Hello, The Old Ten Speed Gallery accepted my submission of my 1972 Schwinn World Traveler back in 2011. I was hoping to have this submission accepted as well.

I used to pass this blue, 10 speed, bicycle leaning up against a telephone pole in the unkempt, front yard of a house here in Mazon, IL. It caught my eye because of its pretty, blue color, and it didn’t take me long to notice that it was a Schwinn. After passing by this house week after week, and noticing that this Schwinn, 10 speed, bicycle had not been moved in all of that time, and that weeds were beginning to grow over it, I took the initiative to knock on the door and inquire about this Schwinn, 10 speed, bicycle.
This Schwinn, 10 speed, bicycle turned out to be a Schwinn, Sprint; I wasn’t familiar with this model, as I am not familiar with many of Schwinn’s models of bicycles, but I sure, did have a desire to acquire this pretty, blue, Schwinn, Sprint.

The gentleman that owned this Schwinn, Sprint told me that he was the original, owner and that it was a gift from friends that he worked with at a grocery store when he lived in Indiana. The decal on the vertical, tube below the seat is from “Ridge Cyclery” “Highland, Indiana”. I don’t recall if he had told me what year that was, as I was so, excited to hear him say that he wanted $20 dollars for this Schwinn, Sprint that I just, wanted to give him the 20 dollar bill, load it in the back of my pick up truck and get out of there, in case he realized that I felt that this Schwinn, Sprint was worth much more than $20!!

This Schwinn, Sprint must have been kept out of the weather most of its life, before being left out in the weather, leaning up against the telephone pole in the front yard, as it took very, little effort with water and very, fine, steel wool to remove the small, amounts of surface rust that it had on it. It took less work to ‘shine it up’ than it did my 1972 Schwinn World Traveler, (http://oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/mike-gs-1972-schwinn-world-traveler/).

I first, purchased tires, (which were definitely, necessary), tubes and rim strips, and once mounted, I threw my leg over the Schwinn Sprint for the very, first time and I immediately, discovered that the Schwinn Sprint’s frame was larger than my World Traveler’s frame, (the tires were the same size), my 32 inch inseam is JUST, long enough to straddle the frame . . . straddle the frame . . . carefully! The seat post was immediately, lowered to its lowest possible height before continuing with any maintenance.

The only, maintenance that I performed was to lightly, grease the steering head bearings and adjust the derailleurs. I was able to get the left crank pedal off without a puller, and so, I lightly, greased those bearings; I plan to purchase a puller to be able to lightly, grease the right side bearings. The wheel bearings did not give any indication that a bit of grease was necessary for them; and did not want to open them ‘can of worms’ if I did not have to.

I did HAVE TO replace the Schwinn Sprint’s original, seat, (there is much less ‘cushion’ than my World Traveler’s original, seat and my 56 year old, 140 lb., skinny butt was very, uncomfortable), with the original, seat that my World Traveler had on it, (I had replaced the World Traveler’s original, seat with a “SeatGuy.com” plush, seat with springs). I may eventually, replace this original, seat of my Schwinn World Traveler that I mounted on the Schwinn Sprint. I did not want to replace the seat right now, as I had mounted and old “Samsonite” camera bag, that I no longer used, to the seat’s rear, loops of the Schwinn, Sprint’s seat, initially, and then to the seat’s rear, loops of the Schwinn World Traveler’s seat, and I would have had to figure out and design a totally, different set-up to mount this old, camera bag.

From the numbers that I found on the: Left Rear Wheel Axle Frame #5151471 – Right Rear Wheel Axle Frame #G0385 – Head Badge #0785, I interpreted that this ‘Taiwanese’, Schwinn Sprint was made by “Giant” on the 78th day (March 19th) of 1975 or 1985; I believe that it has to be 1985, particularly, because of the condition of the Schwinn Sprint.

I will always, love, and have sentiment for, my 1972 Schwinn World Traveler, that was bought as a pair in 1973 with my girl friend’s, (at the time), identical, 1972 Schwinn World Traveler, but I also, love this Schwinn Sprint.

Since discovering the “Old Ten Speed Gallery” in 2011 and was offered the opportunity to send information and photos of my 1972 Schwinn World Traveler; I was hoping that photos and details of my 1985 Schwinn Sprint would be accepted, also.

Thank You for this opportunity.
Mike G. – Mazon, IL