nlerner

Up for sale is a frame and fork that's been a reliable commuter for me for several years now, but the basement hooks are filled, so something's gotta go. This is the odd ball of the Sears Free Spirit lineup in 1973 and 74: a full Reynolds 531 frame and fork, made in Austria (perhaps by Puch?), sold under the venerable Free Spirit Ted Williams moniker. The specs:

Seat tube = 23" center to top
Top tube = 23" center to center
Wheelbase = 43.5"
Chainstay = 18"
Takes a 27.2mm seatpost (yes, a good sign it's not your grandfather's Free Spirit!), and it has a kickstand plate! Not terribly common among full 531 frames, I'd venture to say. I've been running it with 700 x 32mm Pasela tires with fenders and have also run it with 700 x 35mm tires without fenders.

Condition is pretty beat as far as the finish goes (and the worksmanship wasn't great to begin with), but no dents or dings. I commuted on this through several Boston winters, including last year when I had it set up with a pedal-assist electric front wheel ("Electric Ted").

Sale includes frame, fork, original headset (feels reasonably smooth, but I haven't opened it up in years), front brake cable hanger, newish DiaCompe top tube cable clamps, water bottle cage with clamps (no, it's not hiding anything horrible underneath).

Price is $50 plus shipping in the CONUS from zip 02446. Payment via PayPal or Venmo. If you need parts to complete this build, talk to me. I have lots of parts.










From the 1974 Sears catalog:

noobinsf 

Ugh, if my own garage hooks were not full, I would jump at this. I had its gas pipe cousin (Puch Bergmeister) as a commuter a few years ago, and I still feel a tinge of regret having sold it. That 43.5" wheelbase is just something else -- it rides like a Cadillac.

GLWS!

bikemig 

That's a deal but I am going to resist. I have too many projects that need attention.

dmark 

Question PM'd
Nevermind

dmark 

It would be a great commuter bike; nice riding 531 and not too attractive to thieves.
GLWS

RustyJames 

I’m tempted just to say I own a Free Spirit. Alternately, I could take it over to gugie as a test bed for crazy ideas.

dmark 

Could build a pretty good sleeper with it.

rccardr 

Can’t believe you are letting Ted out of the Shed.

thinktubes 

I hope the headset isn’t frozen

nlerner

I was thinking of offering a discount for anyone who can name the location of Ted’s head.

madpogue 

I think I can guess, based on the context.

Photo #1 should be the feature photo for the Wikipedia entry on "beausage" (and this is meant as a sincere compliment).

Gary12000 

No More Toys!!!! says Burgermeister Meisterburger...

dweenk

I don't know the exact location of Teds head, but it is deeply frozen.

bikemig 

I’m surprised this hasn’t sold. Reynolds 531, beat up frame, and kickstand plate = excellent lock up bike

I would think that a Ted Williams Sears bike would go for a premium price in Boston . . .

Rage

I actually commuted through high school, college and a little beyond on the doppelgänger of that bike before it got heisted. It was the same size and it had even acquired that same “patina” by the time it was stolen in ‘99/2000. It was probably my favorite beater bike of all time.

I would be all over that frame if I wasn’t awash with project bikes and frames. Or if it were local. Then I could stick it in a box with some bubble wrap and tell my wife I just found it in storage now after years of searching for it hahaha.

ascherer 

Whew, I should check on one of our son's inseam length. He's finally conceding that his single-speed could use a few more gears and this could be an awesome city commuter for him but I think it's a bit large. Stand by...

nlerner

I have not listed it on Boston’s CL yet but will likely do that. Or I might do a parts bin build land give it away to a co-worker. I’ve got another couple of projects going along those lines, and it’s a good way to get rid of a bunch of stuff and increase one’s karma points.

ascherer 

D'ya think it's too big for someone with a 30" inseam? I think it would be a stretch.

dweenk

Nah, it's just a French fit.

nlerner

Probably not (fwiw, I have a 32” inseam).

ascherer 

Two votes for ok on the sizing? I’d probably build it up as a flat bar commuter, possibly with a single chainring. I guess my concern with French fit is that in Manhattan one sometimes is faced with an urgent need to stop quickly…

ascherer 

Ok, I’m in. My two stepsons were raised in Medford and Sudbury. When he heard that it’s a Ted Williams model that was all he needed! He’s that guy at Yankee stadium talking trash in a Red Sox hat.

Neal, let me check in with Mrs. ascherer in case she’s planning another run to the area. There could easily be reasons.

bikemig 

Nope. That's my inseam and I could ride that bike easily. That is about as large a bike as I like to ride but I find it's a good size.

squirtdad

I wonder what bike flights would be.??? this would make for a very cool single speed around town bike someone else grab it before start a build vision

ascherer 

Thank you all for encouraging my behavior.