Lots of idea, thanks. As far as getting the bike lighter, I already put alloy rims on....the crank is alloy on the '74......aluminum or alloy seat post is a great idea. It's wearing Trisport Flack Jackets which wear like cast iron. I don't really care that much about originality as the bikes are not extremely valuable and improvements to make the bike lighter that look somewhat period are fine with me.
The pedal end cap seam is invisible which means it's soldered and or cast into the cage. If you looked at the video I posted, the pedals come apart where they are crimp twisted. I'm sure that was common on cheap pedals. I would love to get rebuild-able replacements. If I were to use oil, it would be Phil's Tenacious Oil. But if I get them apart, they'll get grease.
Some frames were Giant, some were Panasonic. Mine says "Approved Japan" on the headstamp. The serial #' were often on the lower portion of the headstamp, but also appeared on the left dropout or right dropout......all having to do with frame origin. Mine is on the left dropout and starts with 'G'. One source says that means Giant.....another source says that is the month of manufacture;second character means year which on mine is 4. No designation between 70's frames and 80's frames....you're supposed to know the difference. What's confusing is that my serial also has '77' on it.
So the info on serial identification is kinda muddled. There's a guy on YouTube who is restoring Schwinn bikes of many models. He restored a red '74 that looks identical in every way to mine....that's why I'm guessing mine is a '74 along with the serial #.
They were a good mid-priced Schwinn 10spd back in the day. The Paramount's were ridiculously priced;the LeTours were a good counter option with light components and aftermarket stuff could only improve it. I was looking at a Super LeTour frame which is supposed to be even lighter.....thinking of swapping everything onto it from my LeTour......but it sold.
Kevin
The pedal end cap seam is invisible which means it's soldered and or cast into the cage. If you looked at the video I posted, the pedals come apart where they are crimp twisted. I'm sure that was common on cheap pedals. I would love to get rebuild-able replacements. If I were to use oil, it would be Phil's Tenacious Oil. But if I get them apart, they'll get grease.
Some frames were Giant, some were Panasonic. Mine says "Approved Japan" on the headstamp. The serial #' were often on the lower portion of the headstamp, but also appeared on the left dropout or right dropout......all having to do with frame origin. Mine is on the left dropout and starts with 'G'. One source says that means Giant.....another source says that is the month of manufacture;second character means year which on mine is 4. No designation between 70's frames and 80's frames....you're supposed to know the difference. What's confusing is that my serial also has '77' on it.
So the info on serial identification is kinda muddled. There's a guy on YouTube who is restoring Schwinn bikes of many models. He restored a red '74 that looks identical in every way to mine....that's why I'm guessing mine is a '74 along with the serial #.
They were a good mid-priced Schwinn 10spd back in the day. The Paramount's were ridiculously priced;the LeTours were a good counter option with light components and aftermarket stuff could only improve it. I was looking at a Super LeTour frame which is supposed to be even lighter.....thinking of swapping everything onto it from my LeTour......but it sold.
Kevin
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