Slodad

I bought it used in early '90s. Frame says Columbus Tenax and it has Shimano 600 components.

Bianchigirll 

I think those are '88/89ish bikes. there is way to use the date code off the parts and lok on the vintage treksite for the parts date.

Scooper

+1
There should be four small, lightly stamped digits on the head badge. This is the assembly date of the bike. The first three digits are the day of the year (001-366), and the fourth digit is the last digit of the year. The decade is determined by decals and components.

Examples:

Slodad

Thanks. 0907. Which brings up the next question. Is it worthwhile to upgrade it with new components? The bike is in overall excellent condition, handles well and is a pleasure to ride, but I would like brifters and a wider range of gearing with closer spacing. Would I be better served selling it and buying something newer with the features I'm seeking? Thanks for any suggestions.

tugrul

It's not unheard of. I don't remember anyone calling Columbus Tenax anything but underrated.



The hard part will probably be shopping around for deals.

mazdaspeed

It's worth it if you like the frame and can get good deals on parts. I bought my prelude frame and built it completely before I even rode it, based on my memories of my 87 super sport which had basically the same frame. I was a little nervous but the first ride made me realize that my high expectations were in fact realistic. The frame is even better than I thought. I can say with a straight face that it rides and handles better than my bianchi.

But more to the point, I would sell it if you want a substantially lighter bike. Components wise you can make anything work really, and you may be able to do it for cheap like I did if you can get good deals. I can't say it would be easy to do it for the price I did, but I can tell you that it's possible to make the prelude a better bike than anything you can get from a bike shop for the same amount invested.

Scooper

A Bicycling article from 1987 describes Tenax as a "production grade version of [Columbus] SL and SP professional series [tubing]."



As far as component upgrades are concerned, I put Campy Chorus 10-speed Ergos on a 1973 Super Sport (much heavier frameset than the '87 Prelude) and am pleased with the results. YMMV.

wrk101

Financially, you will be MUCH better off just selling it and looking for a deal on a brifter bike with the features you are seeking.

While I have converted several vintage bikes to brifter bikes, it would have been cheaper for me to just buy a more modern bike if that is what I wanted. And the only way I kind of made it work financially is I scooped up deals on parts. But even then, I would have been better off selling the bike, and my scoop parts, and just getting a more modern ride instead.

Sometimes I do it because I just like vintage bikes. But financially, its not the smartest thing I have done.

My last addition to the keeper fleet was a 1995 Fuji Roubaix, all Shimano 105 eight speed STI. Cost me less than a mediocre set of wheels would have cost. No brainer.

By the mid 1990s, the better bikes came with brifters.

Doohickie

Interesting that your Prelude, ostensibly a 1987 like the picture above based on the 0907 date code, has Shimano 600. My '87 Prelude has Shimano SIS Light Action which is a lower grade of Shimano gear. Still works fine, but not 600. (My Prelude is a bit of an oddball as well; it is black, not Midnight Mauve like the pic above, or Ice Pink, the other color offered for 1987.)

Oregon Southpaw

I really enjoy that my dad's Tempo (and my photography) has become a good reference for dating Schwinns.

I agree with the previous posters that putting STIs on an older bike isn't a great plan financially, but its a heck of an upgrade.