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 Elizabeth M. on August 20, 2013 at 11:11am

I'll leave the advice to the veterans and just say welcome! I just started riding this year and love it. I can't wait for the new challenge of winter riding. I'm from Virginia and I hate the cold so this should be interesting. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on August 20, 2013 at 11:38am

invest in 2 locks and a chain. Some basic tools and Ciclo Urbano on ladies night.
Nick G said:

Welcome!  In case you didn't already know: invest in a good lock.  You won't regret it, especially if you're using your bike as your primary means of transportation.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on August 20, 2013 at 3:57pm

1972.  STEEL RIMS.  They don't brake worth a damn.  Red (salmon) brake pads with the Kool Stop compound will help.  REALLY, REALLY consider aluminum rims.  They will brake a lot better.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on August 20, 2013 at 4:40pm

Mike, after my first week of rain, I got aluminum wheels built at West Town.  And you will have to get them handbuilt because there are no factory-made wheels for that odd Schwinn sizing.  They are well worth it!  Pricey, though, set me back about $200 if I recall correctly.  John, the grease thing was suggested to me, but I was never sure if there was such a thing as too much grease in the cable housing.  I typically add two drops to front and rear cable, beginning and end of winter.  There's also a rubber stopper thing that Rapid Transit gave me that keeps some water out.  I will add a lot of grease this winter, see how it works.  Right now I have a separate winter bike.   

Morgan, these are just suggestions!  Plenty of people ride their vintage bikes as is with no modifications.  

Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 21, 2013 at 9:07am

If you fully pack the cable housing some grease is going to bleed out and be messy. So it goes. Heavy grease recommended.

Separate winter bike is a great idea. I think a Collegiate is a great winter bike but I could see starting with one that was very cheap and cosmetically challenged.

The alloy rim thing has no cheap and simple solution. $200 is a lot and I could not do it for less if I was trying to keep a bike shop open.



yai danche said:

Mike, after my first week of rain, I got aluminum wheels built at West Town.  And you will have to get them handbuilt because there are no factory-made wheels for that odd Schwinn sizing.  They are well worth it!  Pricey, though, set me back about $200 if I recall correctly.  John, the grease thing was suggested to me, but I was never sure if there was such a thing as too much grease in the cable housing.  I typically add two drops to front and rear cable, beginning and end of winter.  There's also a rubber stopper thing that Rapid Transit gave me that keeps some water out.  I will add a lot of grease this winter, see how it works.  Right now I have a separate winter bike.   

Morgan, these are just suggestions!  Plenty of people ride their vintage bikes as is with no modifications.  

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on August 21, 2013 at 9:16am

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 yai danche on August 21, 2013 at 10:02am

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 Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on August 21, 2013 at 10:35am

for sure!!!!

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

With your lovely new/old bike, you might enjoy this ride on Saturday:  http://www.thechainlink.org/events/3rd-seersucker-social-and-picnic

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on August 21, 2013 at 10:36am

womens night at ciclo urbano wednesday nights! 

Mike Zumwalt said:


invest in 2 locks and a chain. Some basic tools and Ciclo Urbano on ladies night.
Nick G said:

Welcome!  In case you didn't already know: invest in a good lock.  You won't regret it, especially if you're using your bike as your primary means of transportation.

Permalink Reply by OLB 0.1 on August 21, 2013 at 10:48am

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 Jake W. on August 21, 2013 at 12:30pm

From tinyfix/ Lorena Cupcake:

http://tinyfixbikegang.com/dont-bike-like-a-dickweed-10-rules-for-n...

Its blunt but I personally agree with all points.

Also, please get some lights if you ride at night, I detest ninja bikers.

Most of all though is to have fun.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 21, 2013 at 12:38pm

That was a great article!  On the riding at night: (which in winter is pretty much from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)lights on your helmet if you wear one;  reflective safety vest--they are cheap.  If you don't wear a helmet, find other places to attach lights.  Be visible!

Jake W. said:

From tinyfix/ Lorena Cupcake:

http://tinyfixbikegang.com/dont-bike-like-a-dickweed-10-rules-for-n...

Its blunt but I personally agree with all points.

Also, please get some lights if you ride at night, I detest ninja bikers.

Most of all though is to have fun.

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