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Date: 15 May 2007 22:36:58
From: landotter
Subject: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price, but needs guidance
beyond my basic skills, so humor me and let me ask some questions,
some dumb and googlable, and a couple that are a bit harder.
Of course he's converting to 700c, so anybody know if something like
the basic Tektro long reach (normal reach IMO) brakes will work? It's
a circa '70 model drop bar bike. Don't have the serial number. Will he
need Tektro's super long reach brake? I can certainly intercept him
and measure the drop one of these days, but we only run into each
other weekly.
Headset. Is it a standard size or Schwinn wierd?
Stem and bars?
Bottom bracket is of course a one piece job. I've tried to convince
him that though the original gear might be a bit heavy, it's strong as
hell, but he wants a modern Sugino crank. Are there adaptors so this
BB can take a modern cart BB?
Is there an alloy post available in the Schwinn size?
Help me out and there may be a bike on the road soon rocking the
Swedish national colors!
Du gamla, du fria...
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Date: 16 May 2007 22:14:46
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some quest...
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On May 16, 5:09 pm, MLB5...@webtv.net (Michael Baldwin) wrote:
> ..goto FIXEDGEARGALLERY and CYCLOFIEND....you'll see some fine
> examples of what can be done with OPC Schwinns...
>
> Best Regards Always - Mike Baldwin
Best regards to you as well for mentioning those sites. I've indeed
seen some fabulous examples on them. I especially like this stealthy
blue number:
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/june/TheMostFactoryBlog.htm
I think the OPC looks quite nice in those pics. I'm going to have to
convince the neighbor to not waste the $100 to convert to 3P cranks.
Again, I do think that Chicago Schwinns are totally underrated by many
people. Recondition them with some quality parts to replace some of
the stock junk, and they'll last you till the grave.
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Date: 16 May 2007 23:20:43
From: G.T.
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some quest...
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landotter wrote:
> On May 16, 5:09 pm, MLB5...@webtv.net (Michael Baldwin) wrote:
>> ..goto FIXEDGEARGALLERY and CYCLOFIEND....you'll see some fine
>> examples of what can be done with OPC Schwinns...
>>
>> Best Regards Always - Mike Baldwin
>
> Best regards to you as well for mentioning those sites. I've indeed
> seen some fabulous examples on them. I especially like this stealthy
> blue number:
> http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/june/TheMostFactoryBlog.htm
>
> I think the OPC looks quite nice in those pics. I'm going to have to
> convince the neighbor to not waste the $100 to convert to 3P cranks.
>
I'll bet your friend's Deep-Vs would look fantastic on that humble
bike!!! Or better yet yellow Deep-Vs!
Greg
--
The ticketbastard Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html
Dethink to survive - Mclusky
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Date: 16 May 2007 21:08:44
From: Sheldon Brown
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 2:00 pm, "G.T." <getne...@dslextreme.com > wrote:
> > On May 16, 1:36 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> >> serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> >> already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> >> hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price,
>
> Sounds like the guys who put Shimano Deore XT parts on Murrays. Overkill.
Better "overkill" than not kill at all! ;-)
I'll bet the resulting bike would blow the doors off any multi-
thousand-dollar frame you care to name...with the original Varsity
wheels!
The one-piece "Ashtabula" cranks have much to recommend them, biggest
problem is poor pedal selection. To me, SPDs are the main reason to
convert an OPC bottom bracket to "Euro."
Sheldon "Nothing Exceeds Like Excess" Brown
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
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Date: 16 May 2007 20:41:05
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 1:00 pm, "G.T." <getne...@dslextreme.com > wrote:
> > On May 16, 1:36 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> >> serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> >> already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> >> hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price,
>
> Sounds like the guys who put Shimano Deore XT parts on Murrays. Overkill.
Not at all. Nothing says he can't upgrade the frame to something
lighter in the future. Indeed, it's a great match to the bike's
toughness.
Comparing a Murray to a Chicago Schwinn is pretty absurd. They may
have been ubiquitous with crappy components once upon a time, but
they're fantastic frames if you need something bullet proof. I think
they're rather beautiful, other than the stamped drops. The technology
to make them is still very advanced.
And if you have a Murray gaspipe bike and you love it, why not put XT
parts on it? Heck, my main long distance machine is a Salvation Army
find Viscount Aerospace (tange fork, of course) that's got wheels that
cost several times as much. I've got an rusty alley-find ladies bike
with hand built wheels, and also a Raleigh 3 speed from the thrift
also with hand built wheels. All are wonderful reliable bikes--mainly
because they have great wheels, not pedigreed frames.
