vintage schwinn track racing bike
 

I have an old schwinn, (actually about 300 of them) this particular bike is a steel frame,26" wheels (steel), with a most unusual,(to me) front shifting setup. Instead of a cable and frame or bar mounted shifter, there is simply a bar (much like a "whammy bar on a guitar") rising up alongside the seat tube 8" or so. I call it a "bang" shift cause apparently you just sorta let your ankle hit hit when you must have the big ring, which I presume is only once per race cuz it aint preety to reach down and pull it out to drop back to the little ring. Its a heavy sucker

Hello Welcome to the forums. Thoise are refered to as "Sucide" Levers or shifters and were on bike in the 50s I think but Shwinn had one in the late '60 early '70s. They were called that because you had to reach down between your leggs and shift while pedaling. Can you post a few pics?

Does it look something like this?

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/a...Model_B072.jpg

need some pix

Pictures are a must.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around a "track racing bike" that's a "heavy sucker" with 26" wheels and two chainrings with a seat tube mounted changer lever.

No kidding, me too. Some pictures would be a great help in flexing our minds. OP, the description you have given is somewhat contradictory. I think pix are the only way we will be able to sort anything out here.

The only thing I can think of that even comes close is the 8-speed Varsity made for a couple of years in the early sixties. It has a seat tube mounted lever operated front changer, 26" wheels, and is a heavy sucker. A track racing bike it ain't. ;)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7.../61dlct05b.jpg

+ 1 by describtion the bike sounds like a early 60's Varsity. It could also be a Racer from about that time which was the model name not the type of bike. It definetly isn't a track bike or a racing bike it is a lower end sports model.