Another new guy....with intro
11-18-18, 05:22 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Another new guy....with intro
Hi everyone, just joined the Forum in search for advise and help, guidance for the journey and may add my 2 Cents of advise if it seems beneficial for the community.
As my Username implies, I collect and restore antique Maytag washing machine engines (and others), had plenty of motorcycles to tinker with, but find the bikes quit therapeutic and easier to deal with. Coming from Europe I am certainly no stranger to cycling, but living for more than 20 years in the southern part of the USA, I just recently found my way back through mountain biking and now my hunter and collector genes had my accumulating quite a few bikes to restore and play with.
Got a hold of 3 early '70s Schwinn Varsity bikes, from the local landfill! , which I could not see going to the crusher. While one is actually quite decent and should be easy fix with the obvious new tubes/tires and the general maintenance of bearings, it is the very tall frame, so not suitable for me as a riding bike. The other 2 are complete but need attention at every corner. One smaller frame would work for me.
So where do people go from here? Even a full blown restoration will "only" net you a Schwinn bicycle, not very collectible and you are upside-down by spending more money than these bike are worth. Customizing one and upgrading it with more modern parts is also a way to gain skills and expertise, but would definitely deviate from the original look and feel of a '70s bike. Or taking it apart and supply others with needed parts for their specific restoration? Hate doing that, but if it helps get another project off the ground.....Just got an old Canadian built Leader back on its wheels recently with a mild custom job and I like it. And as long as there are bikes out there for almost next to nothing, I see my basement filling up quickly.
Cheers, ouch, that was quite a long intro
As my Username implies, I collect and restore antique Maytag washing machine engines (and others), had plenty of motorcycles to tinker with, but find the bikes quit therapeutic and easier to deal with. Coming from Europe I am certainly no stranger to cycling, but living for more than 20 years in the southern part of the USA, I just recently found my way back through mountain biking and now my hunter and collector genes had my accumulating quite a few bikes to restore and play with.
Got a hold of 3 early '70s Schwinn Varsity bikes, from the local landfill! , which I could not see going to the crusher. While one is actually quite decent and should be easy fix with the obvious new tubes/tires and the general maintenance of bearings, it is the very tall frame, so not suitable for me as a riding bike. The other 2 are complete but need attention at every corner. One smaller frame would work for me.
So where do people go from here? Even a full blown restoration will "only" net you a Schwinn bicycle, not very collectible and you are upside-down by spending more money than these bike are worth. Customizing one and upgrading it with more modern parts is also a way to gain skills and expertise, but would definitely deviate from the original look and feel of a '70s bike. Or taking it apart and supply others with needed parts for their specific restoration? Hate doing that, but if it helps get another project off the ground.....Just got an old Canadian built Leader back on its wheels recently with a mild custom job and I like it. And as long as there are bikes out there for almost next to nothing, I see my basement filling up quickly.
Cheers, ouch, that was quite a long intro
11-18-18, 05:27 PM
#2
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Welcome to Bike Forums Maytag!
11-18-18, 05:54 PM
#3
bikenut
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Hello and Welcome. You need to visit the Classic&Vintage section. There will be plenty of ideas, suggestions and temptations for those Schwinns. 
11-18-18, 09:47 PM
#4
So it is
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Maytag. Cool. 
Welcome to Bike Forums!
Welcome to Bike Forums!
11-19-18, 08:54 AM
#6
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Maytag, welcome to bikeforums! Hope you like it here enough to get your post count above 10 so you can get pic and PM privileges. We need to talk
11-19-18, 08:59 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Yep, seeing your avatar, I agree.
I am working on my contributions, I just don't want to ramble on
I am working on my contributions, I just don't want to ramble on
11-19-18, 10:14 AM
#9
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