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Date: 16 May 2007 20:23:50
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 3:45 pm, A Muzi <a...@yellowjersey.org > wrote:
> landotter wrote:
> > Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> > serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> > already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> > hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price, but needs guidance
> > beyond my basic skills, so humor me and let me ask some questions,
> > some dumb and googlable, and a couple that are a bit harder.
>
> > Of course he's converting to 700c, so anybody know if something like
> > the basic Tektro long reach (normal reach IMO) brakes will work? It's
> > a circa '70 model drop bar bike. Don't have the serial number. Will he
> > need Tektro's super long reach brake? I can certainly intercept him
> > and measure the drop one of these days, but we only run into each
> > other weekly.
>
> > Headset. Is it a standard size or Schwinn wierd?
>
> > Stem and bars?
>
> > Bottom bracket is of course a one piece job. I've tried to convince
> > him that though the original gear might be a bit heavy, it's strong as
> > hell, but he wants a modern Sugino crank. Are there adaptors so this
> > BB can take a modern cart BB?
>
> > Is there an alloy post available in the Schwinn size?
>
> > Help me out and there may be a bike on the road soon rocking the
> > Swedish national colors!
>
> > Du gamla, du fria...
>
> Brake reach is for 27-inch with a 730 sidepull (It's a Varsity right?
> Continentals used a 610 centerpull). Slip a 700C wheel in it and check
> the original front caliper reach. They are good Weinmann Swiss brakes so
> if the length is good, just add a teflon lined cable and Kool Stop
> shoes. Today's "long" DP calipers are yesterday's "standard" [Sheldon
> discusses this well] length and too short
Yeah, I remember there being visible room to drop the pads. I've got
some slightly worn Continentals I'll just give him. We'll just have to
replace the awful levers and cables then.
>
> Clean the headset and adjust with fresh grease. Bearings are seldom in
> need of replacement but if necessary use loose balls. The retainers are
> 'special', different top from bottom and not available. If you need a
> new headset, ask for a traditional 1" threaded "BMX" headset. The cups
> are much larger diameter than our usual road bike standards of 30.0/30.2mm.
Excellent! I'll probably just have him put fresh balls in, he's got
retainers in there now.
>
> Handlebar stem is the USA size, 21.9mm so keep the original if you have
> it. Seat post may be flipped over to use standard saddle clamps, longer
> posts are cheap and plentiful in steel, less so in aluminum. The 7/8
> inch posts can fit with a Wald shim to 13/16". Open, lube and adjust
> the BB - most will show little wear but no lube either. The second
> chainring can be removed or another OPC ring swapped while it is apart.
Yeah, he was moaning that the thing squeaked, I think he's been riding
it bone dry, but with luck, as those things are indeed tough, it
should be salvagable. I'll try to convince him to stick with OPC--I
think the Scwinn ones look kinda nice and old timey when you take off
the extra crap.
>
> p.s. Once you achieve mechanical victory, we have "Swedish Flag" Italian
> cork tape by Silva, $14.95.
No WAY! I'll try and convince him, as none of my bikes could pull
something like that off. He he.
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Date: 16 May 2007 19:35:14
From:
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 2:02 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com > wrote:
> > I'm using the TruVativ American->Euro BB adaptor. Seems very solid
> > although it always gets skeptical looks when any shop mechanics see
> > it. Installed in my backyard with a mallet and a couple bricks as an
> > anvil. The bracket shell required some "machining" with a dremel.
> > You (/your neighbor) could get a shop to do it up right with their
> > fancypants "proper equipment" and "appropriate tools." I don't think
> > I got it aligned perfectly, because occasionally after I installed the
> > ISO bracket it would loosen periodically. I used a little of the
> > milder loctite and it's been solid for a year now.
>
> So it's friction fit in a threaded American BB? Odd. I'm familiar with
> press fitting various bike bits with scrap wood and woodworking
> clamps. Never a problem.
No, the shell is plain and the adapter bushings press into it. The
three long bolts fix it in place. You might be tempted to use these
to help align things or to actually press the part in during
installation like I was but they're too small and will be in danger of
stripping.
The part that periodically loosened on me was the bottom bracket,
installed into the adapter; The adapter itself has never budged. In
fact a while ago during an overhaul I decided I'd pull it out and try
to install it a little better. With a hammer and a punch I couldn't
get it to move even a millimeter.
