cruiser

Just over a month ago, while looking for something completely different, I found this wonderful, old, OLD bicycle in a thrift shop.  I texted a photo of it to H, who told me to check for broken spokes and cracks in the frame, and then I bought it.  For $12.99.  It was filthy but with scarcely any rust on it.  I think this bike had been sitting in some grandparent's garage for decades before finally being donated to charity.  And now it was mine.

Love at first sight

Everything looked original on it, although someone had (sadly) repainted it and removed the Schwinn badge from the head tube.  We haven't found the serial number yet so we're not sure what model/year it is but we're pretty sure it's from the 1960s or 1970s.

Pedals before and after scrubbing

We set up on the driveway and cracked opened a couple of beers.  H took it all apart - except for the 3-speed shifter cassette, which is a little daunting - and we started washing it down.  While H worked on the fiddly bits, I scrubbed the pedals and wheels, even polishing the rims with rust-remover/chrome polish.  When it was done, they absolutely shone!

Rear wheel, pre-wash

Detail of the gunky chain ring

Detail of the shifter cassette, pre-wash

Pretty scruffy looking

The tires and tubes were obviously not  salvageable.  We ended up taking the front wheel to our favorite local bike shop, Fishers Cyclery in Sugarhouse.  They have been around since 1930 (!!!) so if anyone could help us with finding tires for a vintage bike, it was going to be them.  They totally hooked us up, with whitewalls, no less!

We did replace the seat

We replaced the seat, with another Schwinn to try to stay at least close to the original.  H adjusted the handlebars to a better position but we kept the original grips.  I'm going to need to add a cupholder and a bell, of course.

 

So shiny!

Look at those gorgeous curves!

It cleaned up SO nice

Other than that, H just put it all back together and I was able to take it out for a test ride around the neighborhood.  It doesn't really have brakes - we got new brake pads but were only able to fit one on there - and I haven't dared try to shift gears yet.  It is a total tank, weighing in at 41+ pounds.  It is classic and stylish and gorgeous and EXACTLY what I was looking for to take to Moab as a town bike.

Ready to ride