27: Schwinn Le Tour

 

Feature Bike 27 is a vintage Schwinn Le Tour. This bike caught my eye at a second-hand store some weeks ago, but I didn't immediately jump on it. After thinking about the potential this bicycle had, I ran back hoping it was still available...which it was.

 

When a bike is sitting in a store, tires falling apart, all the gears and chain rusted out, it's probably going to sit there for a while. Not too many people are going to buy something that doesn't work...but I guess if you're looking for an old road bike to convert to single speed, this was the perfect find! 

 

My main man Corey out in Seattle had been inquiring about getting a simple single speed built up on the cheap. With the Le Tour in hand, this bike had his name written all over it. 

 

The entire project was relatively easy with no major hang-ups. The first move was stripping the bike down to frame and fork and replacing the head set and bottom bracket. After that it was adding a drive train, wheel set, handlebars and hand brake. Once completed, a test ride was in order to work out any kinks, make final adjustments and enjoy the ride.

 

Part selection was kept to digging through the crates in the basement, rummaging through Royal’s parts bins (they also hooked up the bottom bracket conversion and new headset, thanks Jason!) and ordering some low to mid-line parts (cranks, chainring, chain, bottom bracket, headset, seat post, brakes, tires). Corey had a set budget for this build, so I wanted to keep it so. For the purpose this bicycle will serve (commuting around the city of Seattle), it turned out great without draining the bank account. Enjoy the build. Blotto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos shot in Vermont by Dean Blotto Gray

This post originally appeared on The Daily June 28, 2010