Another Saturday, another Prelude..and this one's my size! (picture heavy)
 

but it's pink...and I still love it!!!

Some of you may have seen in the catch of the day thread last Saturday I found a neglected Prelude behind the LBS and dragged it home. Well this Saturday I found a MINT condition pink one on CL with no pictures posted late at night and immediately emailed the seller that I would show up in 20 minutes with 50% more than his asking price in hand. I got a call back a few minutes later that he had 20 emails but only one offering more than his asking price :innocent:

The only scratches I've found are from the kick stand mounting. :twitchy:I have a few questions, but I will post those under the pics b/c I know that's what you really want to see anyway.

Here she is...
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0298.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0299.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0300.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0301.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0302.jpg
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0305.jpg
Here it is with my girlfriend's pink Raleigh.
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0303.jpg
Here is last week's Prelude for those of you who missed it.
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/IMG_0313.jpg


OK questions:
1) Are the turkey levers original?
2) Any good way to clean the San Marco saddle?
3) Can I get away with riding a pink?

"1) Are the turkey levers original?"

No. (This is an '87 btw)

"2) Any good way to clean the San Marco saddle?"

You can use suede leather cleaner and let it dry, but after you ride it for a couple of hours, it will look just like this, so you might as well let it be

"3) Can I get away with riding a pink?"

You are the only person that can answer this question...

here is the catalog page

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...90/1987_06.jpg

Congrats 4Rings6Stars - that thing is really pristine!

... So what's your answer to question 3?

I rode it a few miles this evening and it feels amazing. I have been looking for this exact bike, though not necessarily in pink, and this is exactly my size. I'm comfortable with my sexuality and I'm going to ride the heck out of it!

Today's ride was only the 3rd or 4th time this thing has ever seen the pavement. I spoke to the original owner for a long time last night when I picked it up and she said she rode it two or three times when it was new and then hung it up in the garage. Every single one of the spokes and the headset was loose enough to spin by hand when I got to it...how does that happen from sitting untouched for 20 years?

One more question, that I think E might be able to answer but others please chime in.

What is the Tenax tubing? Is it simply SL or something similar rebadged for Schwinn or is it lower end? I know I could probably search and find the answers...but it's more fun to hear it from you guys.

great 2nd bike for your gf.

Tenax was either SL or SP, or a mix, based on the size. In that size (21 inch?) it would almost have to be SL. Schwinn in marketing guides and advertisements described Tenax as "Consumer grade SL or SP tubing". In the Prelude, main triangle only and Schwinn only knows what the stays are, but the fork is Tange (hi-ten unlike the Tempo) and I suspect that the stays are Tange as well, but listed as simply 'cromoly'.

About it's pinkness... I ride my magenta and white '87 Super Sport regularly and have no issue with it. Only thing is that my 15 year old daughter decided to have dibs on it :)

There's one here for $225, mint condition. I'm considering it.

Robbie,
go for a test ride and I bet that you will disown the Centurions for ever :) Forgive the components though...

I really like the Tenax Schwinns. I have had two Preludes, and one Tempo in the last year.

Here is another view on pink. It is a gray Prelude, with all pink accents (OK, everything but the pink bartape came with the bike). I sold it to a woman by the way. 19 inch frame. I also have it's larger cousin. The 19 inch bike was in superb condition.

Are you man enough to add pink bottle cages and pink toe clip straps?


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2749/...12738e8c_o.jpg


And here is the other 1986 Prelude, with an XL 25 inch frame size:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/...9a0334b7_o.jpg

I read the Prelude's fork is Tange Mangalloy. At least in the '86 version.

Tange Hi-tensile steel, according to the catalog scans. Stays were generic cromoly. Schwinn Madison had the Tange Mangalloy fork.

The Prelude was a step down from the Tempo, and weighed in two pounds heavier (per catalog).

The 1987 had a Tange hi-tensile steel fork as well. 1987 had desirable 700c wheels, while the 1986 had 27 inch wheels. The 1986 had Suntour Cyclone friction components, the 1987 had Shimano indexed components.

http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1...986Ltwt30.html

I stand corrected, it's interested though...my 86 Prelude came with 700C wheels, SR "sealed mech" hubs and Shimano Light Action SIS 6-spd RD and Shimano SIS shifters. The FD was still Cyclone II though. Everything else matches the catalog entries.