My new (old) Free Spirit
01-15-08, 07:07 PM
#1
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My new (old) Free Spirit
This is a Free Spirit 10 speed that I found in somebody's garbage today. I plan to have it working by spring.
Among other things, it needs new cables, a seat and lots of oil. When I found it, it was clear that it had not been used in awhile as there was a dead grapevine on the front wheel.
I was wondering, does anyone on this site currently own or have ever owned one of these? Any guesses as to what year it was made?
Among other things, it needs new cables, a seat and lots of oil. When I found it, it was clear that it had not been used in awhile as there was a dead grapevine on the front wheel.
I was wondering, does anyone on this site currently own or have ever owned one of these? Any guesses as to what year it was made?
01-15-08, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Old Fat Guy
Sorry, put $75 parts and $100 labor into it and you'll have a $25 bike.
There's a reason it was in the trash.
There's a reason it was in the trash.
What a friendly comment...
01-15-08, 07:46 PM
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I see... 
01-15-08, 07:51 PM
#6
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If I could find my old Free Spirit...a burgundy '73 or '74, I would surely snap it up and restore it....if for no other reason than it was my 1st 10-speed.....we couldn't afford a Schwinn back then....
I rode my F/S on quite a few 20-25 milers back then....I thought it was a good rider back then.
I rode my F/S on quite a few 20-25 milers back then....I thought it was a good rider back then.
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I own my dream bike, a 2006 R-14 66cm Waterford road bike
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01-15-08, 08:02 PM
#7
feros ferio
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Years ago I paid $10 for a yellow Free Spirit of approximately the same quality and vintage. It was by far the worst bicycle I have ever owned, heavy and unresponsive, but it was very handy for general transportation. When it was stolen from the rack outside my workplace I was not overly saddened.
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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
01-15-08, 08:12 PM
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Non Tribuo Anus Rodentum and off to the next adventure (RIP)
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I'm agreeing with OFG... Salvage off the brake calipers & hangers. Find a nice frame to put them on.
If it were for a lesson bike maybe but I'm seeing it's not a first bike. Correct?
If it were for a lesson bike maybe but I'm seeing it's not a first bike. Correct?
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01-15-08, 08:13 PM
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Mine is apperently a re-badged Styer Clubman, made in Austria.
Still probably kind of a Pig, but I liked the Ted Williams badge.
Still probably kind of a Pig, but I liked the Ted Williams badge.
01-15-08, 08:15 PM
#10
feros ferio
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Originally Posted by redneckwes
Mine is apparently a re-badged Steyr Clubman, made in Austria.
Still probably kind of a Pig, but I liked the Ted Williams badge. ...
Still probably kind of a Pig, but I liked the Ted Williams badge. ...
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"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
01-15-08, 08:16 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by Stacey
I'm agreeing with OFG... Salvage off the brake calipers & hangers. Find a nice frame to put them on.
If it were for a lesson bike maybe but I'm seeing it's not a first bike. Correct?
If it were for a lesson bike maybe but I'm seeing it's not a first bike. Correct?
I stay low budget.
Last edited by FreeSpirit10; 01-15-08 at 08:31 PM.
01-15-08, 08:23 PM
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Consider this your "gateway drug" into the dangerous and wallet-slimming world of vintage bikes. I started with a Huffy 3-speed of the same era and now I've got Shimano 600 and Chorus parts laying all over the apartment. Run before it's too late!
I was the "low-budget" type...but I've since discovered, with few exceptions, your enthusiasm for riding is proportional to the quality of your bike.
I was the "low-budget" type...but I've since discovered, with few exceptions, your enthusiasm for riding is proportional to the quality of your bike.
Last edited by Yogurt; 01-15-08 at 08:28 PM.
01-15-08, 08:25 PM
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Hey Free spirit if you like it get it up and running and ride the crap out of it. The reason we do this stuff is cause its FUN and its supposed to stay FUN if it isn't FUN then why mess around with it? We all have different ideas about bikes and one mans junk is another mans treasure. Ya don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get the enjoyment out of two wheels.
