How Light is Your Lightweight?

[mazdaflyer]

Not really a lightweight but this 700c 1930 Schwinn was an original 28” wheel bike. It comes in at 37.2# at present.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Miq]

Thank you @mazdaflyer ! Great addition. I love the look of your 1930 Schwinn Tankless Mix-master bike! Fits nicely under the 1929 Westfield. Rear forks rock.

 

[Miq]

@martinto 's fixed gear 1940 Westfield Road Racer comes in at a very respectable 26 lbs. Looks fast.

Thanks martinto!

 

[Miq]

I got some new info from Sven recently. He weighed his 41 lb. 1979 Suburban again after he installed a set of very cool Wald folding baskets. The baskets add another 5.5 pounds to the total weight (46.5 lbs total!) when equipped.

Thanks Sven!

 

[3-speeder]

Hopped back on the scale today.
1976 Schwinn Super Le Tour 12.2 with rear rack, replacement bars and brake handles - 28lbs
1953 Schwinn Varsity, my Burl Ives Special with 3-speed SA hub - 37lbs

 

[Miq]

Nice additions @3-speeder !

 

[1951 C.W.S]

1951 C.W.S Model 5 Mens Roadster
-28 in wheels 26 in frame
37 lbs
I'll post more when i get my collection .

 

[Miq]

Thanks @1951 C.W.S!

 

[HPL]

Thanks @HPL! That World tourist at 28 lbs sounds like a blast. I'd love to see a pic if you can dig any up.

Your Varsity looks really clean. Hope a tall rider buys it soon.

Here is the Schwinn "World Tourist" (May 1980 per serial, Taiwan built?)I finished last summer for a friend's birthday. Finally able to travel and take some photos of it. He is a University of Florida fan so I gave it a little school color, but trying to be subtle and not make it into a "Gator" circus bike. Started out as sluggish 5 speed; replaced steel components with mostly new aluminum parts. Now it's a rather fast 7 speed (52T x 14,16,18,20,22,24,26T) with '79 vintage Silstar triple fluted crankset "mirror" polished (removed anodizing on ring) with custom embellishing, and Sun "Levanter" rims with Schwalbe 700 x 25 tires. I ride European racers, but I thoroughly enjoyed test riding this bike before gifting it. Has a Cloud 9 saddle (w/QR clamp) which was after I already gave him a somewhat newer Schwinn saddle to try out, and then another saddle to test against the Schwinn's ride. He was still a little uncomfortable so I threw on the "C 9"; third time's a charm (probably make for good advertising). Modern Schwinn branded aluminum rear rack painted to match. Original paint fenders and chain guard on hand if needed. This is the first custom bike I have done so I tried to make it as best as I could within a fairly small budget, about $140-$150 total.

 

[HPL]

@SKPC "It really makes a difference in how an old bike rides if it is carefully re-constructed with light/modern parts. My interest in this hobby/sport combo is based on riding the bike, not looking at it." "....man oh man when finished they are something else to ride."

I fully agree with the above statements. It is a testament to the quality design of the frame geometry for performance purposes when you strip off the steel parts and replace with aluminum; of course rims/tires probably give most bikes their primary difference in performance. On the "World Tourist" build the goal was not necessarily to lessen the load so to speak, but improve the overall performance. Although about 11lbs were dropped, it would be easy to take it down couple more pounds with a lighter saddle, pulling the rack off, and going with lighter higher end components. I didn't notice the 28 pound weight. The reason I enjoyed riding it, although built for another, was it's feel and function. If I had slapped on a racing saddle, drop bar, and clipless pedals (built for my use) it would not only have been nearly the same weight as my "trainer/cross" bike (Batavus "Criterium" @ 24 lbs, riding with 700 x 30mm tires, not my normal 23-25's), but with a similar feel also. The Schwinn burns up the pavement with the 25mm tires on it, something my friend is not used to.