Furyus

I recently bought a couple of sixties Schwinn Stingrays for my two nephews, so that when they're a bit older they'll know what America used to be like. The 'rays rekindled my own interest in bicycles, as I used to ride quite a bit as a kid and again in my 20's and 30's (I'm 50 now). Upon revisiting BF, I stumbled on the whole FG/SS concept, and fell in love with the simplicity and aesthetics. I knew I had to build one of my own.

This will be the first bike I've ever built up from a bare frame, and I admit to knowing just enough to be dangerous to myself and those nearby. I should be able to bumble through and end up with something kinda cool, though.

My goals for the project are simple: build something bomb-proof that I can use to augment my other fitness routines, and be a little different than everybody else, even though there is nothing new under the sun, right? Growing up in 60's suburbia burned Schwinn into my brain as the bike to have, and that's never left me, regardless of how sweet other head badges may be. I've always dug the old "bent tube" Sprints, since they're a bit unusual, and I managed to score this 24" frame and fork to be the basis of my project. I understand that's it's a heavy, electro-forged base model, but with the right bits it'll be substantially lighter than it's factory brethren, and besides, it's going to be ridden for 30 or 40 minutes two or three times a week to break-up my other work-outs and let off some steam. It's isn't going to be a coffee-shop bike - that's what my Harley is for.

I'll document things as I learn them, and maybe that'll help someone else along and amuse the rest of you. Probably be a bit long-term, too, since I have a lovely fiance, a busy job, and elderly parents to care for, along with a real life.

The first thing I've confirmed is relevant to quite a few posts lately it seems, and that's building vs. buying new when you've got a tight budget. Buy new, if money is tight. I have spent stupid on this bike, and that's for low end bits, with a little mid and a high thrown in for good measure. I'm not even close to riding and I could've bought a Kilo and made a made a payment on the Road Glide to boot for what I've got in this bike. In my case, though, having the satisfaction of struggling through a build and having something a little different than everyone else is worth the extra bucks.

Hope you dig it.

furyus

KtownScott

Enjoy the build.
If I hadn't bought new wheels, and powdercoated mine. I would have about $80.00 in this build.

82 Schwinn Traveler.