Go for it. Replace the cogset and chain *if they are worn* with 6/7 speed freewheel and chain in the modern hyperglide version and you'll improve shifting immensely even with the old friction levers. About $35. I like KMC 8 speed chains. Nashbar chains are KMC chains. Cheap and good.
Panaracer Paselas are great 27x1 1/4 tires. $15 each. I also like the Vittoria Zaffiro in 27 x 1/1/4. Cheap, but rolls nicely if you want a blackwall. Kool Stop Salmon or black smooth stud brake shoes front and rear. $20 Use black if salmon is aesthetically wacky,it's nearly as good. Upgrade to some nice modern brake levers like the Tektro R200A. $20 Will improve braking and look sharp. If saddle hurts bum, try a Velo Tempo. Comes in various styles. Cheap, but made by Taiwanese bum experts. $20. Get cables and fittings at LBS. Buy them a six pack of beer because you care. Don't forget to repack all your bearings with some boat trailer grease from Walmart. Alternately just use grease from Auto Zone. Find the one that smells like your favorite brake shop. I use various online peeps Jensonusa, aebike, and lickbike the most often. Google will find the best deals if your wallet is slim. On Nov 12, 12:47 pm, "Dietrich, Daniel L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Well, since there has been so much good advice to various people, I > thought I would solicit some advice from the group. I have an old > early 80's Schwinn Passage sitting in my basement collecting dust. I > am debating whether it is worthwhile to invest some money and use > this as a commuting/light touring bicycle. I like the bike and it > seems to have a reasonably good frame, and not a lot of miles. My > questions are: > > 1. Is it worthwhile ??? > > 2. What components are worth upgrading, what ones are OK ??? The > bike has 27" wheels, a Sachs drivetrain with 5 speed freewheel, > triple up front, downtube shifters, cantilever brakes. I want to > make sure any money is well-spent. > > 3. Any recommendations on where to get good components besides my LBS > (which can get expensive real fast)??? > > 4. Any good references (books, websites, etc.) on how to upgrade. I > can do most maintenance myself, but realize that this is probably a > step up. > > I realize this is an open-ended question, but I am just looking to > get some advice before scrapping the bike or investing a lot of time/ > money. I can find almost nothing about the bike on-line except the > excerpt below which seems to describe my bike. > > Thanks, > > Dan > > ******************** > > ...they were a limited production in 1984-1985, Schwinn sold out of > them before the advertising for them was put into any bicycling > magazines. The bike is a touring/road-racing bike that uses non- > indexed mountain bike companants for the derailers, chain rings, and > sprockets. They have three water bottle braze on's. With the lanyard > racks the bike will support 150 lbs of cargo plus the rider. The > origional price I paid for the bike was $259.99, I purchased the last > one that was availible in Maryland in 1985. At the time it was the > top bike in the schwinn line the bike weighs 7lbs with the origional > rear lanyard rack that came as part of the package. ....They are > excelent bikes, and easy to adjust/maintain. Two years ago I > converted mine from the origional 15 speed to a 21 speed by changing > the rear sprocket. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
