Schwinn Madison love
08-08-10, 10:37 PM
#276
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08-17-10, 08:47 PM
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09-09-10, 01:14 AM
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09-09-10, 08:39 AM
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09-11-10, 08:40 PM
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09-11-10, 09:38 PM
#286
Your cog is slipping.
Thread Starter
Because there are plenty of companies that immediately come to mind when discussing fixed gear bikes and Schwinn usually isn't one of them. That and the fact that you don't see too many of them around out in the wild. I, personally, have never seen another one in my area besides mine.
09-12-10, 11:08 AM
#287
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True...I see mostly Bianchi Pistas and the occasional Fuji and Langster. I saw a Cervelo once and a coupke of Kilos....and I have yet to see any Felts in the wild.
09-12-10, 11:53 AM
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09-12-10, 12:00 PM
#290
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i see a ton of them in seattle.
then again, i also see njs track bikes in the wild that i've never seen before on a monthly basis.
then again, i also see njs track bikes in the wild that i've never seen before on a monthly basis.
09-12-10, 12:52 PM
#291
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The first Schwinn Madison started the craze. When I picked mine up several years on eBay, I had no idea it would come out again... it may be awhile before they come back to the 1980s coloring scheme....
09-12-10, 03:21 PM
#292
Your cog is slipping.
Thread Starter
They already did...in 2007.
09-12-10, 04:25 PM
#294
Your cog is slipping.
Thread Starter
[img]********************************data/media/2/spock_slap.gif[/img]
09-15-10, 12:13 PM
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Really enjoyed this thread, as I picked up a 2009 black and yellow Madison just before the summer started for $300 on Craigslist. (Great deal it seems.)
I loved the bike on first ride but have been struggling with it since. It's my daily commuter and gets about 20 miles per day to and from work over the Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge. Some days I really like it, some days I find it just OK. And I honestly can't say that I have seen more than one or two of these on the road over the past four months. Thanks Bike Snob.
I had to make a few adjustments off the top. The pedals fell apart on me, so those are replaced with track pedals. And I found the original stem and aero brakes way too long for my torso.
In general, the bike fit OK, but it is big. I'm 5'10 with a 31 inch inseam and a longer torso and arms, and the small is really pushing it.
I threw on a 90mm Easton stem and swapped out the stock handlebars with a nice 40cm FSA bar, and traded the stock aero brakes (which I also found felt and looked plastic and cheap) for a set of cane creak top levers.
The bike fits much better now, and looks sleeker, all told I'm in about $150 in upgrades so far.
Now I'm contemplating whether I want to take the Madison through the winter and into next year.
The biggest problem I've had with bike is that I need to replace a rear inner tube about once every 3 weeks. I've still got the stock Kendra tires on the bike, and they need to go if it's going to stick around. Total crap. And the bike has started to feel sluggish over the past couple of weeks which says to me the bottom bracket might be on the way out.
Overall, I find the bike to be a bit heavy, but its still a singlespeed. Compared to my beloved Panasonic DX-2000 I've been commuting on, it's light as a feather. But it outweighs my Gunnar by a good 5-8 pounds. Still, I love that I can park it anywhere in the city and not worry about it and that I didn't get suckered into buying someone else's "vintage" rusted out Kent for $350 on craigslist.
If it's going to stay, it is going to need some work.
Here's what I'm thinking, and I'm looking for suggestions:
1) Replace the wheelset -- I'm trying to find an upgrade without breaking the bank. I came across a new IRO custom set in blue for $99. I think that might be the way to go, but would love suggestions.
2) Got to replace the Kendras -- Definitely thinking high pressure tires. I love the Michelin Pro-3's I have on the Gunnar, but I just can't see spending another $60 per tire, so if anyone has any other options, please let me know. I do like that the stock tires are 700-28c's and like the idea of a bigger tire to get through the winter. I also know dropping down to the 700-23 is going to speed up the bike. Any thoughts on that? Or suggestions for a solid, fast 700-28 tire?
3) I like the black and yellow, but after seeing the chrome on this thread, the idea of stripping down the bike to all chrome really appeals to me. Any suggestions on how to do this or on how much this might cost to get a pro to do it for me?
Thanks for the help....
I loved the bike on first ride but have been struggling with it since. It's my daily commuter and gets about 20 miles per day to and from work over the Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge. Some days I really like it, some days I find it just OK. And I honestly can't say that I have seen more than one or two of these on the road over the past four months. Thanks Bike Snob.
I had to make a few adjustments off the top. The pedals fell apart on me, so those are replaced with track pedals. And I found the original stem and aero brakes way too long for my torso.
In general, the bike fit OK, but it is big. I'm 5'10 with a 31 inch inseam and a longer torso and arms, and the small is really pushing it.
I threw on a 90mm Easton stem and swapped out the stock handlebars with a nice 40cm FSA bar, and traded the stock aero brakes (which I also found felt and looked plastic and cheap) for a set of cane creak top levers.
The bike fits much better now, and looks sleeker, all told I'm in about $150 in upgrades so far.
Now I'm contemplating whether I want to take the Madison through the winter and into next year.
The biggest problem I've had with bike is that I need to replace a rear inner tube about once every 3 weeks. I've still got the stock Kendra tires on the bike, and they need to go if it's going to stick around. Total crap. And the bike has started to feel sluggish over the past couple of weeks which says to me the bottom bracket might be on the way out.
Overall, I find the bike to be a bit heavy, but its still a singlespeed. Compared to my beloved Panasonic DX-2000 I've been commuting on, it's light as a feather. But it outweighs my Gunnar by a good 5-8 pounds. Still, I love that I can park it anywhere in the city and not worry about it and that I didn't get suckered into buying someone else's "vintage" rusted out Kent for $350 on craigslist.
If it's going to stay, it is going to need some work.
Here's what I'm thinking, and I'm looking for suggestions:
1) Replace the wheelset -- I'm trying to find an upgrade without breaking the bank. I came across a new IRO custom set in blue for $99. I think that might be the way to go, but would love suggestions.
2) Got to replace the Kendras -- Definitely thinking high pressure tires. I love the Michelin Pro-3's I have on the Gunnar, but I just can't see spending another $60 per tire, so if anyone has any other options, please let me know. I do like that the stock tires are 700-28c's and like the idea of a bigger tire to get through the winter. I also know dropping down to the 700-23 is going to speed up the bike. Any thoughts on that? Or suggestions for a solid, fast 700-28 tire?
3) I like the black and yellow, but after seeing the chrome on this thread, the idea of stripping down the bike to all chrome really appeals to me. Any suggestions on how to do this or on how much this might cost to get a pro to do it for me?
Thanks for the help....