I picked this one up Wednesday evening. Tuesday night a friend tipped me off to the ad on CL. Curiously it was listed as, 'Vintage Lady Schwinn with horn tube'. I emailed the seller right away and told him if it was still for sale I would gladly pay his $40 asking price. The next day he called and told me he had just finished lowering the price to $30 and would sell it to me for that price. :shock:
I met with him that evening in a dark, rainy parking lot. He was a super nice fellow in his 70's that said he used to be a bicycle mechanic. I thought that was especially strange since he called the bike a "Schwinn" even thoughit had the Hiawatha headbadge in place and the giant stamped 'HIAWATHA' on the chainguard. In his defense it did have old Schwinn grips on it but still...
After we chatted for a few minutes he told me since I drove all of the way up there to meet him (only 24 miles) that he would sell me the bike for $20. :shock: :mrgreen: :shock: He actually insisted on it. I didn't argue.
The bike is pretty complete despite the Schwinn grips. It also has one strangely small pedal. Initially I had considered parting the bike out but then began to consider swapping the springer out for a normal fork and re-doing the bike for my wife.
Today when I began to give it a bit more thorough inspection I noticed this.
At first I thought the crack was a sure sign to part it out. Then I considered I could practice my welding skills trying to fix. I also had a friend suggest doing a '... change' on it. Not sure which option I will go with but pretty happy overall with the purchase.
I met with him that evening in a dark, rainy parking lot. He was a super nice fellow in his 70's that said he used to be a bicycle mechanic. I thought that was especially strange since he called the bike a "Schwinn" even thoughit had the Hiawatha headbadge in place and the giant stamped 'HIAWATHA' on the chainguard. In his defense it did have old Schwinn grips on it but still...
After we chatted for a few minutes he told me since I drove all of the way up there to meet him (only 24 miles) that he would sell me the bike for $20. :shock: :mrgreen: :shock: He actually insisted on it. I didn't argue.
The bike is pretty complete despite the Schwinn grips. It also has one strangely small pedal. Initially I had considered parting the bike out but then began to consider swapping the springer out for a normal fork and re-doing the bike for my wife.
Today when I began to give it a bit more thorough inspection I noticed this.
At first I thought the crack was a sure sign to part it out. Then I considered I could practice my welding skills trying to fix. I also had a friend suggest doing a '... change' on it. Not sure which option I will go with but pretty happy overall with the purchase.
