Originally Posted by
Zaphod Beeblebrox
If you ditch the One Piece Crankset and the Schwinn Approved derailleurs you can shave quite a bit of weight off. I built a '72 for my old man and its a great rider. Its definitely no featherweight but it is fun to ride and its lighter than a varsity (which doesn't say much I know) but still heavier than something like a Super Course.
Oh, I don't know, but I don't really believe it.
With the crank, I don't see how a single Z-shaped piece of steel, like 3/4" thick or less, that seamlessly integrates both crank arms and the spindle, can weigh that much more than two much thicker pieces of aluminum and steel bolts attaching them to a steel spindle. The excessive weight must come from somewhere else, like the massive chromed steel chain rings and bash guard. Can they be replaced with aluminum?
As for the derailleur... In my experience the main problem with a Huret Alvit derailleur is that it's a terrible derailleur; sure it's heavy, but that's beside the point. Almost anything else would shift better.
By the way, Pars said 34 lbs. Coincidentally, that's exactly what my '40 New World weighs, with its fillet brazed frame ("Finest Steel Tubing") and chromed steel everything else. I don't think there's a scrap of aluminum on that bike anywhere. The Sports Tourer just
has to weigh less.