Originally Posted by
BobbyG
That would make an excellent commuter! Google says its a 15lb CroMolly steel frame with a 3x7 gearing. I'd get the hubs and bottom bracket cleaned, and repacked, clean and lube the drive train and put on some 700x35 or 36 slicks for the street, and toe clips and see if that doesn't speed things up a bit. Then I'd see about rotating the handle bars forward and lowering them to get a little more aero position (rotating the brake levers and shifters the opposite way to maintain a comfortable grip.
I live in the Olympic training city of Colorado Springs and we have some serious cyclists running the streets. I'm never going to catch up with them, but that's okay, I'm too busy enjoying myself.
No, that bike does not have a 15 lb CrMo frame. That's too heavy by at least 10 lbs. Frame and fork is likely in the 7 to 8 lb range. The Schwinn Crisscross is a heavy bike to be sure but not
that heavy.
Originally Posted by
rydabent
Dont be put off by the "real cyclist" that think you need a $10,000 bike and a $500 kit to ride. Many have more money than they have common sense.
On the other end of the scale, you shouldn't be put off by the "real cyclist" who thinks you only need to ride a $10 bike that is bought at a garage sale and should only wear overalls when you ride. "Purity" on either end of the spectrum isn't healthy. Where do you think those $10 bikes are going to come from in the future if no one buys the fancy bikes.
Originally Posted by
ShadowKhaN
I was lucky enough to find the bike at a shop ran by a man that seems to be extremely competent and experienced at working on bikes. The bike feels brand new!
There is nothing wrong with riding a bike like your Crisscross but there is also nothing wrong with riding more expensive bikes. Whatever floats your boat. But realize that people buying new bikes (and other items) is what drives industry. If everyone just used the same bike for 40 years, no one will make new bikes or parts for old bikes and the whole industry will die. It's currently on the ropes anyway.
Ask yourself, would you use a camera from 1984? Would you use a computer from 1995? Could you carry around a cell phone from 1973? Could you stream videos on a cell phone from 2005? That's the equivalent of riding 40 year old bikes. There's nothing wrong with wanting, or using, new equipment. You can go over the top but someone has to buy the garage sale bikes of 2057.