Hello RRB people!
Much is going on in my life lately, but i think i can spare some time for this year build-off
Because of a virus i can't use my schools workshop at the moment, so i am not signing for class 2 for now. I hope if something changes i still might! I have a really cool project i am planning that would requite building a custom frame.
Anyway, this build begins with my girlfriend trying out '87 Schwinn i have recently built. She liked it a lot and had difficulties switching back to her own bike after a week of test-driving the Schwinn I thought of giving the heavy-duti bike to her instead of selling it, but in our climate riding a fenderless bike on a daily basis is just not practical, and i felt that that bike is just finished the way it is. Also, my girl deserves riding an original Chicago built Schwinn, with all my respect to Hungary and this country industry
So here we go, i am starting with my first Chicago built Schwinn! This build probably won't be too ambitious or heavily custom, i will try to stay close to original looks instead, though this also won't be complete restoration. I know for many of you, US folks, this can be yet another boring middleweight build up, but here in Europe you don't see them really. So i want to keep it original style with my respect to the era and culture that it had emerged from
Here is what i start with, original paint '59 Corvette i got for 70$ (paid almost 200$ on top of that for shipping and taxes) from ebay. The guard was not included, so i am looking for one to buy now. From what i have learned about Schwinn middleweight bikes, '59 is when most of the iconic features were presented, so i am especially happy to have it from that year.
The bicycle license from Grove City, Ohio got expired in 1966, but i guess i can live with that Frame number is H359662, that makes my bike August 1959. Obviously, my intention is to leave original paint and restore it. It is in quite a good condition, though with some dirt and rust. I have started to clean it with white spirit yesterday, dirt comes off easily, leaving lots of open rust spots. I don't want to clean it, but rather would try to seal it and leave. I want to prevent further oxidation in case this bike is going to be used a lot, should i just cover it with linseed oil when i am done polishing the paint? I would appreciate the advise from experienced people on what is the best way to go with this paint. I am looking for some way to clean it up that is not too aggressive for the places where paint feels great, but that would let it shine and save the bike from rusting through. For now my plan is to just clean it well and then polish with car paint polishing paste or similar.
Here is how the bike looks in my garage.
After applying some wd-40 i was able to loosen the headset. Really beautiful piece with inverted top, the race is pressed into the frame while the cup is screwed on. Apart from being dry the bearings and other headset parts feel good. So does the fork crown. But the fork itself seems bent.
I will post a better picture later. Left leg has a curve on it, goes inside and then outside, almost like someone tried to straighten it before. Anyway, the wheel sits straight, so i might leave it the way it is. I don't have much experience with blade forks, so i can't estimate if it is a major or minor flaw, but i hope for the best
Despite of paying quite some money for the frameset, i hope this build would be more budget friendly then my CWC Roadmaster build One of the reasons for that is that i have already many parts left from my '87 Schwinn build, such as cranks, fenders, stem and so on, that look identical to ones used on early middleweights. I also have some parts from 2008 Schwinn Debutante (photo) that i have used as a donor bike for CWC, like the rear rack that is reproduction of one featured on '59 bike or the Schwinn head badge. As for the wheels, i am going to use 1998 CWC Roadmaster reproduction wheelset that i have recently accuired. The hubs it has have disappointed me, but the rims are nice and shiny, they are wide and made of chromed steel. Though not the lightest, but for sure they will fit the bike. I have already disassembled the rear wheel and got it to a very good master to lace that baby in:
Late 60's (probably, i should still check for exact production date) SACHS Duomatic kickback hub. Not as cool as original Bendix, but i got it only for 20$ comparing to like 150$ i'd have to pay for Bendix. This hub is already fixed and rebuilt. Originally i have intended to use it for my Roadmaster, but i have found an older alternative since then.
So, this is where i am at with it now. Some more parts for the build are already on the way to me from US, but i would not uncover that part yet, until i got them delivered
Much is going on in my life lately, but i think i can spare some time for this year build-off
Because of a virus i can't use my schools workshop at the moment, so i am not signing for class 2 for now. I hope if something changes i still might! I have a really cool project i am planning that would requite building a custom frame.
Anyway, this build begins with my girlfriend trying out '87 Schwinn i have recently built. She liked it a lot and had difficulties switching back to her own bike after a week of test-driving the Schwinn
I thought of giving the heavy-duti bike to her instead of selling it, but in our climate riding a fenderless bike on a daily basis is just not practical, and i felt that that bike is just finished the way it is. Also, my girl deserves riding an original Chicago built Schwinn, with all my respect to Hungary and this country industry So here we go, i am starting with my first Chicago built Schwinn! This build probably won't be too ambitious or heavily custom, i will try to stay close to original looks instead, though this also won't be complete restoration. I know for many of you, US folks, this can be yet another boring middleweight build up, but here in Europe you don't see them really. So i want to keep it original style with my respect to the era and culture that it had emerged from
Here is what i start with, original paint '59 Corvette i got for 70$ (paid almost 200$ on top of that for shipping and taxes
) from ebay. The guard was not included, so i am looking for one to buy now. From what i have learned about Schwinn middleweight bikes, '59 is when most of the iconic features were presented, so i am especially happy to have it from that year.
The bicycle license from Grove City, Ohio got expired in 1966, but i guess i can live with that
Frame number is H359662, that makes my bike August 1959. Obviously, my intention is to leave original paint and restore it. It is in quite a good condition, though with some dirt and rust. I have started to clean it with white spirit yesterday, dirt comes off easily, leaving lots of open rust spots. I don't want to clean it, but rather would try to seal it and leave. I want to prevent further oxidation in case this bike is going to be used a lot, should i just cover it with linseed oil when i am done polishing the paint? I would appreciate the advise from experienced people on what is the best way to go with this paint. I am looking for some way to clean it up that is not too aggressive for the places where paint feels great, but that would let it shine and save the bike from rusting through. For now my plan is to just clean it well and then polish with car paint polishing paste or similar.Here is how the bike looks in my garage.
After applying some wd-40 i was able to loosen the headset. Really beautiful piece with inverted top, the race is pressed into the frame while the cup is screwed on. Apart from being dry the bearings and other headset parts feel good. So does the fork crown. But the fork itself seems bent.
I will post a better picture later. Left leg has a curve on it, goes inside and then outside, almost like someone tried to straighten it before. Anyway, the wheel sits straight, so i might leave it the way it is. I don't have much experience with blade forks, so i can't estimate if it is a major or minor flaw, but i hope for the best
Despite of paying quite some money for the frameset, i hope this build would be more budget friendly then my CWC Roadmaster build
One of the reasons for that is that i have already many parts left from my '87 Schwinn build, such as cranks, fenders, stem and so on, that look identical to ones used on early middleweights. I also have some parts from 2008 Schwinn Debutante (photo) that i have used as a donor bike for CWC, like the rear rack that is reproduction of one featured on '59 bike or the Schwinn head badge. As for the wheels, i am going to use 1998 CWC Roadmaster reproduction wheelset that i have recently accuired. The hubs it has have disappointed me, but the rims are nice and shiny, they are wide and made of chromed steel. Though not the lightest, but for sure they will fit the bike. I have already disassembled the rear wheel and got it to a very good master to lace that baby in:Late 60's (probably, i should still check for exact production date) SACHS Duomatic kickback hub. Not as cool as original Bendix, but i got it only for 20$ comparing to like 150$ i'd have to pay for Bendix. This hub is already fixed and rebuilt. Originally i have intended to use it for my Roadmaster, but i have found an older alternative since then.
So, this is where i am at with it now. Some more parts for the build are already on the way to me from US, but i would not uncover that part yet, until i got them delivered
