Posted 8 years ago
SpiritBear
(813 items)
I can foresee myself collecting bikes in the future (oh, great, another collection!) I just really like them, like to ride them, like to experience what each has to offer.
Black, chrome, and orange (on the handles for the brakes. I blame the 1960s) Schwinn Continental, one of their longest-lived bikes.
I also really like this one. The serial dates it to March 1967. $15 at a thrift store. I've passed up some neat ones in the past as I had a bike, but I think I'll just bring them home with me now.
Just always make sure their frames are straight and nothing looks too broken.
The previous owner must have been awfully tall, for he altered the bar that holds up the seat so that even I-- at 6 foot-- can barely touch the ground with my tip-toes. I have been unsuccessful at lowering the seat and have to hop onto it.
The bike shop managed to break my front reflector, but I made them give me it back as I'll find a way to reattach it. The owner also reversed the dropped handle-bars, which is something I prefer (I like them upright. Moreoever, I like them totally flat.)
Under the tape the handle bars are Sakae Randonneur Road Champions from Japan. The frame is American. The wheels are French. Schwinn used parts from several countries to build this one.
The tyres I removed from my 1980 (I thought it was a 1981 by catalog. Serial dated it to December 1980. LOL) World Sport as they fit the rims of this bike. This bike's original tyres were cracking along the seam, so it was necessary. The tubes, when revealed, were greenish black. Odd colour.
It needs some more polishing up, and I may look into redoing the Continental decals (I will touch the paint up, too) as I do intend to keep this bike (once I get the seat issue fixed.) I've ridden it a few miles already and really like the quiet transition of the gears and ability to go uphill. It even retains its original derailleur.
Hopefully this one will not get wrecked. It's a lot heavier than any other touring bike I've picked up, so hopefully that just means it's more solid.
