Dominae

A university where I graduated and now work is interested in resurrecting an annual bike race it used to hold which is much like Indiana University’s Little 500. We will need to purchase 40 or 50 single speed drop bar bikes, preferably with coaster brakes. The Little 500 uses Schwinns which are specially made just for the Little 500. I have not been able to find comparable bikes from any other vendor that would be affordable. Do any of you know any any mass produced drop bar single speeds we could purchase? I don’t know what our budget is, but those Schwinns used by IU could not be worth more than $200 which would be in the ball park.

TejanoTrackie 

I don't think you will find anything for under $200 that is rideable, and I've never seen drop bars being combined with a coaster brake. The closest thing I can see offhand are these cheap steel singlespeeds from bikesdirect although they are currently out of stock:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst_steel.htm

Broctoon

Price around $200, 40 or 50 available, and drop bars + coaster brakes? That’s a tall order indeed.

jack pot 

... those are 1970 prices

Rolla

Found one on FB for $200: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...4692651135350/

TejanoTrackie 

Great ! Now all the OP needs to do is find 39 more.

Lazyass

With the shortages right now I doubt you could find any model of bike in the world that has 40-50 available to purchase.

Dominae

The bikes used in the Little 500 are essentially Walmart quality disposable bikes. They use them for one year, and then order new ones the next. I don’t think Walmart sells very many single speed bikes that cost more than $200. IU buys 100’s of them every year. However, they have a special deal with Schwinn.

SkinGriz

So maybe there’s a market for the IU ones after the race?

Selfishly asking. I’d rock one for 100-150 if it fit me.

SkinGriz

Would IU hand me downs be against school spirit?

Dominae

No we aren’t too proud to accept IU hand-me-downs If they were offered. Although you have to wonder how many 50 mile races these Schwinns have in them.

Russ Roth

Are they actual road race geometry or just a generic coaster brake frame that happens to have drop bars tossed on them? that'll make a big difference in what you can actually come up with. If a road geometry then i suspect Schwinn is your only option since no one else makes a coaster brake road bike that I've ever heard of but you should be able to contact them to find out if they'll sell to you as well. If they're just a basic geometry then it should be easy to buy a coaster brake bike for cheap, same with bars and tape and put them together.

Dominae

I don’t know the answer to that question but assume that because these bikes are custom made by Schwinn that the bikes probably have a “racier” geometry. Several companies make single speed coaster brake bikes with upright handlebars (Pure Bicycles is one such brand) and I had considered purchasing those and installing a drop bar. But, as you said, the geometry might be an issue. One the other hand, is a few degrees here or there in frame geometry really going to be a significant issue if the bikes are used for one 20 mile race per year?

Rolla

I think that this is the only way you're going to be able to actually build a fleet and no, the geometry won't make any difference. If you really want to make it fun, make the riders tape their feet to the pedals, like in the movie:

SkinGriz

A lot! Just because they’re Ashtabula cranks doesn’t mean the bearings aren’t good quality hardened steel. Fresh grease, readjust as necessary, ride.

And the rims don’t even need to be all that true as they aren’t the braking surface.