Christmas gift for my wife

[user 3630]

This is my first gallery post, but hopefully not the last.

My wife and I decided that we weren’t going to spend any money on each other this Christmas since money is tight, but I couldn’t resist doing something special for her because of the joy she brings to my life every day. I had a ladies Schwinn frame lying around and decided to build it for her since she's been expressing her desire to ride bikes more, and her road bike isn’t quite comfortable yet. I purchased this bike about eight or nine years ago as a parts bike for my '62 Schwinn Tiger, but because of a stuck pipe in the Tigers seat post, never built the bike.

I thought I had everything I would need to save as much money as possible; I had nearly new wheels, white walls, tubes, headset, bottom bracket, and handlebar. I thought all I had to buy was a saddle, seatpost & clamp, stem, and a bad@ss bell. Somehow this project will have gone from nearly free to $200 by the time I'm done unfortunately.

I decided to not repaint the frame because I personally love the look of a scuffed, scratched and slighted rusted frame with shiny new components bolted to it. I just used some polishing compound, polish and wax to clean up the frame. I think it came out beautifully, but the 26 x 2.125 tires are too wide for the rear of the frame, so I will be ordering some 26 x 1.75 whites very soon.

My favorite pieces are the Persons Majestic Apollo saddle, and the Soma Japanese brass bell. Anyway, hope you guys like it.

The frame after first being cleaned:

Finished pics:

 

[user 135]

Nice lookin bike. How are those Person's leather saddles? I have always been tempted by them but yet to pull the trigger.

 

[user 3630]

Nice lookin bike. How are those Person's leather saddles? I have always been tempted by them but yet to pull the trigger.

Thanks. regarding the Persons saddle, I dont really have anything to compare it to, but I'll do my best to describe my impression. First off, it's a whole world of difference in class when compared to to any non-leather saddle I have seen, chrome sprung or not. I wish the rails on this model were available in different finishes, like chrome, but even still the seat looks the part. The dye is a bit splotchy, but not too bad. The leather work is more than adequate, embossing looks good, but the rivets should come polished, as they are not. The logo on the back is a bit "cartoonie" to me, but doesnt take away from this saddle. I purchased this one because it was less expensive ($65) than it's counterparts, the Velo ORANGE Model 8 ($85), or the Brooks Flyer($105); and the shipping time was reasonable considering the holidays as well. I am very happy with the purchase. I dont have any experience with their other saddles however.

 

[old school 64]

Very nice build !! I like the simplicity of it..have a huffy "womens" frame in the back..thinking once I get some extra time (?) I will start putting that together too..now I just have to find a woman to put on it ?

 

[blink]

Nice lookin bike. How are those Person's leather saddles? I have always been tempted by them but yet to pull the trigger.

Thanks. regarding the Persons saddle, I dont really have anything to compare it to, but I'll do my best to describe my impression. First off, it's a whole world of difference in class when compared to to any non-leather saddle I have seen, chrome sprung or not. I wish the rails on this model were available in different finishes, like chrome, but even still the seat looks the part. The dye is a bit splotchy, but not too bad. The leather work is more than adequate, embossing looks good, but the rivets should come polished, as they are not. The logo on the back is a bit "cartoonie" to me, but doesnt take away from this saddle. I purchased this one because it was less expensive ($65) than it's counterparts, the Velo ORANGE Model 8 ($85), or the Brooks Flyer($105); and the shipping time was reasonable considering the holidays as well. I am very happy with the purchase. I dont have any experience with their other saddles however.

yeah it looks exactly like my brooks flyer i got for xmas, at half the cost.

 

[user 3630]

Very nice build !! I like the simplicity of it..have a huffy "womens" frame in the back..thinking once I get some extra time (?) I will start putting that together too..now I just have to find a woman to put on it ?

Yeah, I think it's the simplicity as you say. Something about them is classic and timeless, where the cantilever frames are dated (not in a bad way of course), but they kinda yell , "hey, look at me, I'm 50's guy!"

