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Custom using a ladies frame

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Girl bikes are where it's at!
This one is currently apart for Bondo for the skirts, paint, lube.
It's a Chinese made 80's Schwinn collegiate, no problems with any mods.
Cool things are that it's got a three speed coaster brake. And it's still got a decent looking frame with the curved tubes.

IMG_20210807_142038531.jpg
 
That BLUE circa '83 or '84 is made by GIANT of Taiwan. They made a few bikes for SCHWINN.
The GIANT built Collegiate followed the last Chicago built Collegiates.
The GIANT built Schwinn had 3 piece cranks and industry standard 590mm, 26 x 1 3/8 tires, NOT THE 597mm 26 X 1 3/8 tires that old Chicago Schwinns were famous for.
That GIANT bicycle is significantly LIGHTER than the old Collegiate, or any of the ancient Chicago LIGHTWEIGHT 26" wheel (597mm) variants like the ancient Chicago built Collegiate, Breeze, Racer, Speedster, Traveler, CO-ED, & others, etc.
You'll probably see G at the serial number that indicates GIANT manufactured it.
They were relatively good bicycles, and much better as a whole than the CHINESE (Pacific Cycle schwinns) of the past thirty years or so. Not that the recent CHINESE(Pacific Cycle schwinns) are badly built from a frame perspective. The frames are done well enough and the paint quality is outstanding for even a bike that is four times the cost of such a Walmart or Target Pacific Cycle schwinn. The wheels are decent enough but the quality of the rear cogs, the front & rear caliper brakes and the shifters are as low as you can get and still have a functional bicycle. Other than those trash components which can sometimes be significantly improved via replacement at minimal expense will make for an otherwise excellent bicycle. Yes the handlebar chrome, the pedals, and the fenders are junk but functional, and the seat may not be very comfortable, but those items don't impact the durability or functionality of the bicycle. Generally, the wheels and tires on said new Chinese Pacific Cycle schwinn Products are better than decent. Chinese bicycles today are better than many realize. At such an incredibly low price point at Walmart & Target, one does get something that is simple (one piece crank). Pacific Cycle's various schwinn offerings, and Huffy's Cranbrook & others, including Kent's Bayside and other similar variants ARE NOT SO BAD. You'd need to Grease the crank (BB) bearings if not the wheel and headset bearings too, because on such low cost items, they don't sufficiently grease the bearings, as Time Saved & Cost of Grease Saved X hundreds of thousands of bikes, keeps price low and Walmart-Target 's margin in line and most importantly aids in guaranteeing future bicycle sales because the bicycle Will Be Replaced when the ungreased bearings become problematic or the shifter breaks, whichever occurs first. (likely within 40 months) as most folks won't try to fix such a simple problem, and any professional servicing of said bicycle will cost nearly 80% of what one would likely pay to obtain another inexpensive New Bicycle from Walmart or Target.

Don't shun the current era Chinese basic bicycles that one sees at Walmart or Target. Even a ten or fifteen year old bicycle like that if it was stored indoors and isn't rusted can be a potential candidate for "upgrading" perhaps with quality USED fenders from something ancient, and better seat, better pedals like those copies of the German made bow pedals that Schwinn used on the Suburban in the 1970's and on certain select models during the sixties. Old used Schwinn bow pedals from such a Suburban, etc would be great assuming the pedals were in excellent, cosmetically presentable condition. The same could be said for the old Schwinn 7881 handlebars that were made between 1967 & 1977 and common to the SUBURBAN & COLLEGIA, Breeze etc, as well as others.

Decals of all types, can be purchased relatively inexpensively, and Rustoleum and Rustoleum 2X and other spray enamels such as Farm Equipment (think Tractors..) colors for matching the factory colors of tractors, etc.
With just a bit of creativity, one can repaint & retro "upgrade" said el-cheapo Wallyworld specials into something that would have looked like something Opie Taylor & his pal John E. Paul were riding in 1962, before they saw The Beatles on Sullivan in Feb 1964, and bought electric guitars and amplifiers, forming a band , drinking Otis' moonshine, chasing girls and smoking reefer.

Women's frames, mens frames, old or new can make superb riders that will look as good as your creativity can go.
It is such a shame that too many fools refuse to ride a women's frame (step through) simply because they are afraid of what others might think. -if the bicycle is otherwise large enough to fit them so they can comfortably ride it-
Such an insecure fool could always break out the welder and make a custom "boys" bike.
I do understand the simplicity of using donor parts that are the same from a girls bike which likely received better care than the beat up to hell, boys bike, because the mkt value of an old girls bike is near zero and a similar old boys model would be worth substantially more. Used modern day basic Chinese made bicycles have very little market value because nearly all are being sold because they either no longer look presentable or they need remedial repairs before they can be ridden.
Sometimes though you might see such an old women's bike, or modern era China produced basic bicycle that can be a Neat Project too, and the acquisition cost is peanuts. Mix and match old antique fenders, paint schemes etc on such a project.
Let your imagination and creativity run wild.
 
