted from everything that was going on with all the Touring bikes.

If I were to suggest anything, I would suggest not doing your handlebars like that. If you're going to run drop handlebars, run them correctly, if you want more upright bars, use upright bars. This is only my opinion- and since you asked- the upside down drops carry a very negative connotation to me.
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Old 02-11-14, 11:13 AM
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Yeah, you'll likely get little love here for the flipped bars... commonly referred to as "DUI bars". With that said, it's YOUR bike. If that configuration works for you, "sticks & stones", right? I accomplished a similar riding position on a similar bike ('84 LeTour Luxe) with a set of 3" low-risers. The upright position worked very well for me when I was dealing with some lower back issues. What's interesting is that since I was able to ride with no more discomfort I rode much more, and that helped my back. Now two of my current projects have drop bars.
My next hurdle will be the funny little shoes with the clips on the bottom...

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Old 02-11-14, 12:10 PM
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dmott,

Bonus points freely given. It is your bike and as such do what you want. Utility set up is right ! What are you going to be hauling?

I have love for the mid to late Schwinn bikes. Have a few and really enjoy them.

Enjoy yours !
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Old 02-11-14, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by dmott

i knew the bum bar hate is strong around here, but I was curious if mine would be a little more accepted.

i don't even get any bonus points for the $5 inline brake that I mounted backwards so I could run the cable under te tape?
Nope.

I don't mean to be rude or insensitive or in any way hurt your feelings or make you feel unwelcome.

Still looks like you lost your drivers license. Sorry.
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Old 02-11-14, 12:32 PM
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The only issue I can see with those bars is their width. You might find that with the front basket loaded down you need a wider bar for more leverage. Wald makes some cool cruiser bars if you find the need to change them.
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Old 02-11-14, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by dmott
Haha it's ok, im sitting in my truck dreading the drive back to my office (yes drive not ride haha).

thats answers my question which I asked in my post which somehow didn't make it, do people not like it just cause "that's not how you do it?" Or just cause the bum bar/ DUI bar thing? Golden boy seems to be in the DUI bar category.

I do think some nice upright style bars like I've seen on old Raleigh sports would be nicer, but this is purely just to keep it cheap and end up with a more upright position, especially since I found the used 23.8mm crosstop lever (24mm?) for $5.

and I have to say again that I don't think a person would flip them up and around, requiring moving the levers and removing and retaping if they were "forced to ride a bike."
Maybe Golden Boy is speaking from experience. I like the bars that way. But then i'm a bit of a fred. Next thing you know you'll be taking care to line up the tire label with the valve. It's a slippery slope.
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Old 02-11-14, 05:37 PM
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Yes, chrome plated. You may use WD-40 and #0000 steel wool to lightly shine those QR levers up.

Have you sufficiently lubed the chain and greased the bearings ?
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Old 02-12-14, 10:54 AM
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I personally don't think I would set my bike up that way, but I love improvisation. I think as long as it's safe to ride go for it. It looks fun -- I love the huge baskets. I do agree with likebike that you may end up wanting wider bars to help with wrestling the front end when you have an assload of beer in there.
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Old 02-12-14, 11:18 AM
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I definitely understand wanting to keep it cheap and budget. but a set of wald bars should cost you twenty bucks at your lbs...
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Old 02-12-14, 12:34 PM
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If I drank 24 beers while working on installing the front basket, two certainties would result:

(1) the basket would remain un- or only partially-installed, and

(2) I would be found unconscious beside the bike

Hopefully, I wouldn't be dead...

Also, I like the bike. It makes me happy.

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Old 02-12-14, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by dmott
The same shop that sold me some Wald ape-hangers for like $25 (I think) just got in a shipment last night with some Wald 867 bars that he is selling for $12.99. That is the exact style I wanted, I think it will look nice and should get the posture I want. The only negative is they are only 20" wide and my basket is 21" wide. I guess as long as I have enough leverage to control the bike, having the bars more narrow than the basket will be nice, knowing if the basket fits through, the bike and I will too.
Don't be too hard on yourself for having to learn by your mistakes... those are the lessons you'll remember most. As far as leverage/width concerns, you'll find that wrist angle & position are just as imortant as width. You'll have ALOT more leverage/stability with those Wald cruiser bars than you do with your current setup.
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Old 02-12-14, 02:46 PM
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I wouldn't recommend polishing the rims; the sides are the braking surface, and polishing just the spoke surface might look incomplete. You'll likely be surprised how well a bit of mineral spirits on a paper towel will work on the hubs and rims, however. Makes a huge difference in appearance. Works great for the brake calipers, too.
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Old 02-13-14, 12:20 AM
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I suggest using dropouts but other than that, great bike! I have an '88 Schwinn Sprint that has done me well since! You did not go wrong buying it!

