Austrian Free Spirit
#1
Thread Starter
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From: by a big river
Austrian Free Spirit
Shimano Swallow components. I didn't see any tubing stickers. I have a feeling I know the answer but I'll ask anyway. Is it worth getting? I have a few bikes already but am always on the lookout. So I put it to you O wise knowers of all things old and funky, is this a boat anchor? It has internal rear brake cable routing which I thought was kinda cool.
#2
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Bikes: 2018 Breezer Greenway, 2011 Raleigh International, 3 - '73 World Voyageurs, Trek 700
Oh no! Leave it. It is a piece of crap.
Where is it?? Maybe to be safe I should check it out for you.
Where is it?? Maybe to be safe I should check it out for you.
__________________
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Bikes: 2018 Breezer Greenway, 2011 Raleigh International, 3 - '73 World Voyageurs, Trek 700
That's not the model I thought you were talking about. This one looks to be better than most Free Spirits, but only worth getting if you see yourself spending a lot of time riding it.
__________________
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2002
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From: by a big river
I was thinking of singlespeeding it. One of the reasons it caught my eye (other than being Austrian) was the internal cable routing for the rear brake. What scares me is that the rear brake bridge seems to be just a flat piece of metal and I think the rear dropouts are just crimped in the stays. I thought I remembered people saying the Austrian ones were good. I know it's not the 531 model. If it was I would already be happily involved in rebuilding it. So is it good or bad? I know nothing of Austrian bikes. I certainly don't need another bike as I already have 3 nice ones and 2 mediocres. If I understand correctly, you're saying it's a step up from Huffy but nothing special. Right?
#6
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Bikes: 2018 Breezer Greenway, 2011 Raleigh International, 3 - '73 World Voyageurs, Trek 700
That's my opinion, nothing special. I would hold off if I was you.
__________________
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
2018 Breezer Greenway
2011 Raleigh International
'73 World Voyageurs -
Proud owner of all three colors made! Orange, Blue , Yellow .
#8
feros ferio

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 22,397
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From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
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;
Even though I am strongly biased in favor of Austrian bikes
, Governor Schwarzenegger would be embarrassed by this specimen. I care for neither the frame nor the crankset nor the shifters nor the hubs nor the saddle nor the pedals nor the fork of that Free Spirit. The centerpull brakes would not be too bad, if their reach were not so long.
-- I ride a REAL Austrian road bike.
, Governor Schwarzenegger would be embarrassed by this specimen. I care for neither the frame nor the crankset nor the shifters nor the hubs nor the saddle nor the pedals nor the fork of that Free Spirit. The centerpull brakes would not be too bad, if their reach were not so long. -- I ride a REAL Austrian road bike.
__________________
"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
#9
Index, Schmindex!

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 83
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From: On the border between the Space and Treasure Coasts of FLA.
Bikes: Schwinn WorldSport, Takara,
I have one of these. Bought it at a yard sale and fixed it up for my son. Two notches above the typical Free Spirit, probably a notch above a Varsity or Continental. A low end frame dressed up with alloy components.
The fork on the one you have pictured looks like flat steel, vs. a convetional fork on mine. Brakes look different too. Dia Compes on my example, Shimano Tourney GS derailer too.
The fork on the one you have pictured looks like flat steel, vs. a convetional fork on mine. Brakes look different too. Dia Compes on my example, Shimano Tourney GS derailer too.





