Originally Posted by
Velo Mule
That bike looks good and should come out looking great with the chrome fork and good paint. I am surprised to hear that Schwinn put steel wheels on a LeTour. I don't remember them ever having steel rims but, I could be wrong. Then the other interesting thing in that era is was it made in Japan or Mississippi? If the head banged is Schwinn - Chicago, then it is likely to be Mississippi. If it is Schwinn Approved then - Japan.
By the way the real reason that I commented [MENTION=466774]sovende[/MENTION] is because I like you frame holding fixture for your Workmate. It is simple but effective. I may copy it. I particularly like the axle with the wingnuts.
I have to admit that using my DIY frame holding fixture in my WorkMate is/was an afterthought. Its original purpose was to allow for transporting a bike in the back of our minivan while taking up minimal space. With the wheels and pedals removed, I’d loosen the stem quill and handlebar bolts so I could rotate the stem 90 deg and turn the handlebar down “into” the frame making for a fairly narrow package. The stubby support beneath the bottom bracket kept the rear derailleur elevated and protected from vertical stress while keeping the chain off the floor of the van.
I’m thinking of some changes that might make it more versatile. The bottom bracket support could be “pegged” and the long bottom board drilled with several pairs of holes (matching the pegs) to allow for different frame sizes / wheel bases. RE: the wing nuts, that was pure chance that I had a pair in a “junk” box. Of course, a hollow axle and a QR skewer would be easy to come by and be more elegant. I do have to narrow the segment of 2x4 above the axle (or even remove it) as it is in the way with narrow forks.