1974 Sears Free Spirit
06-25-18, 10:24 AM
#1
Fork and spoon operator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota
Posts: 577
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
1974 Sears Free Spirit
I just finished this 1974 Sears Free Spirit update for my friend. It was his father-in-law’s bike, so it has sentimental value to his family. I stretched the frame to fit new wheels, and used a Truvativ adapter to fit a three-piece crankset.
The new wheels are 650b with 36 spokes, and I put on fatter (38mm) tires. I set it up 1x8, and used Tektro long reach brakes. The stem and handlebars are original. I had a cool blue chain guard before, but I replaced it with a small silver one.
I really like how it turned out. It’s not horribly heavy, and it’s a nice bike for mixed terrain. I had to do a lot of dremeling to get the bb adapter in, because the frame tubes extended into the bottom bracket shell; I’d never seen that before. I did a similar update to a Schwinn Continental a few years ago, and that’s become one of my favorite bikes.
06-26-18, 01:08 PM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 108
Bikes: 84 John Howard, 85 Raleigh Kodiak, 84 Ross Mt whitney, 74 Masi, 82 Allez
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
3 Posts
That looks great! What type of shift lever is that?
06-26-18, 02:33 PM
#3
Fork and spoon operator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota
Posts: 577
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
Thanks! It’s the Sunrace SLM96 friction shifter. It only costs about $20, and it works great. It’s so cheap and works so well you might think about trying the SLM10, that’s only about $10 for a pair. Don’t do it! I speak from experience.
06-26-18, 08:26 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: south kansas america
Posts: 1,913
Bikes: too many
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 236 Times
in
141 Posts
Sweet steed. You did an awesome job of upgrading it, without going too far down the rabbit hole. I love that seventies blue... I don't that color exists anymore, in our world today. My oldest sister had something quite similar, in Bicentennial white, with patriot accents.
06-27-18, 04:38 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Posts: 2,192
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 473 Post(s)
Liked 1,071 Times
in
409 Posts
I think I have one too: same color, same frame, maybe same year. I took the 'Hot Wheels' stickers off and the paint was in excellent condition, like yours. It's a heavy bike but rides well. Mine has been named "Babe the Blue Oxen". It's the bike I ride thru the winter - if I cannot ride as often nor as far as usual, I may as well ride harder. I like mine. I repositioned the stem shifters to the DT and changed the steel wheels for alloy.
Nicely done build on yours. Enjoy.
Nicely done build on yours. Enjoy.
06-27-18, 11:12 AM
#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,813
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1397 Post(s)
Liked 1,336 Times
in
842 Posts
I hated my early 1970s Free Spirit, but I do like the upgrades you have done on that one. The only additional changes I would suggest are:
1) proper set of three aluminum or chrome cable clips to replace the zipties for the rear brake cable;
2) cable stops and open cable run for the shift cable.
1) proper set of three aluminum or chrome cable clips to replace the zipties for the rear brake cable;
2) cable stops and open cable run for the shift cable.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
06-27-18, 12:09 PM
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 108
Bikes: 84 John Howard, 85 Raleigh Kodiak, 84 Ross Mt whitney, 74 Masi, 82 Allez
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
3 Posts
thanks for the info! Those will be perfect for.my current project. I'm sure your friend will love riding and admiring the bike.
06-27-18, 12:14 PM
#8
Fork and spoon operator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota
Posts: 577
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
You’re right, that would look really nice! Where do you go for stuff like that? I looked once on eBay and gave up.
I hated my early 1970s Free Spirit, but I do like the upgrades you have done on that one. The only additional changes I would suggest are:
1) proper set of three aluminum or chrome cable clips to replace the zipties for the rear brake cable;
2) cable stops and open cable run for the shift cable.
1) proper set of three aluminum or chrome cable clips to replace the zipties for the rear brake cable;
2) cable stops and open cable run for the shift cable.
