sathor

I added a second bike to the stable yesterday, a 1974 Schwinn varsity. (let the mocking begin)

I had gone to the bike shop in the city to the north a few days back, and noticed it sitting there, and remembered it had been there a few months back when I was there. It had old flat tires, but didn't look too bad, even if it did have flint stickers or whatever the hell the bike shop owner called them. He told me that as far as he knew, he would guess it needed about $100 in work, and wanted $25 for it. He also said it wasn't high on the list for fixing up (unless someone wanted to pay him for that too)

For $60 even, I had it and new tires and tubes, and headed home. One of the tires, when I removed it, was Schwinn branded and dated 1983, and the tape was coming off, some rust, but still solid. and freaking heavy. But the shifters and brakes work, so...

Don't get me wrong, if I lived dang near anywhere else, it would be a stupid purchase. (it may well be a dumb purchase here too) Locally, the bike shops focus on BMX and Mountain bikes. To the south, they just have the expensive bikes, and they don't like to do trade ins, so.... finding a used road bike is not easy around here.

I got the shiny green behometh ridable this morning, and rode past the local bike shop, where I promptly blew the rear tube. I had taken it by there the day before, and he recommended remounting the tire. So of course, the first thing he says was "didn't I tell you to remount that tire?" (I think I put too much air in it, crap happens, you have to learn somehow.)

I don't have any pics yet, because I had already set up an appointment for new grip tape and to have the cables converted to green. (they needed replaced anyways) so I left it there, and I have new pedals with green toe clips on order. (I told him I spent enough on tools this year, so anything that I don't have tools for goes to him by default.)

It rode decently, so far, the front wheel might need replaced, but not worried about that, and I think I will like using it for training rides. I think it might need some more grease too, but for a device older than me, I will enjoy making it more mine and really using it. The heck with making it look original, there may not be any others similar around here, but when I am done (and the bike shop) it will be unique.

and who knows, maybe one day I'll get bored and convert it to a modern crank. Bottom bracket stuff, yeah, I have tools. Cutting a freaking table, not so much.

Like I said, in this part of Ohio, road bikes are not quite that easy to come by. and hey, just because I am used to trigger shifting 21 speed hybrid bike doesn't mean I can relearn 10 speed friction shifting... I hope.

Northwestrider

Enjoy your new ride, sounds like a good deal to me.

sathor

I hope so, I might even use it for a 50k later this year if it works out just right

wiredfoxterror

Repurposing an old bike to its original purpose. Enjoy it!

sathor

I am sure there are at least a few C&V people that want to bash me over the head, but this is the 'done' level, unless I were, oh, add AL wheels or maybe a green saddle (Brooks has one, but $115 bucks... no.)

sathor

btw, the bike is currently as fast as my 07 Schwinn Voyageur, not sure how that would hold up over 50k, but for 10 miles, it might just be faster. Even if it does way a crap-ton.

JanMM

If you live in Ohio, then what is 50k? Fifty thousand miles? Fifty kilometers? (Thirty-one miles, I would guess.)

Remember to allow plenty of room for stopping in wet conditions.

sathor

Yeah, I would probably take the other bike if it was raining, but yeah, 50 kilometers, most of the rides around here are listed in K, though the ones in miles are almost always 29~31 mi, and 62 mi....

The tour De donut in Arcanum (near the IN border) is 31 miles, and is just under a month from now. I did it last year on the hybrid, but want to improve my time a bit this year.

The brakes are new though, but I know steel is a bit slower to the stop. At least the lbs remembered I like my front brakes tight.

JanMM

Part of the 50k confusion is that the abbreviation for kilometers is km.
Chromed steel rims stop a lot slower than aluminum.

sathor

I already put more into the bike than is rational, but it rides like it was worth it, still, its about 80 bucks for a new wheel set.... but they would be Quick Release.