Especially if you've got some cranks and pedals lying around this is a
pretty worthwhile upgrade. There's probably 5-7 pounds of steel in
that one piece crank.
> > The stem will be "American" sized as well, and the bars will be 25.4mm
> > clamp diameter.
>
> Ah, so a better bar than the original shouldn't be that hard to find
> then.
Drop bars in a 25.4mm are getting pretty rare, but if he wants to go
for the flat/riser bar fixed gear aesthetic then options are
limitless.
You also asked about an alloy seatpost; they do exist. Mine is
26.6mm if I remember right.
-yhg
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Date: 16 May 2007 18:09:25
From: Michael Baldwin
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some
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..goto FIXEDGEARGALLERY and CYCLOFIEND....you'll see some fine
examples of what can be done with OPC Schwinns...
Best Regards Always - Mike Baldwin
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Date: 16 May 2007 15:45:44
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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landotter wrote:
> Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price, but needs guidance
> beyond my basic skills, so humor me and let me ask some questions,
> some dumb and googlable, and a couple that are a bit harder.
>
> Of course he's converting to 700c, so anybody know if something like
> the basic Tektro long reach (normal reach IMO) brakes will work? It's
> a circa '70 model drop bar bike. Don't have the serial number. Will he
> need Tektro's super long reach brake? I can certainly intercept him
> and measure the drop one of these days, but we only run into each
> other weekly.
>
> Headset. Is it a standard size or Schwinn wierd?
>
> Stem and bars?
>
> Bottom bracket is of course a one piece job. I've tried to convince
> him that though the original gear might be a bit heavy, it's strong as
> hell, but he wants a modern Sugino crank. Are there adaptors so this
> BB can take a modern cart BB?
>
> Is there an alloy post available in the Schwinn size?
>
> Help me out and there may be a bike on the road soon rocking the
> Swedish national colors!
>
> Du gamla, du fria...
>
Brake reach is for 27-inch with a 730 sidepull (It's a Varsity right?
Continentals used a 610 centerpull). Slip a 700C wheel in it and check
the original front caliper reach. They are good Weinmann Swiss brakes so
if the length is good, just add a teflon lined cable and Kool Stop
shoes. Today's "long" DP calipers are yesterday's "standard" [Sheldon
discusses this well] length and too short
Clean the headset and adjust with fresh grease. Bearings are seldom in
need of replacement but if necessary use loose balls. The retainers are
'special', different top from bottom and not available. If you need a
new headset, ask for a traditional 1" threaded "BMX" headset. The cups
are much larger diameter than our usual road bike standards of 30.0/30.2mm.
Handlebar stem is the USA size, 21.9mm so keep the original if you have
it. Seat post may be flipped over to use standard saddle clamps, longer
posts are cheap and plentiful in steel, less so in aluminum. The 7/8
inch posts can fit with a Wald shim to 13/16". Open, lube and adjust
the BB - most will show little wear but no lube either. The second
chainring can be removed or another OPC ring swapped while it is apart.
p.s. Once you achieve mechanical victory, we have "Swedish Flag" Italian
cork tape by Silva, $14.95.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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Date: 16 May 2007 11:02:48
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 10:08 am, gytterb...@gmail.com wrote:
> On May 16, 1:36 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> > serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> > already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> > hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price, but needs guidance
> > beyond my basic skills, so humor me and let me ask some questions,
> > some dumb and googlable, and a couple that are a bit harder.
>
> > Of course he's converting to 700c, so anybody know if something like
> > the basic Tektro long reach (normal reach IMO) brakes will work? It's
> > a circa '70 model drop bar bike. Don't have the serial number. Will he
> > need Tektro's super long reach brake? I can certainly intercept him
> > and measure the drop one of these days, but we only run into each
> > other weekly.
>
> > Headset. Is it a standard size or Schwinn wierd?
>
> > Stem and bars?
>
> > Bottom bracket is of course a one piece job. I've tried to convince
> > him that though the original gear might be a bit heavy, it's strong as
> > hell, but he wants a modern Sugino crank. Are there adaptors so this
> > BB can take a modern cart BB?
>
> > Is there an alloy post available in the Schwinn size?
>
> > Help me out and there may be a bike on the road soon rocking the
> > Swedish national colors!
>
> > Du gamla, du fria...
>
> I'm using a '73 Super Sport as my around-town bike (fillet brazed, not
> electroforged). They're very serviceable bicycles. Some things I can
> answer for sure: the headset is Schwinn weird, and there is an
> adaptor for the BB. Pretty much everything you could want appears on
> this page: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html
D'oh, forgot about that site. Good stuff.
