If you are trying to determine the genealogy of your bicycle by it's features, go to our Vintage Bicycle Price Guide
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, brake types, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your old bicycle.
If you are trying to determine the make and model of your bicycle, go to our Vintage Bicycle Picture Database
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your vintage bicycle.
| Sorry - this is going to take some time..bear with me... I had a late 80's Specialized hard rock (sweet ride) equipped with Suntour X-press shifters and XCM derailleurs. I used it for fast, in-town long distance commuting. I also used it to tear up terrain both urban and off-road. It got worked hard! At some point, I decided I needed a smaller frame to jump with, as my long commutes were no longer there. I happened across a guy with same year, same bike smaller frame Shimano gruppo. He needed to commute, as jumping days were over for him. We traded straight across right there, right then. Took me a couple of days to learn to yearn for my suntours back. I have ever since. Me and the "new" bike learned to live together, and we both survived a gnarly crash which put me in a halo for 9 weeks. Top 2 vertebrae fractured. No problem, once healed - back on the road/dirt. Now, it's sat in storage for over 2 years. Needs an overhaul. I've hauled it up to Vegas with me - I live in Phoenix. I am on extended duration work stay here. My tool boxes are in Phoenix. Wasn't sure it was worth overhauling at today's bike shop prices. So, thought I'd check out what was new. Aluminum. That's what's new. BIG UGLY FRAMES and Suntour (the real suntour) is gone...so what now? 700C tires and scrap dirt? Ummm... no... New Cannondale with the ability to change 700C street rims to 26" dirt for $1200 plus $250+ for dirt wheels? Ummm....not yet. I need my CroMo frame, and my decent gruppo back in top condition. As luck would have it, I pulled into the grocery store to buy a few things and there was a big ass Nishiki Mtn Bike sitting against the "donate your stuff here" bin in the parking lot. Disasembled, missing some parts, etc. What gruppo was on it? Yes. Suntour X-press/XCM. Now, I threw that in the truck - and put some tires/tubes on it and rode it around the block. That bikes too big for me to be comfy. But it will be ok for awhile (like a week)? So, now the specialized is sitting torn apart in the garage, bastardized so I can try the old skool gruppo. Definitely needs adjustment. What I am hoping for in this post - is that someone in Vegas can help me switch out the gruppo to the Specialized as I don't have the tools or experience to do so. Maybe I will just have to pay the shop to do it... I don't know. Either way, I'm still presented with the problem of the Specialized frame bein a tad small for my current commuting around town needs...ahhh...the fun never ends. |
| I recently purchased a Rollfast Starlight (gorgeous blue) and am looking to restore the seat, handle bars, and shifting system. I would like to find the original ad or magazine for this amazing bicycle. I think it needs new tires but was wondering if it should have white walled ones. I am looking for a basket for the front as well. I am new to this whole restoration process, so any tips would be great. Thanks!! |
| I just discovered that those MR. Clean multi-purpose cleaning pads do an amazing job cleaning up scuffs and some scratches. I just got a 1980's miyata that I thought would need new paint, but after a quick cleaning with one of these (only like ten minutes) it looks almost brand new! Be careful around decals though- and test a small spot first, my bike is white, but I'm not sure if it would scratch darker colored paints |
| I have old iver johnson bicycle with lace rear fender. Does anyone know how to duplicate the lacing pattern? |
| Hello, I've found a pretty sad-looking old Schwinn Town and Country Tricycle at a yard sale and (with much thanks to the local bike repair people, my neighbors, my uncle who restores old cars and the patient people at the hardware store) I'm in the process of making it presentable (and usable) again. The person I bought it from thought that it was from the 60s. It has a kickstand bracket welded to the frame and a coaster brake, as well as a (now unreadable) sticker that said it was from Mesa, AZ. I cannot find the VIN number on this thing and I'd love to know what year it is, does anyone know where to look? It's completely in pieces and I feel like I've looked everywhere... Thanks so much. |
| Oh, and the decal on the front of the frame says Schwinn, Chicago, and 0426 on it. |
| OK, needed some sandpaper- found it on the part where the handlebars go in. Now I don't understand it... JL528174 Help? |
| You bike was built in October of 1976 |
| With all due respect to TheWiz, your bike was actually built in September of 1975 because the letter I isn't counted when computing the year from the serial number. Here's a better explanation http://www.yellowjersey.org/photosfromthepast/schwinumber.txt |