Free Spirit 10spd - 27" Wheels!
07-15-06, 10:39 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Free Spirit 10spd - 27" Wheels!
Ok, I have a Sears Free Spirit that I have figured out is a 1978 (99% sure judging by numbers found on the frame and brakes.) Anyway, it is a 10spd, 27" wheels and has a shimano skylark derailleur in the rear and a thunderbird II in the front. This seems way more high end than the 3spd free spirits I always hear about. Is it rare? Good? I don't really care too much because regardless it has a nice enough frame that I don't mind putting a few bucks into it to upgrade it. I bought some nice brakes for $25 on eBay (shipping included) so I can ditch the old crappers.
07-15-06, 11:57 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,238
Bikes: bunch of junk
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Sounds like a normal "bike boom" bicycle. Even with the new brakes, if you have steel rims, it will not stop that good.
07-15-06, 12:04 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm not worried about stopping power. This was my first 10spd bike, I got it 11 years ago and the brakes were ample then. The biggest reason I wanted the upgrade was due to the old brakes having brake drag no matter how I adjusted them...stupid side pullers.
07-15-06, 12:31 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-16-06, 06:11 PM
#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,798
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,326 Times
in
837 Posts
You are lucky. My early 1970s Free Spirit, a $10 yard sale "treasure," had 26" rims. Fortunately, someone stole it. 
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
07-16-06, 06:16 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by John E
You are lucky. My early 1970s Free Spirit, a $10 yard sale "treasure," had 26" rims. Fortunately, someone stole it.
07-17-06, 07:13 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 3,682
Bikes: Puch Marco Polo, Saint Tropez, Masi Gran Criterium
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1163 Post(s)
Liked 442 Times
in
315 Posts
How do you intend to mount those calipers? I would imagine that they will have short brake bolts with recessed mounting nuts. If you want them to work you'll need to drill out the frame.
07-17-06, 09:02 AM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll post how it goes if you want, I'll be doing them today or tomorrow as soon as I find time.
07-17-06, 11:18 AM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 116
Bikes: 2005 Giant Rincon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by masi61
How do you intend to mount those calipers? I would imagine that they will have short brake bolts with recessed mounting nuts. If you want them to work you'll need to drill out the frame.