That BLUE circa '83 or '84 is made by GIANT of Taiwan. They made a few bikes for SCHWINN.
The GIANT built Collegiate followed the last Chicago built Collegiates.
The GIANT built Schwinn had 3 piece cranks and industry standard 590mm, 26 x 1 3/8 tires, NOT THE 597mm 26 X 1 3/8 tires that old Chicago Schwinns were famous for.
That GIANT bicycle is significantly LIGHTER than the old Collegiate, or any of the ancient Chicago LIGHTWEIGHT 26" wheel (597mm) variants like the ancient Chicago built Collegiate, Breeze, Racer, Speedster, Traveler, CO-ED, & others, etc.
You'll probably see G at the serial number that indicates GIANT manufactured it.
They were relatively good bicycles, and much better as a whole than the CHINESE (Pacific Cycle schwinns) of the past thirty years or so. Not that the recent CHINESE(Pacific Cycle schwinns) are badly built from a frame perspective. The frames are done well enough and the paint quality is outstanding for even a bike that is four times the cost of such a Walmart or Target Pacific Cycle schwinn. The wheels are decent enough but the quality of the rear cogs, the front & rear caliper brakes and the shifters are as low as you can get and still have a functional bicycle. Other than those trash components which can sometimes be significantly improved via replacement at minimal expense will make for an otherwise excellent bicycle. Yes the handlebar chrome, the pedals, and the fenders are junk but functional, and the seat may not be very comfortable, but those items don't impact the durability or functionality of the bicycle. Generally, the wheels and tires on said new Chinese Pacific Cycle schwinn Products are better than decent. Chinese bicycles today are better than many realize. At such an incredibly low price point at Walmart & Target, one does get something that is simple (one piece crank). Pacific Cycle's various schwinn offerings, and Huffy's Cranbrook & others, including Kent's Bayside and other similar variants ARE NOT SO BAD. You'd need to Grease the crank (BB) bearings if not the wheel and headset bearings too, because on such low cost items, they don't sufficiently grease the bearings, as Time Saved & Cost of Grease Saved X hundreds of thousands of bikes, keeps price low and Walmart-Target 's margin in line and most importantly aids in guaranteeing future bicycle sales because the bicycle Will Be Replaced when the ungreased bearings become problematic or the shifter breaks, whichever occurs first. (likely within 40 months) as most folks won't try to fix such a simple problem, and any professional servicing of said bicycle will cost nearly 80% of what one would likely pay to obtain another inexpensive New Bicycle from Walmart or Target.

Don't shun the current era Chinese basic bicycles that one sees at Walmart or Target. Even a ten or fifteen year old bicycle like that if it was stored indoors and isn't rusted can be a potential candidate for "upgrading" perhaps with quality USED fenders from something ancient, and better seat, better pedals like those copies of the German made bow pedals that Schwinn used on the Suburban in the 1970's and on certain select models during the sixties. Old used Schwinn bow pedals from such a Suburban, etc would be great assuming the pedals were in excellent, cosmetically presentable condition. The same could be said for the old Schwinn 7881 handlebars that were made between 1967 & 1977 and common to the SUBURBAN & COLLEGIA, Breeze etc, as well as others.

Decals of all types, can be purchased relatively inexpensively, and Rustoleum and Rustoleum 2X and other spray enamels such as Farm Equipment (think Tractors..) colors for matching the factory colors of tractors, etc.
With just a bit of creativity, one can repaint & retro "upgrade" said el-cheapo Wallyworld specials into something that would have looked like something Opie Taylor & his pal John E. Paul were riding in 1962, before they saw The Beatles on Sullivan in Feb 1964, and bought electric guitars and amplifiers, forming a band , drinking Otis' moonshine, chasing girls and smoking reefer.

Women's frames, mens frames, old or new can make superb riders that will look as good as your creativity can go.
It is such a shame that too many fools refuse to ride a women's frame (step through) simply because they are afraid of what others might think. -if the bicycle is otherwise large enough to fit them so they can comfortably ride it-
Such an insecure fool could always break out the welder and make a custom "boys" bike.
I do understand the simplicity of using donor parts that are the same from a girls bike which likely received better care than the beat up to hell, boys bike, because the mkt value of an old girls bike is near zero and a similar old boys model would be worth substantially more. Used modern day basic Chinese made bicycles have very little market value because nearly all are being sold because they either no longer look presentable or they need remedial repairs before they can be ridden.
Sometimes though you might see such an old women's bike, or modern era China produced basic bicycle that can be a Neat Project too, and the acquisition cost is peanuts. Mix and match old antique fenders, paint schemes etc on such a project.
Let your imagination and creativity run wild

I couldn't agree more. Aside from expressing my thoughts on the whole thing, girl bikes, etc., you confirmed a few suspicions I had about The Collegiate. The guy I bought it from said that his daughter rode it through all of high school and a lot of college. Even when she got a high end road bike it was still here daily driver. Then I got hold of it and proceeded to put a couple more hundred miles on it. This bike was parked in a car port, probably outdoors its whole life. Thing is that the wheels never bent, the Shimano 3CC shifts like new, etc. I suspected that it was higher quality than most (including me) would have guessed.

I gave my son a Huffy Santa Fe that I got free. With a little grease in the bottom bracket, polishing the front cog and crank, a 23 tooth rear cog, and a quick plastidip paint job, it's a smooth, quiet, rider that he loves
1480521


. We agree that the girl frame looks cool. Personally, I think that with some makes, models, and vintages the girlbike looks better
 
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