 

[user 3630]

yeah it looks exactly like my brooks flyer i got for xmas, at half the cost.

To be fair, those who have had both the Brooks and Persons saddles have said the Brooks is of better finish quality. So, I guess you still get what you pay for.

Resale is about equal I hear however.

 

[old school 64]

Too funny you say that, I just this weekend finished up my "cantilever" bike for myself..and 50's it up a bunch..big apes / red rims / wide whites / cantilever chopped..loving it..So what part of Central California are you from ?

Very nice build !! I like the simplicity of it..have a huffy "womens" frame in the back..thinking once I get some extra time (?) I will start putting that together too..now I just have to find a woman to put on it ?

Yeah, I think it's the simplicity as you say. Something about them is classic and timeless, where the cantilever frames are dated (not in a bad way of course), but they kinda yell , "hey, look at me, I'm 50's guy!"

 

[aka_locojoe]

Looks great!

 

[Rat Rod]

That looks really great with the seat/grip combo.

Reminds me of the 71 Racer that I built with 26 3/4 wheels and tires.

 

[user 3630]

Too funny you say that, I just this weekend finished up my "cantilever" bike for myself..and 50's it up a bunch..big apes / red rims / wide whites / cantilever chopped..loving it..So what part of Central California are you from ?

Bakersfield; where the rest of the Central Valleys smog goes to live a long life.

Being a recovering rockabilly, not having a had a Murray's relapse since '02, I am going to try something a bit different for my canti frame, just not sure exactly what yet. I do know it will have lots of polished aluminum, 3 piece cranks, aluminum headset, and be easy to pedal. Just gotta put the funds together.

 

[user 3630]

Looks great!

That looks really great with the seat/grip combo.

Reminds me of the 71 Racer that I built with 26 3/4 wheels and tires.

Thanks guys, I'm pretty pround of it too. My second complete bike build, kind of addicting.

Rat Rod- I would loooooooove to have a frame like that. I think it'd make a mad touring / commuter bicycle. I love the geometry. Do you happen to know if anyone has the geometry specs for it posted anywhere?

As far as the grips, I was torn between these, and some cork grips. Still am.

 

[Dman]

Man, that is a sweet looker! Well done!

 

[blacksheep]

Bike looks great! Is that a Breeze frame? Clearance on the front tire looks pretty tight. How close is it?

 

[thatismytruck]

Being a recovering rockabilly, not having a had a Murray's relapse since '02, I am going to try something a bit different for my canti frame, just not sure exactly what yet. I do know it will have lots of polished aluminum, 3 piece cranks, aluminum headset, and be easy to pedal. Just gotta put the funds together.

polished aluminum on a Murray frame? sounds familiar. :wink:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10991
Which reminds me I need to finish that bike up.

 

[user 3630]

Bike looks great! Is that a Breeze frame? Clearance on the front tire looks pretty tight. How close is it?

Breeze frame and fork? Yes. Too tight? Yes.

I wussed out and have now mounted a 26x1.75, which is muuuuuch skinnier than I thought it would be. So, now I'm thinking a 2.125 Kenda/Pyramid might fit perfectly, better than the GT white wall installed in those pics; just need to try it. If I had trued the wheels, the front would have fit perfectly. The rear was a no go either way. I had it backed it all the way into the dropout and it still rubbed.

 

[user 3630]

polished aluminum on a Murray frame? sounds familiar. :wink:
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10991
Which reminds me I need to finish that bike up.

Your bike is a beauty. Since finishing my wifes bike, and a minor overhaul of my father-in-laws campy equipped Swiss road bike, I am now starting to dream about the possibilities of my canti frame. I thinking a slightly different take on a P51 fighter... I'm still thinking about it.

 

[thatismytruck]

P-51's rule. Great idea.

 

[user 3630]

P-51's rule. Great idea.

Thanks. I know it's hardly original, so i'm trying to figure out a way to do it in a bit more original manner.