Newly acquired Schwinn World Sport - What year?
08-18-09, 07:24 AM
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Newly acquired Schwinn World Sport - What year?
I just acquired a Schwinn World Sport from craigslist (a birthday gift for my boyfriend, who wants to start riding with me and our local cycling group around the city). It won't be much of a surprise gift, because I had to have him there in order to make sure it fit, but I'll spruce it up with some new bar tape and a new saddle, so it will look a little different when I actually give it to him.
I think I've paid too much for it. But it's done, so there's not much point in crying over it, now. I'd rather have gotten him something newer, lighter, and more for racing.... but he needs a small frame size (50 cm), so I was kind of limited, in terms of Philadelphia CL bikes. And the better ones I've been calling on for the last week seem to disappear faster than I can find them.
This bike is a 12-speed with 4130 chromoly main tubes. The 4-digit number from the head-badge is 1764, number from rear dropout is 4404171.
I've spent some time looking around online, and at first I thought this bike might be from 1981.... but someone somewhere else said they didn't start using chromoly on the World Sport line until mid-80s.
I'm curious about what year it might have been made and what you folks think of these bikes.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Also, the brakes work, but the front brake sticks. I'm having a tough time trying to tell if it's in the caliper or the lever, since the caliper is a little crooked and moves off-center when I squeeze it with my hand. Since I've already spent too much for it, I don't want to have to spend more at the LBS for a simple repair, if I can do it myself. But I want him to be safe.... so..... any advice?
Thanks!
I think I've paid too much for it. But it's done, so there's not much point in crying over it, now. I'd rather have gotten him something newer, lighter, and more for racing.... but he needs a small frame size (50 cm), so I was kind of limited, in terms of Philadelphia CL bikes. And the better ones I've been calling on for the last week seem to disappear faster than I can find them.
This bike is a 12-speed with 4130 chromoly main tubes. The 4-digit number from the head-badge is 1764, number from rear dropout is 4404171.
I've spent some time looking around online, and at first I thought this bike might be from 1981.... but someone somewhere else said they didn't start using chromoly on the World Sport line until mid-80s.
I'm curious about what year it might have been made and what you folks think of these bikes.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Also, the brakes work, but the front brake sticks. I'm having a tough time trying to tell if it's in the caliper or the lever, since the caliper is a little crooked and moves off-center when I squeeze it with my hand. Since I've already spent too much for it, I don't want to have to spend more at the LBS for a simple repair, if I can do it myself. But I want him to be safe.... so..... any advice?
Thanks!
08-18-09, 07:37 AM
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I believe it is 1984, 176th day of 1984, hence the 1764. Rear dropout serial number is from Giant, who made the bike for Schwinn.
Do a search, this is a really common bike, there are catalogs on line if you wish. Be sure to sort by relevance, otherwise the search function on this site is worthless.
Brake work starts with having good cables and housings, then properly center the brake. Go to the mechanics forum and look at the section on the top "NEW POSTERS READ THIS" and also the Sheldon Brown shortcuts. They will explain maintenance in detail.
Small frame adult bikes are hard to find and you will usually pay a premium for them. I had a 1984 World Sport with a 19 inch frame earlier this year myself. Decent bike, but on the heavy side.
Do a search, this is a really common bike, there are catalogs on line if you wish. Be sure to sort by relevance, otherwise the search function on this site is worthless.
Brake work starts with having good cables and housings, then properly center the brake. Go to the mechanics forum and look at the section on the top "NEW POSTERS READ THIS" and also the Sheldon Brown shortcuts. They will explain maintenance in detail.
Small frame adult bikes are hard to find and you will usually pay a premium for them. I had a 1984 World Sport with a 19 inch frame earlier this year myself. Decent bike, but on the heavy side.
08-18-09, 11:16 AM
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Wow, thanks man! This bike look exactly like the one I got (only the decals are a little faded/chipped on the one I got). I was gonna just use yellow bar tape - but I really like the look of the black/yellow.... very nice!
I didn't really know how to check the cables and housings, so I will do a little more research - try and troubleshoot it myself, using my repair book/Sheldon Brown/other webernetz resources - and if i need to take it to the LBS, I will.
Thanks for your help!
I didn't really know how to check the cables and housings, so I will do a little more research - try and troubleshoot it myself, using my repair book/Sheldon Brown/other webernetz resources - and if i need to take it to the LBS, I will.
Thanks for your help!
08-18-09, 06:19 PM
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OK. I have more questions.....little details about wrapping the bars and covering the brake levers with rubber hoods, for comfort.
I plan to wrap the handlebars. Right now there are squishy foam handlebar covers on it, and aside from being squishy and having a horrible texture, they are ugly. Also, it seems like there is an excessive amount of brake cable cluttering up the front and I want to wrap the brake cables up in the bar tape. I think they'd really get in the way if one were to ride in the drops.
But the cable housing seems really thick and heavy-duty. Will it be ok to just wrap it up? Do I need to make any special considerations when I wrap the cables up in the bar tape (other than the obvious - make sure the handlebars can turn fully).
I also want to stop by the bike shop tomorrow to ask about getting hoods to place over the metal brake levers. I'd like it to be a fairly comfortable ride, and I personally find it most comfortable to ride on the hoods.....but will I sound like an idiot, asking for rubber hoods for a 25 year old Schwinn? Is that going to be weird? To have hoods on brakes that have extension levers on them? Could I just cut away the hoods so they don't interfere with the action of the extension levers?
Maybe I should just get my boyfriend some gloves to wear for long rides.....
Anyway, here are some pics of it (I can't seem to post pics, so here are links):
Full side view
Brake lever view
heavy-duty-looking brake cable housing
I plan to wrap the handlebars. Right now there are squishy foam handlebar covers on it, and aside from being squishy and having a horrible texture, they are ugly. Also, it seems like there is an excessive amount of brake cable cluttering up the front and I want to wrap the brake cables up in the bar tape. I think they'd really get in the way if one were to ride in the drops.
But the cable housing seems really thick and heavy-duty. Will it be ok to just wrap it up? Do I need to make any special considerations when I wrap the cables up in the bar tape (other than the obvious - make sure the handlebars can turn fully).
I also want to stop by the bike shop tomorrow to ask about getting hoods to place over the metal brake levers. I'd like it to be a fairly comfortable ride, and I personally find it most comfortable to ride on the hoods.....but will I sound like an idiot, asking for rubber hoods for a 25 year old Schwinn? Is that going to be weird? To have hoods on brakes that have extension levers on them? Could I just cut away the hoods so they don't interfere with the action of the extension levers?
Maybe I should just get my boyfriend some gloves to wear for long rides.....
Anyway, here are some pics of it (I can't seem to post pics, so here are links):
Full side view
Brake lever view
heavy-duty-looking brake cable housing
08-18-09, 06:58 PM
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To do all of the things you want you need to get some aero brake levers. Decent ones can be had for fairly cheap. What you have on that bike are non-aero which basically means the brake cable comes out of the top and can't be wrapped under the tape. The horizontal brake lever bars pretty much exclude you from using hoods. Even if you take them off you will not be able to find any that work.. Honestly IMO switching to aero levers is a great move all around. I think these are fairly good and are only $20 for the pair. You should probably be able to get them in at a local LBS for not too much more than that (or just order them online).
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=402889
https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=402889
