Schwinn Prologue
 

This weekend I was determined to get access to a new project. My current road bike is a 58cm frame and I wanted to try another vintage a little larger (out of personal preference), plus I wanted to piece together another bike - I'm an addict. I spotted this Schwinn Prologue frame (not the TT-Funnybike) last week on E-bay (Tange Prestige Tubing - Frame is referred to as Poor Man's Paramount). Frame weight from the old catalog showed a frame weight of approximately 5.9-lbs (not too bad for Steel, worth it for the ride experience). I've lined up another bike with some components for ~$350 shipped. My intention is to remove those components and build up this frame, and possibly resell the other frame (being vague as that transaction has not fully occurred just yet - in my opinion I'm getting it at a fair price, and should get my "new" road bike at almost no expense if the frame I'll be pulling components off of resells for what I think it might) - provided I don't get the urge to keep that bike full and in tact.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...1/DSCN0794.jpg

Last night the stars aligned and the owner of the other bike seems to be going forward, so I went ahead and put the winning bid on the Prologue Frame at the last 7 seconds. One thing I noticed was that the Prologue appears to be missing the seatpost skewer. I sent the seller a message asking if they had one for it available, if they do not - does anyone here have one? Also does anyone know the retail for what the frame originally sold for from Schwinn? Once I get the frame in I'll make some measurements on the Skewer. Seems there was a post somewhere from someone having difficulties locating one for theirs.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...1/DSCN0800.jpghttp://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...1/DSCN0801.jpghttp://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...1/DSCN0814.jpg

nice score. You should be able to find a seat binder bolt at your LBS.

I am looking at a Prologue frame at an LBS here - I have a lot of the same questions you do, so I'll be watching this thread.

Good looking frame.

I have this exact frame set up on my trainer. 58cm. It was my first race bike in 1988... actually my second - my Magenta/Yellow Centurion Ironman Expert frame was totalled by a car; this frame replaced it, and I gradually upgraded parts into the early '90's. It has a Campy Athena crank, and Shimano 600 6 speed freewheel/dt shifters most everything else, except a recent cheap rear derailleur (sora or exage, I can't recall).

Anyway, in 1988, my parents paid $475 for just the frame and fork. I think the Paramount was $650 at the time. The Prologue was a bit lighter and slightly flexier, at least by reputation. It was perfect for me back when I weighed 135 lbs! Still worked fine a decade and a half later when I ballooned up to 220, but the old wheels were trouble, even when I eventually dropped down to a reasonably fit weight. I still take it on the road every now and again, but its got a bit of rust from windtrainer duty, so I have to be careful.

I think you'll enjoy it: it's a great bike, esp. on bad roads. It makes some wonderful steel sounds and you are right to size it large; this type of bike works best when it's "rangy." Funny to see it next to my modern 54cm Madone, but when you look closely, the contact points line up pretty well.

Thanks for the info...
 

I know just the LBS to ask about the seat binder bolt (thanks for the proper name). I have a feeling though folks here (including myself) are going to be ill about dismantling the other bike (though I'll need to if I am to follow through with what I told my wife about making the money back), I'm just worried the other sale will have a snag in it. I'll give more details once more falls into place because I don't want someone else spotting the ad and offering more than I have, but should be able to give this frame the "royal" treatment if it goes through (fingers, toes, and eyes crossed). Hopefully the LBS they're going to in order to get some shipping advice, doesn't ask too many questions. I'm eager and drooling... and will cry if the sale for some reason doesn't go through. Some info I feel comfortable mentioning on the other vintage frame was it originally retailed for $1295 when it was new - sold without components, has top notch components, etc... and from what I can tell is rare as I can find several of it's more pricey cousin - just not it (probably only a one or two year model frame, with no real images or sales on google, CL, or ebay - outside of the images from their flyer, and they made frames of a higher end quality beyond the $1295 one). So you'll just have to sit tight until I feel comfortable divulging more on what I found.

Ok, got some photos of the donor bike in. It has a full set of Dura Ace 7400 - fairly used condition. It has 8 Speed Rear (which means if I put this component group on the Schwinn I would have to stretch the rear frame from 126mm to 130mm). Not sure if that would disappoint calling it the Royal Treatment or not - but a full set of Dura Ace is still a full set of Dura Ace.

Photos of the possible donor bike, Parts worth the $350? If you can identify what it is by these photos, I'll be amazed. And yeah it's got a missing spoke, cheap enough to fix.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y27.../Donor%20Bike/

Klein Criterium? I cheat.

That's a hell of a donor bike, if so. I bet you'll like the Prologue, particularly when it gets all gussied up.

Aye, ain't she a bute... going to have to wait till she gets here to determine which I want to keep... I got to get rid of something though. Oh and the Prologue seller's tossing in a seat binder after all (saves me a trip to the LBS). Went ahead and moved the last pics of it over to my photobucket. Go ahead and flog me, call me nasty names, about how dare I take apart a beauty to build a beast. I'll see if she's in my size first before I do anything detrimental. After getting the better pics, was surprised she didn't have the internal cable routing in her like Klein's are so famous for.

That Prologue is hot stuff. I'm not a fan of the Klein really, so I think your plan is good.

My main training bike uses the same frame but in the grey/black version. It's currently outfitted with Neuvation Cycling wheels, Ultegra and FSA Gossamer parts. Super awesome ride.

I also recently bought another frame in red/white as a "spare". Look for my "weight weenie comparo" thread for the weight of a 52/54cm Prologue frameset.

The seat post skewer is a regular thing so you should be able to get a replacement easily.

