tjfastback66

With my high school graduation money, I went out and bought a new Schwinn Le Tour in 1981.

I rode it everywhere, but shortly after that got a job selling bicycles at another dealer in the area.

They sold Raleigh, Cannondale, Trek and Ross bikes.

They gave me so much crap about my “Schwine” that in the end I ended up ordering a 1983 Raleigh Prestige Grand Sport – and still have it to this day.

Two weeks ago, I was at the Grand Rapids MN Swap meet & Flee market and came across a time capsule - 1981 Schwinn Le Tour in its’ original attire. Tires held air; the shifters worked as they should. It was chrome rims that were starting to pit – but it was all there right down to the thick padded handlebars and Le Tour labeled seat.

All for $15.00 ! So, I took it home – cleaned it up. And verified the serial number on the rear stay started with the number 1 and head badge ended with the number 1 meaning 1981. Frosty Silver and 25” large frame.

Now deciding that I should sell it as I really don’t have room for, let see 10 bikes?

Eyes Roll

Price?

Handsome bike, btw.

Prowler 

^^^^^^^ only 10 bikes so far. Get busy, eh!




So the man says: Prowler! Only 20 bikes? Whatza matter?

pastorbobnlnh 

Since the LeTour was your original 10-speed, bought with your own money, and since you only paid $15 for this time capsule which looks as if you just unpacked and assembled it after being in storage for 42 years, you need to keep this LeTour. (I know this was a run-on sentence.)

Okay, time to look through the old photos and find one to post of you on the '81 LeTour before you were shamed and humiliated by your snobby Raleigh coworkers.

kroozer 

Nice find at a great price! I have been to that swap meet several times and never found anything that interested me, mostly over-priced junk that oughta be taken to the recycler. I might be interested in the bike on behalf of my brother, who rides a 25" frame. The Le Tour eventually got a chrome-moly frame, would that be one? I am in the area, Sugar Lake a bit SW of GR, so shipping wouldn't be an issue.

Kabuki12

I never really paid attention to these . After graduating high school in 1972 or so I gave my Varsity away and got into longer distances on my bike so I bought a very light racing bike to ride. A few years ago my mail carrier , after seeing me ride at lunch , asked if I knew someone who could get his old ten speed back on the road. It had been stored at his mom’s house . It was a Le Tour IV that he had bought new. I offered to go through it for him so he dropped it off. A beautiful , dusty , Strawberry Red. It was , as you say , a time capsule. After going through the bike and regreasing all the bearings , polishing up the chrome, and putting new cables and bar wrap on , I took it for a ride. I had not been on a heavy bike for many years. I was pleasantly surprised by the comfy feel of that bike. Yea, I would find room for that just for around town cruising .

abdon 

Lies! If you have space for 9 bikes, you have space for 10 bikes

They can be good bikes to ride around but sadly they pretty much can't even be parted out, the components are as generic as they come.

Heck if I were to keep one I would give up on the nostalgia to keep it original and instead I would upgrade it with mid range components. Alloy rims, alloy seatpost, Brooks saddle, better brakes and derailleurs, etc.

tjfastback66

Yes $15.00 - cash!
the original MSRP was $249.95 if I recall correctly.

tjfastback66

I found a picture of My original Le Tour !


Not a very good photo but I had already changed out some things.

Roger M

Nice find, tjfastback66. The first bike that I bought with my own hard earned dollars was a red 1974 Le tour. Some of my best bike memories are on that bike. At twelve years old, it brought me an almost infinite amount of freedom.

I wanted a Paramount, but my folks weren't going to pitch in for the upgrade.