How is this for an OTSG First! A 1978 Favorit 10-speed from Communist Era Czechoslovakia! Many thanks to Jonathan D in the Netherlands for this mean looking commuter beast.
Hi,
Here are some pics of my 1978 Favorit bike. It’s a brand from former Czechoslovakia (city: Rokycany). The brand doesn’t exist anymore today.
Bought it for 10,- Euros on internet. The front wheel was 27″. Now it has 28″ rear and front again.
Bought it as a “winter bike” cause i don’t wanna ride my beautiful 10-speed Peugeot Supersport in the rain, or on muddy and salty roads.
The 28″ Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires are perfect for slippery bad weather conditions. Originally it had worn down tires from brands “Barum” (Czech) and “Obiliceya” (Yugoslavia).
The derailleur, crankset and shifters are from favorit itself.
The bike is very fast, highest gear is 53×12! I love to overtake 50-year old suburbanites on their 1000,- euro Cannondale and Trek hybrids with my 10,- euro communistic rustbucket.
The geometry is strange and funny. The pedals touch the front fender by 1 millimeter! It’s very agile because of that, and the frame is way more stiff than my Peugeot!
Love your website! Keep up the great work.
Greets,
Jonathan D
Losser, The Netherlands
Thanks again Jonathan
Twin Schwinns for twoday. Both Super Sports; both courtesy of Bill J; one blue ‘72; one silver ‘82; one for sale; both schweet.
Here are two beautiful Schwinn Super Sports – separated by a decade in time.
The first is a 1972 Super Sport. I believe that this bike already exists in the gallery (bob’s), but this one has a bit of extra flair; reflective tape and funny read caps on most of the bolts. A few notes; it was missing its rear pie plate and the rear derailleur does not appear to be original – though the suntour VGT might have been an upgrade for the era? Also, when I purchased it, it did not have the original brooks saddle. The best I could do is a time appropriate Japanese fujita belt saddle – with the Japanese rear derailleur, maybe it isn’t that out of place.
The next is a 1982 Super Sport. A minty. This one has already found a new home – at 25 inches, it was way to big for me. The 1972 is looking for a new home.
Thanks Bill
Maryland and DC’s source for OTS sales and rental, Art F, sent us another from his hordes. A mostly unidentified ladies 10-speed.
This ones a complete mystery as to it’s origins or age . Looks like it was used a few hundred miles and is completely original equipment . . Pcked it up in a thrift store for about $15 .I really dig those reflective sidewall tires. Now that it’s wintertime I could load up on nice restorable bikes for $10-=$15 but am nearing doghouse banishment from wife because of bike piles lying around the yard. anyway this bike has a welded lugged frame was sold by R&R bike store in New Milford CT has a cottered crank and components from Polygon? Star? and Suntour. . Gave it a quick tweaking and lubricating and it’s off to craigslist DC Thinking about making it one of my rental fleet with $100 deposit and $60 buyback after 3 months . Funny how not many of them come back except the ones with flat tires and popped off brake blocks .
Regards,
Art F
Thanks Art
Here to greet us this morning is another OTS from the stable of Eric H. This our second (or maybe third)Sears Ted Williams Free Spirit, or a Theodore Billy for short.
Hi Cameron.
Attached are pix of my mid-1970’s Sears Roebuck Ted Williams Free Spirit 10-speed. Back from the days when we named bikes after baseball legends and USMC fighter pilots.
This is a Goodwill purchase that needed only new rubber in back, lubrication, and a new rear brake cable to be brought up to operational status.
Riding it, the feel is steady and solid, but you can get up to some nice speeds as well. Sort of like a Schwinn Varsity and almost as heavy. Wheels in excellent condition, not even needing to be trued. Looks like this beast got very little use back in the day, which is typical of these bike boom machines, and is now ready to take a new rider onward to his dreams.
OK, have a great day!
Thanks again Eric
In case you haven’t heard, BSNYC is giving away a FREE Scattante. It’s neither old, nor crappy, nor a 10-speed, but hey! It’s FREE.
And if you’re still not comfortable entering a contest for a fixed gear bicycle (I don’t blame you if are), then you can offset that “dirty feeling” by saving this Beauty
from jaws of fixedstration.
