Hi, Schwinn lovers. I grew up fighting with my brother John over who would get the front seat of the blue tandem bike my folks bought at a yard sale in the 60s for $15. A few years ago, Mom and Dad told me they thought they'd give me the old bike, and Dad suggested it might be fun for my son Nate (then 17) to fix it up. Problem: Dad said this in front of my daughter Anna (then 14) who, in a feminist passion and without my permission or knowledge, decided to fix it up herself. I found her sitting amongst the dismantled parts and I was so upset that she angstily tossed all the bits in a bucket and never touched it again. She grew up and joined the Marines and I trimmed my anger down to the level of being peeved. But I was a little brokenhearted, because I had never intended to let either of my teenkids touch that bike. I was going to take it to my bike guy Arvin and see if he and I could fix it up together.
My husband recently cleaned out the shed and found all the parts, and for Mother's Day he thought he'd get the old tandem in running order. He soon learned it wasn't a half-day job for a generally handy guy with just the average bike-maintenance experience of those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s. But now we're on a quest.
Biggest problem: rear wheel has a crack clear across the rim. It's an S-7 5-speed.
It has Schwinn on the top bar, the arrow on the front fork. All paint is gone where "Schwinn Twinn" may have been? Chrome fenders. No third rail in front.
Any suggestions, advice, year estimations? I've never restored anything in my life and I'm not sure whether I'm going for a full restoration or just getting the bike in running order so my twin boys (13 next week!) can enjoy it the way John and I did.
My husband recently cleaned out the shed and found all the parts, and for Mother's Day he thought he'd get the old tandem in running order. He soon learned it wasn't a half-day job for a generally handy guy with just the average bike-maintenance experience of those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s. But now we're on a quest.
Biggest problem: rear wheel has a crack clear across the rim. It's an S-7 5-speed.
It has Schwinn on the top bar, the arrow on the front fork. All paint is gone where "Schwinn Twinn" may have been? Chrome fenders. No third rail in front.
Any suggestions, advice, year estimations? I've never restored anything in my life and I'm not sure whether I'm going for a full restoration or just getting the bike in running order so my twin boys (13 next week!) can enjoy it the way John and I did.