>
> I'm using the TruVativ American->Euro BB adaptor. Seems very solid
> although it always gets skeptical looks when any shop mechanics see
> it. Installed in my backyard with a mallet and a couple bricks as an
> anvil. The bracket shell required some "machining" with a dremel.
> You (/your neighbor) could get a shop to do it up right with their
> fancypants "proper equipment" and "appropriate tools." I don't think
> I got it aligned perfectly, because occasionally after I installed the
> ISO bracket it would loosen periodically. I used a little of the
> milder loctite and it's been solid for a year now.
So it's friction fit in a threaded American BB? Odd. I'm familiar with
press fitting various bike bits with scrap wood and woodworking
clamps. Never a problem.
>
> The stem will be "American" sized as well, and the bars will be 25.4mm
> clamp diameter.
Ah, so a better bar than the original shouldn't be that hard to find
then.
>The brake reach probably varies from model to model.
> On my SS the front brake has a reasonable reach and would probably
> work with a modern long/standard reach caliper, but the rear is
> insanely long reach.
Just like Raleighs then, where you can replace the front with a normal
reach caliper, but the back requires BMX length.
>The stock brake only sort of barely reaches -
> I've given myself a few milimeters more adjustment with a file. Even
> if your neighbor's is the same I guess that wouldn't matter for a
> fixed gear.
>
I probably have a set of calipers in my bits bucket he can have for
the front. The original rear with some Continentals should be fine. I
do believe in belt and suspenders.
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Date: 16 May 2007 08:08:35
From:
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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On May 16, 1:36 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com > wrote:
> Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
> serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
> already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
> hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price, but needs guidance
> beyond my basic skills, so humor me and let me ask some questions,
> some dumb and googlable, and a couple that are a bit harder.
>
> Of course he's converting to 700c, so anybody know if something like
> the basic Tektro long reach (normal reach IMO) brakes will work? It's
> a circa '70 model drop bar bike. Don't have the serial number. Will he
> need Tektro's super long reach brake? I can certainly intercept him
> and measure the drop one of these days, but we only run into each
> other weekly.
>
> Headset. Is it a standard size or Schwinn wierd?
>
> Stem and bars?
>
> Bottom bracket is of course a one piece job. I've tried to convince
> him that though the original gear might be a bit heavy, it's strong as
> hell, but he wants a modern Sugino crank. Are there adaptors so this
> BB can take a modern cart BB?
>
> Is there an alloy post available in the Schwinn size?
>
> Help me out and there may be a bike on the road soon rocking the
> Swedish national colors!
>
> Du gamla, du fria...
I'm using a '73 Super Sport as my around-town bike (fillet brazed, not
electroforged). They're very serviceable bicycles. Some things I can
answer for sure: the headset is Schwinn weird, and there is an
adaptor for the BB. Pretty much everything you could want appears on
this page: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/opc.html
I'm using the TruVativ American- >Euro BB adaptor. Seems very solid
although it always gets skeptical looks when any shop mechanics see
it. Installed in my backyard with a mallet and a couple bricks as an
anvil. The bracket shell required some "machining" with a dremel.
You (/your neighbor) could get a shop to do it up right with their
fancypants "proper equipment" and "appropriate tools." I don't think
I got it aligned perfectly, because occasionally after I installed the
ISO bracket it would loosen periodically. I used a little of the
milder loctite and it's been solid for a year now.
The stem will be "American" sized as well, and the bars will be 25.4mm
clamp diameter. The brake reach probably varies from model to model.
On my SS the front brake has a reasonable reach and would probably
work with a modern long/standard reach caliper, but the rear is
insanely long reach. The stock brake only sort of barely reaches -
I've given myself a few milimeters more adjustment with a file. Even
if your neighbor's is the same I guess that wouldn't matter for a
fixed gear.
-yhg
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Date: 16 May 2007 11:00:55
From: G.T.
Subject: Re: Neighbor's building an electroforged Schwinn fixie...some questions
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> On May 16, 1:36 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Which I think is very cool, considering the bomb proof frame and its
>> serious underdogness. It's yellow with not a scratch on it! He's
>> already purchased a set of fixed gear wheels, Deep-Vs in blue on Campy
>> hubs laced with butted DT spokes for a fair price,
Sounds like the guys who put Shimano Deore XT parts on Murrays. Overkill.
Greg
--
The ticketbastard Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html
Dethink to survive - Mclusky
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