1985 Schwinn Sprint: A Success Story!

No more than 15 days after receiving a 1985 Schwinn Sprint, I can happily state that the rebuild is hereby declared a success. I would have been done sooner had I not needed to get to Scooter's Bike Shop in Souderton, PA to pickup supplies.

Last evening whilst watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report with my trusty multi-sized spoke wrench, spent considerable amounts of time truing the rear wheel (which required the most work) and to a lesser extent, the front. If one takes their time, seemingly lost wheels can be brought back to their original roundness.

Finally, this morning I was able to put on my black Phat Wrap handlebar wrap from Specialized on the Sprint. There was only one last thing to do and that was give it a quick test ride. This was a dramatic difference from the previous test ride. I find that the combination of having proper round wheels along with the shock absorbing bar wrap has transformed this bicycle into something else. It feels like a brand new bike, so much to the point that had I bought this bicycle new, I would not be disappointed.

The fun part beings tomorrow morning when I take my first hour or so ride up and through Peace Valley Park. I do need to get a bike pack for storing a patch kit and what not, but simply for tomorrow I will take the bag from my Voyageur Hybrid. The Sprint also lacks any brazed on mountings for a water bottle, so I will need to figure out something about that as well.

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.