Look what I just got...
 

schwinn Prelude; $50. I had to swap out the old seat and seat post, looks like a tube needs to be patched and the back wheel is a bit out of true, but it'll ride.https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7bcb632384.jpg

You got a good buy.

I've had two of those. Both '87.

Yeah, trying to find information; I found a result that listed on $399.99. The back wheel needs to be trued, but I'm going to get a 700c wheelset at some point. I tested some flex tape like in this video I saw. It supposedly gets stronger with curing time and/or tension/pressure. Been holding at 40psi for about 45min. Has 27x1⅛ tires.

Gonna be a budget build; wheels, brakes, tape. Funny thing; that saddle came from a Schwinn Ranger, it had an old schwinn approved matress saddle on it.

I'm loving it. Haven't had a roadbike since 2015. It's not bad for a 12speed. I feel I may need to change out tha official schwinn saddle.https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...758d7beeb8.jpg

1986

Nice! Some love for those in C&V.

https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCa...986Ltwt30.html

https://waterfordbikes.com/SchwinnCa...986Ltwt11.html

And this:

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/167046280.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...db4561da1c.jpg

New wheels, who dis?
Thanks guys, part one of budget build has begun. I just noticed that one of the idler pulleys is broken, hopefully I can find a replacement, bad enough it's missing the barrel adjuster. Kinda cringeworthy seeing 30lbs being a lightwieght bike in the late eighties.

Plenty of options for after market pulleys that will work.

30 lbs seems high. I would have guessed around 25-27.My 86 paramount is 22 and its a larger frame at 61cm.

Glad you got rid of the dork disc. :thumb:

Yeah, looked at my old post about mine. I had it right at 22 lbs even with saddle, bottle cages, and Look Keo pedals. Mine was running DA-7400 to include the clincher wheels. Tange Prestige is light stuff.

Ya I wouldn’t spend a dime upgrading that personally

What bike do you have now?

Not everyone can get a Madone for half of retail.

You have to be a professional racer to justify owning a bike like that.

nice ride.

No, mine is like 22. The article stated the Varsity redesign brought it down to 30lbs, in to the light bike catagory. Lol when is a 30lb bike, light?

Dude I got the wheelset from(of which only the rear ended up being usable) asked if I wanted one on there, while he looked for a cassette to fit, showing me a clear and black one. We kinda got a chuckle out of it, and dropped them back in the box.

It's one of those weird wheels from when 8sps were getting popular and cassettes were replacing freewheels; it's supposed to take a 7sp cassette, that's not common, so he put a brand new 8spd cassette, minus a gear. Got those wheels, cassette, Suntour brake levers all for $25. Cool thing is, as much as I like the Diacomp calipers on it, with the "aero" castlenuts; if I can find suntour calipers, short the wheels, it'll have a whole suntour group.

Thanks man. I love it. I have named it the Gray Ghost

That's you, though. I don't want a bike that cost as much, or more than a car, motorcycle or a piece of construction equipment, nor do I have the money.

Bikes are like hotrodding to me; make it your own, make it work, and work good. Nothing wrong with putting a bit of work in an old bike. If I could, I'd rather be restomodding a 74 Ford Maverick, I can't, so I'm restomodding this. As a daily driver it needs to be comfortable and perform well. It's not like I'm dropping carbon on the thing.
Bike $50
Tires $22 a piece
Front rim kicking around my apartment
Back rim(plus front), brake levers(not on it) $25
Lizardskin bartape(not on it) $38
Red cable housings $2 per ft(TBA)
Saddle(TBA)
Security skewers(TBA)
Red bmx pedals(TBA)
Not a lot of money. Still going to be dope when finished. The money spent will probably end up still being less than it cost new.

Do you have any bike co-ops in the area? I have one about 120 miles away, but it's worth the drive when you can get stuff like nice seats, cranksets and stems for $5-10. $50 will buy more bike parts than you can carry out without a bag. Great resource for projects like yours.

Yeah, I used to volunteer at it until life got in the way.

I had to put another RD on it, one of the idlers fell off after replacing one. Not a single idler from any RD would fit. I got to thinking; should I have the original fixed, or replace it, keep it's original group for the most part, or not? I'm already thinking about new dual pivot calipers. Of course the RX100 RD is going back in the box with it's family, until a new home can be had of my Fuji Trutemper.

John S. Mosby, Confederate cavalry commander's nickname. He once kidnapped a Union general of no import during a raid on Fairfax Courthouse. Informed of his capture and the need to negotiate a prisoner exchange, Lincoln was reported to have said, "I can make a general in 5 minutes."