80's Rock was good, but an 80's bike!?
 

Hello all, I got this bike a few weeks ago down at the dump. I have been riding it with the pedals and tires and bars, and all that that it came with. Seems like a nice ride!

Anyways I am just curious as to if I should just upgrade the parts on this bike compared to getting anew bike. Heres the deal, im low on income! So for me spending some money for new pedals buying me some shoes as well as a new seat, and new shifters (I have DOWN-TUBE ones now) would from what I can tell would be cheaper then buying a new bike.

Here are a few pics!

These tires are ok, my bike path and roads where I live are almost always covered with a bit a sand. Should I keep them or upgrade them?



http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Picture004.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Picture001.jpg

LOGO

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...Picture002.jpg



and for you 80's rock faithfuls out there!


a Bon Jovi Emblem!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...zawz/heart.jpg

The bike really isn't worth putting a whole lot of money into. The World Sports were lower level. First, lose the kickstand. Second, lose the Bon Jovi emblem. They suck. Replace with Black Flag emblem. Third, get on bike and go ride. If you like it, save your money and get a newer, higher quality bike.

flop n chop the bars, strip the drivetrain, fix it (or SS if coasting is your thing) and ride the hell out of it while you save your nickels for a real road bike. it's almost never worth putting modern parts on an older frame.

Ride the bike as is. Sound like you like the ride. Ride it until you get some money for a new bike and in the mean time, ride this one and research your next bike purchase. Keep the kickstand. Who cares if its on and its practical. So use it. The bike should serve you until your ready for the upgrade.

incorrect.

I still keep my old Schwinn around... now it's a beater/errand/commute bike, but it always makes me happy to just take it out and wear normal clothes and shoes :) Mine is a little older, and was possibly a little bit more high-range for it's time in their line-up.

Those are, BTW, stem shifters, not downtube shifters, and will actually be possibly a little easier to get used to for you. Use this, you'll build all the strength you'll need, and you'll appreciate a new ride all the more when you can get one eventually. Upgrading is going to be difficult and pointless in the long run, in addition to being expensive.

Shoes, seat and pedals would be a worthwile investment, you can always transfer them over to whichever new bike you wind up getting if you do so eventually. Shifters are hundreds of dollars (potentially) and would require replacing a good portion of the drivetrain (which=not worth the $) Civilians like us don't get a discount on components the way the manufacturers do... so we're pretty much S.O.L. in these situations.

I've had similar tires and wasn't crazy about the way they felt. If it rides okay, keep 'em, otherwise you can get continental Gatorskins in a 27" tire, which will take a very high pressure, and have some kevlar for flat protection. They are the most modern tire I've found for 27" rims for my antique.

the 80's was the 60's of the period before the 90s.
The music was greatest and bikes were designed by guys
who actually rode instead of marketing droids. Might not
be as stellar as an 80's 531 Peugeot or Bianchi, etc but
it is at least on par with a current Trek or Ceurvelo.

I'd have to remove the turkey levers, too. Look bad, and they're not really going to stop you in a panic situation anyhow.

I would strongly have to say that that is wrong! 80's rock kicked arse! Anyways thanks to all for the replies! I guess I will be saving up the dimes and nickles to get one.


Anyways thanks again for all the info!

there was plenty of good music in the 80s, Bon Jovi was not part of it. disagree? take it to foo.

The World Sports were the bottom of Schwinn's road line. Better than a Varsity or Collegiate, but nothing like a Prelude or Paramount.

I received an '85 WS as a high school graduation present from my parents and rode it all through college and law school. Even did a few triathlons on it. It got stolen one night in the mid-90s when I drunkenly forgot to lock it up during a barhopping excursion.

I'd love to have that bike back but mostly from sentimentality. They're not worth much as a serious road bike. On the other hand, they make great beaters, especially as a SS or FG.

There are good 80s bikes, and there are not so good 80s bikes. I'm afraid your bike falls into the latter category, but it's fully rideable nonetheless. If I were you I'd sell it (or keep it) and get a top of the line 80s bike. Search out a deal on a super record equipped vintage italian bike, buy it and experience the golden era for real.

One thing I like about the older racing bikes: they're cheap, really cheap. Another thing I like about them is that they're awesome.

Oh come on, your formative teen-years were well entrenched in the 80s. You weren’t listening to the good stuff? If you don’t recall, here are some bands that put out some good stuff in the 80s,
The Clash
The Ramones
Talking Heads
The Police
U2
Prince
Public Enemy

And on a secondary level,
George Clinton
The Cure
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Smiths
New Order
Depeche Mode

I agree with Henke 100% but am not sure I'd recommend you questing for an early Colnago Master or the like, at least not right yet. While they're cheap when compared to today's top liners they're not all that cheap in absolute terms for sure. Italian frames and Campy Record always have equalled serious coin. Trust me on this.

Having said that it could be quite easy to get a better vintage bike for not much money. Lotsa of 80s racers out there with Shimano 600, SunTour Cyclone and Japanese frames. Beautiful riders and you've already dealt with friction shifting; a system that seems to scare the bejeebus out of riders who have only SIS or Ergo experience. Of course some people buy new Mustangs with automatics too.

Of course you got your bike for the best possible price. :) Ride it and keep an eye on yard sales, Salvation Army stores, etc. Might find a winner that won't take much out of your new bike fund.


:beer:

you are correct, sir.

Hello all, thanks for all the info both bike and music :) I am not going to go off topic about music since it doesn't belong here. Anways thanks again for the advice. Its a good bike and its my first road bike. Works fine nothing wrong with it at all. Anyways I will be using this bike until I come up with another one. Thanks again!

1. the clash broke up in september of '82. they're more of a 70s band than 80s. fwiw the Ramones as well.

2. anyone who puts the smiths and new order in the 'secondary level' really needs to learn something about music.

i digress.

i concur with those that suggest that you do not put a lot money into the bike.

Don't put money in it.
Do get rid of those "secondary brake levers" (turkey levers???), they're more dangerous than useful
Do keep riding it. If it works, don't fix it.

Very off-topic: This comment made me do a double-take. Good musical taste on a bike list dominated by Americans is a rare thing indeed (and before you attack this Canuck, the same would hold true in the Great White North, as well--Canadian music sucks even harder than most American music).

Damn skippy. There aint nothin' wrong with that bike, and it looks good too. Who cares if it dont have a 'Reynolds 531' sticker on it, or that its not a paramount. Its still a good bike. Put you some good rubber on it, and make sure everything is adjusted right, and ride the hell out of it.

Later on, when you have the resources, you can get a newer, better bike.

...and btw.... keep the kickstand.

put money into descendents albums instead

You must have a pretty high class dump! Looks good.

Ride it and save for a better newer bike.

Let see you forgot
The Replacements
R.E.M. (from the IRS years)
The B52"s
Husker DU
The Violent Fems
Soul Asylum
Game Theory
Lets Active
10,000 Maniacs (before Natilie Merchent left the Band)
Adam Ant
The pretenders
Dire Straits
Van Hallen (with David Lee)
The GoGos
The Bangles
The Flesh tones
Joathan Richmond and the Modern lovers (both electric and acustic)

Or we could 80's punk and bring up things like
The Dead Milk men
Storm Troopers of Death
Dead Kennedys
Suicidal Tendencies

Ok now my wife who is standing over my shoulder shouting out the manes of bads is going faster then I can type so I will close for now.

You found that at the dump?

(I gotta start checking ours out)

jw