1935 Schwinn Excelsior Klunker Redux on P6

[Dr S]

Looks great, how would you deal with chain tention- a tugnut or did they just tighten the bolt up very very tight

With a rear mech :roll:

Originally they had a built in tensioner on the rear drop out- the boss is still there (in front of axle line)

only Si,..please make the KENDA logo black

Those tyres are getting changed later this week. I have found some cheepo no-name blackwalls with a tread patern very similar to the old Uniroyal Nobby which this bike would have worn. The big Kenda's are up for grabs if anyone wants them.

Cheers
Si

 

[J_Westy]

Great build!

Any updates?

Cheers,
Jeff

 

[Dr S]

Good timing Jeff, there has been progress- I rode it home from work last night! So a little update......

Drivetrain
Cranks arrived eventually but bottom bracket was too wide. I'm making an axle spindle at work as I cannot find one with the right width. So as a tempory measure, in went a DMR Wondercup converter and a new Shimano BB. A new chain and a 5 speed Sachs freewheel completed the drivetrain.

Rolling Stock
Mr Kawasaki came up trumps by sending me the wheels which were liberated from an early Saracen. Rims are Weinman2.125 alloy and hubs are Mailard. Tyres came from eBay from a bargain £4.95 each. They are cheap Hong Kong made no name but with a square edged profile like the old Uniroyal Nobby. They look just right on the build and are cheep enough to stockpile for years of future use.

Finishing touches
I stripped and cleaned the mechs which was an hours job and made a cable stop for the Suntour front. As there are no cable stops on the frame I had to devise a way of clamping the outer cable up front. This was done by making a L shaped bracket and mounting an threaded cable stop in it. I then driled and tapped the back of the band of the front mech and secured it with a suitably rusty bolt. I true Repack bodge I think.

I'm still awaiting some correct bars to arrive but yesterday my hand was forced. I'd gone to work in a customers car and as it wasn't finished in the day- faced with a long walk home I decided to ready the Schwinn!
I dug out a pair of wide bars from my stash and quickly removed the anodizing and gave them a quick polish. Hastily I fitted shifters and brake levers and cabled her up. Now do I use the nice Campag chrome cable clips I have or do I use cable ties? Well most of the shots of Repack I have seen and the pics on Alan Bonds Website show cable ties so thats what I used.
The last job was to fit grips and give a final spanner check and tweek of cable tension.
So at 17:45 hours on Monday 11th May, my Marin Style Klunker turned through the gates at my workshop and headed down toward town.

I'll post up the pics and let you know how we got on later. Watch this space.......

 

[Prometheus]

Seriously cool build mate. Pity the red flip doesn't show in the photo's. Bet it looks awesome

Got any pics yet. ???

 

[Harryburgundy]

Thats looking lovely Si....top skills

 

[Dr S]

Cheers guys. Got some pics yesterday on my commute but still no Internet conection so can't post them up. Got in a longer ride tonight and feel knackered. Weighed it today and it comes in at a hefty 36.8lbs. Great fun to ride though but having spent the last few weeks riding a bike from 87 it shows what a huge leap we made in those early years.

Pics and full riding impressions will follow as soon as I'm back online.

Si

 

[Dr S]

Computor fixed and back on line!!

Heres a few pics of the (almost) finished article. Just waiting on those damn bars to show up. Still looking for a headbadge. The one on eBay slipped from my grasp. I though a $165 bid would be enough when I went to bed. No such luck :cry:

Campagnolo QR and home made solid 6061 seatpost. Canti bridge added.

TA Cyclotouriste triple crank on Royce BB. Suntour front mech.

Temporary bars until correct period BMX cruiser bars show up.

Just prior to cabling up those shonky old Suntour mechs

First journey! Made it home with no drama. Swans are less than interested.

First impressions
What a blast! Its about 2 miles ride home from work. A final spanner check and a tweek of the brakes and I swunk left out of the gates of my workshop.

My thoughts.....

Mmmmm this is comfortable. Feels strange having so much of the front wheel sticking out in front of you but its stable as hell. Speed builds as I rattle through the gears. Better test those brakes before the road points downwards. SHIT!!!!! they are bad brakes- pull harder on the levers, thats better, but I'd better leave plenty of room to those cars in front.
Gears are shifting well. This is a good bike- I like it.
Cool the chicks at the train station dig my Schwinn! Bunny hop onto curb at junction- how heavy?? (36.5 lbs on the scales next day). Time to hit some singletrack round the back of the park. Steering is slow. Tight bend coming up. Right then, I've seen the vids of Charlie and Co. turning these things through switchbacks- here goes, YES!!, perfect flick turn on the back brake with my foot down and a satisfying cloud of dust in my wake. Picking up speed again, so stable, shall I hit the bumps? go on, bloody hell this is great. Path heads uphill, think singlespeed, keep that momentum going, drop a few cogs, no problem. Starting to look for things to test her on- roots, bumps, drops, all no problem. Back down onto tarmac for the blast along the river. Is the Brooks B72 the most comfortable saddle ever?
Big ring, stomp stomp, this goes like a train. Remember those brakes! don't get carried away. Up onto the high street now. Man this turns heads. Headset needs a tweek when I get home but otherwise no problem. Make it home, a little hot but not bothered. Big grins from me and the kids love it. Mrs S shakes her head and walks away. How many bikes do I need?? You guys know the answer to that
Best ride of my goddam life!

I have ridden it to work and back all week now and as you can tell I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to Sunday morning now for a blast around my favourite local loop. Forcast is heavy rain. Mmmmm those brakes :?

Si

 

[JeRkY]

Looks superb!

So how much in overweight lugage fees is that going to cost you when you take it on a pilgrimage to repack?

 

[ocset]

Thats Fantastic, well done again.

 

[GaryTurner]

NICE , very nice !