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Old 02-13-14, 08:42 AM
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Lookin' good!
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Old 02-13-14, 09:39 AM
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Looks good. I would dramatically shorten stem shifter housings, that would eliminate a lot of the clutter. Invest in a good set of cable cutters. Heck, even the Nashbar/Spin Doctor cutters are pretty decent, and often go on sale.

Check out the Schwinn catalogs or pictures on the web for guidance.

$14.99 with free shipping:

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...59_-1___202376

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Old 02-13-14, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by wrk101
Looks good. I would dramatically shorten stem shifter housings, that would eliminate a lot of the clutter. Invest in a good set of cable cutters. Heck, even the Nashbar/Spin Doctor cutters are pretty decent, and often go on sale.

Check out the Schwinn catalogs or pictures on the web for guidance.

$14.99 with free shipping:

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...59_-1___202376
Sound advice from the master.
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Old 02-13-14, 09:55 AM
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That really does look LEAGUES better.

I don't mean to be picky, and I'm honestly not trying to be disrespectful or anything to you or your bike, I understand that you want to protect your housing from contact with other metal things- hence the electrical tape. If you feel you really need that, perhaps some black electrical tape would be less obtrusive?

I think you may be able to trim your housing so that you don't need any reinforcement of your housing.



I would like you to have a bike that is not only utilitarian, but also something you can be proud of. You have ALL the makings for it.

Best wishes.
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Old 02-13-14, 11:40 AM
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You have a good thing going on now. Schwinn Travelers were decent bikes and I think it will serve you well. Just buy some good cable cutters (like others have said) and clean up the cable mess. Good work!
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Old 02-13-14, 11:48 AM
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Can you see if a LBS would cut your housing for free? That way you have managable housing lengths, you may not need to have much of any basket contact.

Where do your cables run down your downtube?

I just did the "cross cable" thing on my bike- so the shifter for the FD crosses to the right hand cable stop, and then crosses over the other cable on the way down to the BB and on to the FD. The right shifter crosses to the left cable stop and crosses on the way to the BB then on to the RD.

That may make a gentle enough bend that you can not hit the basket.
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Old 02-13-14, 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by dmott
Im thinking good cutters is definitely what I need. I'm using cheap needlenose with the real small cutter, then filing by hand, which takes me a while. I think once I have good cutters I will shorten the shifter housings like you said. Thanks a lot.

edit: the shifter housings are original and they are cramped but worked, that's why they are too long in the first place. If I were to shorten I'm guessing I ould just get a new cable and housing.
Highly doubt it. While they may well be what was on there when you bought the bike, my guess is the former owner screwed them up. I've owned a lot of Schwinns from that era, including some with stem shifters. Cable housings were about 1/3 the length you have now.

As you can see from this link, the shift cables continued up towards the handlebars at approximately the same angle as the down tube, then they did about a 140 degree turn up to the shift levers. Yours dip down a lot towards the fork, creating a downward turn first, then they eventually loop up to the levers. No immediate rush job, its just one of those small details to keep in mind as you acquire some tools (or head to a co-op).

https://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...985Ltwt19.html
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Old 02-14-14, 09:39 AM
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Well I for one am sad to see this. It's never a good feeling to see someone cave to peer pressure. One more sheep in the wall. If I wasn't such a drop bar fanatic, I'd put them upright on mine just to be recalcitrant.
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Old 02-14-14, 12:35 PM
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It becomes a lot easier once you develop an overall foul taste for your native culture ^^
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Old 02-14-14, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by seedsbelize
It becomes a lot easier once you develop an overall foul taste for your native culture ^^
There's also a culture native to the bicycles commonly parked by liquor stores.

I'm all for making your ride comfortable and work to the best abilities for what you need. There's just far more reasons to not ride with drop bars flipped upside down than to ride with them that way.
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Old 02-14-14, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by dmott
Ok Im thinking I like the bikes where they have a painted line around the lugs of the frame. Are all of these from the factory like that? Or do some people use touchup paint or nail polish? Im thinking of doing either white or yello, or maybe a little of both if I can think of a nice way to do that.

Any suggestions? Just leave it? I would never paint the whole frame, but Im thinking just the little lines around the lugs would look nice.
Both, some people around here do their own lug pinstriping.. I'd suggest practice and a very fine brush.
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