The thing about these old Prologues is that they are rare but underrated so you can get them cheap(er).

The downside is that Schwinn is now marketing cheap Prologues. Which destroys the Prologue brand and heritage, IMHO.


Ben

I was also disappointed to see that they've also appropriated "Circuit", "Volare", and "Paramount" too as well as "World", "Traveller", etc. I think its lame, but it doesn't really destroy the brand or heritage because A) Schwinn is now Schwinn in name only and B) they made no attempt to keep the spirit, geometry, or even color schemes harmonious.

What really annoys me is now finding these amazing and overlooked bikes (Prologue, Circuit, et al) is much more difficult on eBay and Craigslist without a million new crap nuevo-Schwinns coming up.

Its a beauty! :love:

The money is in the Klein regardless of Schwinns current or past marketing.

I've had both and both are fine riding bicycles.

Knowing myself, I'll fall madly in love with both of them :love: - retain the Klein in original condition, build a bike storage addition onto the house, :crash: then work on getting some components to build up the Prologue. :innocent: ...then feign any knowledge of ever saying I was going to sell off what I didn't want... get the evil eye from the wife... :notamused: then coming back home with a house, kids, and no bicycles... :cry:

Though at the moment my wife is quite pleased... has not lifted a finger and I've done at least 8-10 loads of laundry, including all the folding, hanging up, and putting away... and washed and put away one set of dishes (by and large it was the laundry that had become too much to bear - as we've got a newborn eating into all her time, so the laundry at present has got my focus). I love bikes, love working on them, love riding them - so it's a great motivational tool to get me to do other things. But yes my original thought was get the Schwinn, get the components (spotted the Klein), and spent more on the frame than I would have if I had not of found the Klein (because I was getting the components cheaper on a bike than not on a bike). Overall though, I hope everything goes through on the Klein - they are still leaning towards finding a local buyer (I really hope they don't, because I really want to make use of it). If I must take it apart, I'll at least get it in good running condition beforehand and take a bunch of pictures (the bike deserves that much, and I would hate missing out on being able to experience the ride). I have a strong suspicion the Klein will become the main ride (because after riding the 58cm Volare, I'd like a more racing prone position like riding a race horse - even if I have to tiptoe up to it). I may be overshooting this position with a 62cm frame though, where the 60cm Prologue is the more perfect fit. Who knows though, the 62cm frame may be just want I want in a bike? ... and yes I'm addicted to bikes, but at least there are other things out there that are far worse of which to to be an addict.

The awful part is I'm in the "sit" and "wait" mode right now. Cannot do anything till the frame gets here, or until the decision gets made on if they'll be able/want to ship the bike. *sigh* when I retire, I want to volunteer at the local bike shop.

:notamused: Grumph :notamused: Grumph :notamused: Grumph
:( Prologue makes a real nice wall ornament... afraid it's going to be there a while. :rolleyes:
:eek: I messed up and underestimated the power of the dark side. :innocent:
:cry: KLEIN rides better than even my Volare... though I need to be careful... as it's quickly becoming the Alpha bike in my pack at a time when I need to start thinning the herd.

I think I'll start a new thread for the KLEIN, it deserves it's own as there is little information out there on the Criterium - I might as well contribute because this bike absolutely demands respect.

P.S. Sorry for all the dead photobuckets on the Prologue frame, the seller removed them all and I've not taken any photos of it yet (shall be a while).

9-mo has passed and after hitting a thrift store this past week and for only $30 I picked up a Ladies Campania that has a mix of early Shimano Dura Ace and Suntour GT components. The big thing about the bike is the 126mm spacing in the rear dropouts = CaCHING! components for my Prologue!!! The Campania has oddly enough CENTER-PULL Dura Ace brakes (like these: http://velobase.com/ListComponentGal...2-9bdbb110831f ).

The only thing standing in my way is my wife not knowing it's parked in the shed where I store the lawnmower (she wants me to get rid of a bunch of bikes). The Campania will have to go once I'm done stripping it of components. Looks like a decent ladies bike frame and has the plus of being made in Japan. So Happy! Also been working on motorizing a '96 Schwinn Cruiser Classic, <3'ing that motor kit, hating the tensioner (ripped out 2 12G spokes at the brass nut, bent a third spoke).

Need to set some priorities on my bikes though, keepers vs don't cares.

Keepers: 1977 Volare, 1987 Prologue, Klein Criterium, 1973 Schwinn Twinn Tandem Deluxe, 1996 Schwinn Cruiser Classic - Motorized, 19X9 Schwinn World Tourist, 2 - Mongoose Mountain Bikes, 1937 Elgin Mercury, Adult Banana Seat Bike, Peugeot Folding Bike, ...an oddly named frame to motorize (good dimensions)
Which means semi-non-keepers (but things I would like to keep) are: 1981 Ladies Schwinn Varsity, Ladies Mixte Motobecane, ...junk frameset with some components, 1961 Schwinn Lightliner, can probably go... though I would like to keep the varsity - rides smooth, mixte - just cool, junk frame - has spare brakes, etc, and lightliner - cool project to finish.

Sigh I want to keep them all, guess there really is no such thing as a don't care (even think that one I am going to strip the parts off of would be a good wall decoration, has front chromed lugs). Does the addiction ever end?

See these two posts.

is this a lady's or a Mixtie? if the latter what size is it?

Sorry Bianchi, the Campania is just a ladies frame. The Prologue project is on hold again. Will create a new page on the Campania and take some photos of it sometime (need to document my bikes a wee bit more, if nothing else to share the history/photos/intrigue).