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(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
(Life is too short to play crappy guitars) 2006 Raleigh Cadent 3.0, 1977 Schwinn Volare, 2010 Windsor tourist. ( I didn't fall , I attacked the floor)
01-15-08, 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Yogurt
Consider this your "gateway drug" into the dangerous and wallet-slimming world of vintage bikes. I started with a Huffy 3-speed of the same era and now I've got Shimano 600 and Chorus parts laying all over the apartment. Run before it's too late!
Can I have an aaaaamen?
If I knew then what I know now....
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I own my dream bike, a 2006 R-14 66cm Waterford road bike
I own my dream bike, a 2006 R-14 66cm Waterford road bike
01-15-08, 08:29 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by stringbreaker
Hey Free spirit if you like it get it up and running and ride the crap out of it. The reason we do this stuff is cause its FUN and its supposed to stay FUN if it isn't FUN then why mess around with it? We all have different ideas about bikes and one mans junk is another mans treasure. Ya don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get the enjoyment out of two wheels.
And I'll probably keep thinking like that until I get some cash. Call me an optimist.
01-15-08, 08:35 PM
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Clean it up, make it safe, ride the heck out of it.
Then you can make the garage sale circut looking for your second vintage Bike
Then you can make the garage sale circut looking for your second vintage Bike
01-15-08, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by FreeSpirit10
I see...
no, you dont see!!
There aint nothin wrong with that old 'free spirit'. The nay sayers have let their wallets influence the memory of their youth, thats all
I had a black 'Free Spirit' I bought in 1982. Loved that bike. It was beautiful.
~ Ride on with yo bad self.
01-15-08, 08:52 PM
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hi
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I picked up a 3-speed Free Spirit this past summer and cleaned it up for my Aunt to use.
I was sincerely impressed with the bike. The paint was the best of any bike I had brought home, the steel was lugged, and it shifted flawlessly. Not to mention, the ride was soooooo nice.
They did have some good products to offer
I was sincerely impressed with the bike. The paint was the best of any bike I had brought home, the steel was lugged, and it shifted flawlessly. Not to mention, the ride was soooooo nice.
They did have some good products to offer
01-15-08, 08:56 PM
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I'm seeing quite the conflict of opinions here. I'll decide for myself when I get it working.
01-15-08, 09:03 PM
#20
Uber Goober
I've got a 3-speed Free Spirit bike in the garage that I haven't figured out what to do with it.
It needs new tires and new brake pads...that's probably $30 or so. (Walmart doesn't carry the oddball 1-3/8x26 tires). I paid $15 for it. Too small of a frame for me to ride...so what to do with it?
As best I can tell the frame is not lugged on it- the tubes just butt into the other tube, and I"m not actually sure how it was made. It's still in one piece so whatever they did must have worked.
It needs new tires and new brake pads...that's probably $30 or so. (Walmart doesn't carry the oddball 1-3/8x26 tires). I paid $15 for it. Too small of a frame for me to ride...so what to do with it?
As best I can tell the frame is not lugged on it- the tubes just butt into the other tube, and I"m not actually sure how it was made. It's still in one piece so whatever they did must have worked.
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01-15-08, 09:19 PM
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01-15-08, 09:20 PM
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I won't even take a Free Spirit for free. I did buy one once (well my wife did) but it had brand new tires and was $5.00. The rest ended up on Redxj's scrap trailer.
I have better uses for my time, and I work on some real crap.
If you want to put into riding shape, bless you, but there are much better bikes in the trash heaps of america, believe me.
An old Varsity would be a better rider than that. Strip it and take the frame to the scrap yard, you might even find something nicer while you're there.
Yep, I'm a bit harsh.
I have better uses for my time, and I work on some real crap.
If you want to put into riding shape, bless you, but there are much better bikes in the trash heaps of america, believe me.
An old Varsity would be a better rider than that. Strip it and take the frame to the scrap yard, you might even find something nicer while you're there.
Yep, I'm a bit harsh.
01-15-08, 09:41 PM
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If I were you.........
I would scrounge another free bike and swap the bits as needed.
There are ways to get that bike up and moving for nothing. I found a free Sekine a month ago.
I would scrounge another free bike and swap the bits as needed.
There are ways to get that bike up and moving for nothing. I found a free Sekine a month ago.
01-15-08, 10:40 PM
#25
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Looks like a fun project bike to me. If I had it I'd clean it up a bit find a 50cent seat and show the person who threw it away what was underneath the rust. I see fenders and think hmm rainbike.
