The Chainlink

I have a bike. Now what.

Bought a bike yesterday. Women's Brown Schwinn Collegiate 5-speed made in 1972!

I'm really excited about having a bike. I recently moved here from Texas and although I've been riding bikes all my life, I lived mostly in the suburbs and now I'm about to leap into the life of a city commuter.

Bike will be taken into a shop to be serviced probably next week. The back breaks are a bit crappy. They don't grip the tires much and pads need to be replaced, and the tubes should probably be replaced at the same time that I put new tires on it (I'm thinking Kevlar).

Perhaps you guys can link me to a few threads, books, or just offer me some words of advice to me the city-biking newbie. I've been told I'm bold, but I'm out looking for adventure and would love to bike through the winter too. The only thing that's going to fight the seasonal depression is alot of exercise! Don't worry, I may be from the south, but I can handle the cold! Any advice about simply owning a bike in the city, commuting, and riding winter are all greatly appreciated. :)

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Permalink Reply by Bez on August 22, 2013 at 8:22am

“Whatever, Safety Ranger, what a nerd.”  I'm totally going to start saying this if anyone ever says "on your left" while passing.

Permalink Reply by Morgan Allen on August 22, 2013 at 11:13am

According to google (and a magnet test), my Schwinn S-6 rims are in fact steel, are 27", and use a standard 27" x 1 1/4" tire. Is this the same for your bike's old rims? I'll be taking my bike into Performance for its tune-up and whatnot this Sunday while I'm at work. How much are you willing to part with the rims for?

In response to the article shared about how to NOT be an asshole on the road... I thought all of these things were common knowledge and common courtesy?! It's surprising how it's not unheard of that some people would actually do these things...

Also in response to the winter biking on my Schwinn Collegiate... I'll look out for the frozen brakes. I'll try some of the things suggested (Thank you so much by the way!) and if it becomes a huge problem I'll look into getting a Winter bike, or moving up to a better bike as this one's my starter.

I looked into Women's night at WTB and it looks like something I'll DEFINITELY have to attend some time! I suppose some of you ladies will be there, but I do tend to be nervous and shy around new social situations.

So far I have my helmet, lights, bell, lock, air pump, etc etc etc. 

Thanks to everyone for the kind advice! I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of responses! That's why it took so long for me to reply to each of you. :)

OLB 0.1 said:

I think all you need is a magnet to tell the difference between steel and alloy rims. Haven't checked mine yet. I think the model determined whether you got steel or alloy wheels in the early 70s.

Anyway, I'm not attached to mine and could part with them for a low price.

yai danche said:

Interesting, I wonder when Schwinn made the switch to alloy rims (quick search on google didn't give me an answer).  According to the serial number on my bike it was made in 1964, so it was all steel on my original wheels.  I don't know how you can tell without testing them in the rain.  Maybe a hose??


OLB 0.1 said:

I have a 1973 Sport Tourer that I bought as a project bike from a fellow chainlinker. It appears to be mostly original, other than the bars. Per the catalog, the wheels on mine are alloy and may be the same dimension as what you would need on yours. My plan was to put 700c and make it a single speed, so I probably don't need the wheels. Let me know if you are interested.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on August 22, 2013 at 11:33am

I will try the magnet test myself tonight to confirm they are alloy. If you take them, you can determine how much they are worth to you and give that $$ as a donation to WTB. I'll send you a message offline to arrange a meeting.

Morgan Allen said:

According to google (and a magnet test), my Schwinn S-6 rims are in fact steel, are 27", and use a standard 27" x 1 1/4" tire. Is this the same for your bike's old rims? I'll be taking my bike into Performance for its tune-up and whatnot this Sunday while I'm at work. How much are you willing to part with the rims for?

Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 22, 2013 at 12:43pm

'72 Collegiate came with 26" wheels. The bike has already been modified if it's on 27". To confound matters even more Schwinn used the S-6 designation for both 26" and 27" rims.  This was a trick question and it still got answered. So long as the brakes work and the wheels clear the frame there is no problem using a different size wheel. Do fenders still fit?

Many more tire choices in 27" and the availability of old wheels is very good.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on August 23, 2013 at 9:29am

Morgan - It looks like I also have steel rims. I guess I misread the info I found. You are still welcome to them if you want a backup set (free).

Permalink Reply by Donald P Kingston on August 24, 2013 at 7:43am

what would happen if you were to fill the cable housing with anti freeze



John C. Wilson said:

Fill the cable housing with grease. Use end caps on the housing. It may not last all winter but it won't freeze up suddenly. Repeat when braking fades and keep working on how you get that casing full all the way to the top.

'72 Collegiate is a good bike. Good all around and right for commutes.

yai danche said:

Hi bike sibling!  I love my collegiate, but a bit of warning.  If you have the step through version, your rear brake cable will freeze during the winter.  Because of how it's routed, water collects in the cable.  So unless you're savvy enough to drain the cable before winter hits, your rear brakes will not work once it gets below freezing.  The front brakes work so if you're comfortable having one brake, you can ride through winter.  

Permalink Reply by Shawn M on August 26, 2013 at 8:23pm

If you don't actually need to replace the tires and want to save some money by not buying new kevlar ones... I swear by these things http://mrtuffy.com/product-line.html . I've been using them in both my mountain bike and road bike and haven't had a flat tire in, I don't even know how long.

Some people don't like them but I swear by them. Just be sure to get the right size and have them installed properly.

Permalink Reply by Shawn M on August 26, 2013 at 9:28pm

I agree if the tires are utter garbage, might as well go with some nice new ones. But if they are decent mid-range tires and somewhat new I'm all for saving a couple bucks by just improving them with liners.

And I agree, have fun!



Mischa Fleishman said:

To go with the post about the price of the tires.  When you by bike accessories and components, especially for older bikes, buy quality.  I can't tell you how many flats I had with my first bought pair of tires, but they were cheap, and I ended up spending more in tubes and patches than I would have on a more expensive set of tires.  The next time I bought a pair of tires, I spent a pretty penny on them, and I haven't had a road flat in two years.  The same can be said for any other component, when you're going to buy something, spend a little more money to get a better quality product.  I'm not saying that good things can't be found for cheap, but in most cases, a better product costs a little bit more, and you won't regret the purchase down the road.

Have a shop give your bike a once over.  If you're going to ride it through the winter, take the time to pull your components and use frame-saver.  Especially for older steel frames, frame saver will winter-proof your bike.  Get yourself a good set of fenders, maybe a rack and a set of panniers for the commute.  I'm sure someone on here, or I, can give you advice on what to buy if you're interested.

When I lived in Minneapolis, I was given some of my favorite advice ever, "There is no bad weather for biking, only bad equipment." So do some research on clothing for all types of weather.  Winter is a hell of a season, but if you're dressed correctly, you can ride through it almost as easily as any other season.  Start collecting merino-wool under layers now, and by the time the freezing temperatures hit, you'll be nice and toasty.  Also, get yourself a good pair of shoes for riding.

Last of all, have a hell of a lot of fun.  Ride all the time.  Make friends that ride, go to some cycling events, try some of the cycling meet-ups, join some rides from here, etc.  Enjoy!

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