Newly Acquired 1985 Schwinn Sprint

For the second time this week, I found myself being offered another bike with a perfectly good frame, and unlike the first bike, a small AMF Roadmaster Scorcher, this one is in great shape, and just my size.

It is a 1985 Schwinn Sprint, as ascertained by the rear dérailleur's BF code which dictates its date of manufacture (June of that year to be specific). It has a 53cm head tube, 55 seat tube, 83 cm stand over height, weighs 13.6 kg and sports 27 x 1¹/₄ wheels. It also wears Suntour Hero Dérailleurs & Brakes all around.

Thus far it is apparent that the rear wheel is out of round and needs to be trued, which I will do. The short list of needs for this bike is rather simple. New front and rear tubes and tires. Adjust the brakes, clean the whole frame. Degrease everything as well as replace and adjust ALL brake and dérailleur cabling.

It will be finished off by custom re-skinning of the saddle and retaping of the drop bars. I'll keep everyone posted, but I do have to say that I'm really happy with this bit of good fortune as this bicycle fits me like a glove and reminds me of my Raleigh that I rode the life out of back in 1985 when this was built.

Project Bicycle #1: Initial Tear Down

As I write this entry, it is 23:12 on 3 September and all but the chain and front wheel have been removed from the frame. I decided about 1.5 hours ago to put on "Breaking Away" as a themed background film whilst initiating the removal of all the parts to the bare frame.

This process has taken considerably less time than I thought it would take. Removing the front and rear dérailleurs. The handlebar stem was next, though it would've made more sense to remove the brakes first. Either way, I was able see to that in no particular order. The brakes followed shortly thereafter. Somewhere in the mix, the rear wheel was removed. All items were neatly labeled and placed into clear plastic baggies.

I still have to get back to removing the front wheel and the chain guard on the rear wheel being that it won't be necessary given the single-gear conversion negates the need for said guard. I'm going to remove the chain tonight and place it safely away for later cleaning.

The next major step in this project is cleaning off all the parts, including the frame in preparation for polishing of bare metals and a sand/respray of the whole body.

Project Bicycle #1: Assessment & Plans

What we have is technically a frame that we can use and not much else. This is fine though as I wasn't expecting much given the source, so there really isn't any disappointment. The 'unit' as it stands right now is as such:

An AMF Roadmaster Scorcher (circa 1980) in a solid red colour with 51 cm seat tube, 56 cm head tube, 10-speeds, original unwrapped (ouch) Mæes drop bars, 26"'s, front and rear Yoshikawa brakes, stamped horizontal dropouts most similar to the Campagnolo 1010 and Elgin dérailleurs.

The frame is free of all rust and there are no noticable cracks, fractures, or bends. The handlebars are way out of alignment. The Mesinger seat is mounted at its lowest setting and bright red. I'm not sure of the composition of said seat either, so material is in question. The rear wheel doesn't appear to be true, and both front and rear 36 spoke wheels are showing surface oxidation. The front may be salvageable, but the rear due to its shape may not be, given the age. This is afterall a 28 year old bike that was bargin basement low-end when new. It is a welded frame with no visible weld marks at the seams and total weight measures in at appoximately 13.6 kg (roughly 30 pounds for those imperialists among us).

The design goals for this conversion are as follows:

- Convert into a Fixed Gear/Non-Freewheeling Endurance Builder

- Refurbish wheels, straighten via spoke adjustment

- Remove the rear brake, leaving just the front.

- Remove the front and rear dérailleurs

- Clean all metal components, plus frame after complete disassembly.

- Respray frame a nice Dutch oranje with a rood, wit and blauw angled stripes.

- Purchase new chain

- Acquire new pedals with toe-clips.

- Wrap drop handlebars

- Replace the Handlebar stem.

- New tyre tubes, possibly new tyres themselves going with a 650c if possible.

- Locate a new saddle, or reskin current in a padded leather or pleather.

- Initially test with a 52/14 gear ratio.

I have already contacted 'Scooters Bike Shop' in Souderton, PA to inquire the owner regarding an upgraded L shape handlebar stem, which he said he should have laying around of spares.