Looking to Confirm OG Chicago Schwinn Bicycle
03-07-24, 01:40 PM
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Looking to Confirm OG Chicago Schwinn Bicycle
Well, I started off looking for a beater bike to go around town, and I may have accidentally scooped up an original Schwinn Chicago Continental road bike.
- The SN: 00099776 and is on the left side (front facing of the bicycle) base of the head tube.
- Head tube shifters
- Color is "Hulk" or "Rolex" green
- White schwinn badge with black lettering of Schwinn - it says Chicago in line with the bottom of the oval badge
- It has caliper brakes that says "Schwinn Approved TYPE LC 2.7"
- The brake handlebars have a continutation piece that allows you to lean on the tops of the handlebars and grab under to also brake, making it easy to not have to move to the hoods to brake.
- Can't post photos because I have a new account :/
03-07-24, 03:32 PM
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I don't think Schwinn made the Continental in 1957. That was when "middleweight" bikes were king. The only "lightweight" bikes were the Traveler and Racer.
03-07-24, 05:29 PM
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If you try to post photos they will download to a personal album and then somebody here will probably post them for you.
It probably is a genuine Chicago Schwinn, but more likely from the 1960s or 70s. A version of the Continental was offered from 1946 to 1950 and then after 1960, but I don't think in 1957. Catalog entries are here:
https://bikehistory.org/bikes/continental/
It probably is a genuine Chicago Schwinn, but more likely from the 1960s or 70s. A version of the Continental was offered from 1946 to 1950 and then after 1960, but I don't think in 1957. Catalog entries are here:
https://bikehistory.org/bikes/continental/
03-07-24, 08:27 PM
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welcome to the forum.
OP's album of pictures
Picture assist:
From the look of the bicycle I would suggest that the serial number starts with the letters "CG" or "GG" and not "00". The serial number might be CG099776. If so the frame was manufactured in 1971.
As far as restoring the bicycle, if you like the bicycle and are going to enjoy riding it, then why not fix it up.
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03-07-24, 09:49 PM
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Early 70s looks about right. It's in great shape but probably not very valuable. At the co-op in Phoenix a shiny one might sell for $160, a rideable one with cosmetic issues maybe $100. It's an excellent beater bike because it's a good conversation starter and heavy enough to make thieves think twice.
That bar tape is amazingly durable but not very comfortable. Unless you are considering starting a museum you may find inexpensive foam bar tape a little more pleasant for riding.
That bar tape is amazingly durable but not very comfortable. Unless you are considering starting a museum you may find inexpensive foam bar tape a little more pleasant for riding.
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03-07-24, 10:08 PM
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Early 70s looks about right. It's in great shape but probably not very valuable. At the co-op in Phoenix a shiny one might sell for $160, a rideable one with cosmetic issues maybe $100. It's an excellent beater bike because it's a good conversation starter and heavy enough to make thieves think twice.
That bar tape is amazingly durable but not very comfortable. Unless you are considering starting a museum you may find inexpensive foam bar tape a little more pleasant for riding.
That bar tape is amazingly durable but not very comfortable. Unless you are considering starting a museum you may find inexpensive foam bar tape a little more pleasant for riding.
That's probably a bit better than my area. I'm seeing nicer bikes at $100-$150 just sit.
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03-07-24, 10:18 PM
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That said, sales at the co-op are slowing down too. We have some pretty nice bikes right now that have sat longer than usual.
For non co-op sales, I personally just gave away a rehabbed 1973 Schwinn Super Sport because I couldn't sell it.
03-07-24, 10:22 PM
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We've traditionally been able to charge a small premium selling bikes for the co-op. We sell face to face, and $150 is impulse purchase money for a lot of college students and downtown hipsters. Plus people consider that the money is going to charity.
That said, sales at the co-op are slowing down too. We have some pretty nice bikes right now that have sat longer than usual.
For non co-op sales, I personally just gave away a rehabbed 1973 Schwinn Super Sport because I couldn't sell it.
That said, sales at the co-op are slowing down too. We have some pretty nice bikes right now that have sat longer than usual.
For non co-op sales, I personally just gave away a rehabbed 1973 Schwinn Super Sport because I couldn't sell it.
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03-07-24, 10:33 PM
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$450 is more like our ceiling. In fact, we sometimes send bikes that are worth more to other charities who can get more, and they send us more basic bikes.
When I say we can charge a small premium, I mean somebody might give us $100 for a bike that would sell on Craigslist for $80 (or maybe wouldn't sell at all nowadays).
We give away probably 5-8 bikes a week to people who work 4 hours to earn a bike. If you want to buy any of those bikes for cash, they're usually $50 as-is. We try not to invest too much time and resources into bikes that won't sell for at least $100. Usually our sweet spot is in the $150 to $250 range, but right now we have a bunch of road bikes in the $300 to $400 range, mostly newer but also some classics. Pricing is based on what we think we can sell it for. We're all volunteers so labor cost doesn't enter into it.
When I say we can charge a small premium, I mean somebody might give us $100 for a bike that would sell on Craigslist for $80 (or maybe wouldn't sell at all nowadays).
We give away probably 5-8 bikes a week to people who work 4 hours to earn a bike. If you want to buy any of those bikes for cash, they're usually $50 as-is. We try not to invest too much time and resources into bikes that won't sell for at least $100. Usually our sweet spot is in the $150 to $250 range, but right now we have a bunch of road bikes in the $300 to $400 range, mostly newer but also some classics. Pricing is based on what we think we can sell it for. We're all volunteers so labor cost doesn't enter into it.
03-08-24, 12:45 AM
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In my area this is a $50 bike max. Maybe I need to take some to Phoenix. As far as Continentals, Schwinn made millions of them.
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03-08-24, 09:58 AM
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Really only a $150 or so bike and the thee zero serial means it is a 71-74 bike boom era bike Schwinn added a extra number because of the big demand at the time meaning over 10,000 of this model variation were sold so not rare.
