Roger A’s Schwinn Traveler III

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Roger A’s Schwinn Traveler III.

So last summer when I started to become obsessed with rescueing OTS’s I saw an ad on Craigslist (CL) for two Schwinn Traveler III’s.  I called and then headed over to the sellers house which was in a nearby S. St. Louis neighborhood.  The young man had two red bikes which appeared to be a his and her combo, though both were men’s frames. One was a 20 in. frame and the other was much taller.  The shorter bike had a mattress seat on it.  Another reason I suspected his and her.  The seller said they belong to his aunt, and I suspect he got them from the estate or something.

He wanted fifty dollars a piece.  I had decided I needed to refrain from buying bikes that I can’t ride even if I planned to re-sell.  No use in having something of no use while waiting for it to sell. So I opted for the smaller bike.  It had a broken spoke on the front wheel that someone had twisted around another spoke.  I couldn’t get him to come down, and he was a pretty good salesman so I gave him $50 and departed

So eventually I got around to cleaning and lubing it.  It is a Japanese lugged frame.  All Shimano drive train and hubs, Shimano 400 derailleurs.  All loose ball bearings in hubs, headset and bottom bracket.  I developed the knack for getting them back in while working on this one, though I did use caged bearings on the headset.  The rims are Araya steel rims, which in my limited experience usually have far less hop than other old rims.  I had minimal work to do on the truing stand after replacing the spoke.

I replace the bar tape and mounted a used Specialized saddle from CL. And now I like it so much that I don’t think I will part with it.

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  • Ryan Surface

    Sweet Ride Roger, I love those lugged Japanese Steel Schwinn’s all I ever seem to find are Chicago built Varsities. Looks like you got your $$ worth on the deal and used good sense in not starting a project bike that doesn’t fit you, a lesson I need to be reminded of now and then.

  • BeaterRezQ

    Roger A.,
    Nice discernment there and good call. You have everything there that you need to set up/restore what can be a very road worthy bike; a Japanese-built lugged frame (as opposed to the “homegrown boat anchors” that Ryan referred to) ,a three-piece crank, decent Shimano components, solid red paint job in good shape, and plenty of shiny chrome. Nice job putting it all together and cleaning it up.
    Currently, I am flirting with the notion of building up a Schwinn “homegrown” but it is nearly impossible to turn it into a bike of an acceptable weight. It’s like looking at the Titanic and saying ” I can fix that!” Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but those older Varsity’s and the like can be completely stripped down and still give you a hernia trying to flip ’em over or carry up a few stairs….decisions,decisions.(please, Schwinn homies go easy on me)
    BRQ
    **bike also has a chainguard and built on kickstand, with both removed I feel no difference in weight….uuuuugh.

    • Ryan Surface

      A Varsity track bike – now that is inventive BRQ! and with all the xtra baggage stripped off I am sure its down to a svelte 32 lbs LOL. You train on the boards on that bike and you’ll end up with thighs like Sir Chris Hoy(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chris_Hoy.jpg)

      • BeaterRezQ

        ….actually, I was thinking more of a cruiser than track bike.
        (don’t let the handlebars fool ya)
        B

      • BeaterRezQ

        …don’t let the drop bars fool ya, I was thinking more along the lines of a cruiser.
        But things can change?
        B

      • BeaterRezQ

        Ryan, you got an idea there…
        Like a baseball player swinging with a weighted bat, like an olympic runner doing high-steps in a pool, like–
        It’s actually not too bad, smooth and solid as an old Fleetwood..but nowhere near to quick and responsive like a small sports car.
        I commuted to work this afternoon, as I do daily and it was really not too bad. If you try to pick it up, well–that’s a different story. I know guys that like to go around and pick up every bike that they see to “gauge their worth”…..” Hey Buddy, come over here, I got one for you!”
        It’s all good, after all biking should be fun.
        BRQ

    • Roger A

      I have a Varsity restoration submitted and I guess it is in queue. Look at this way, if you own a Varsity, there is no reason to have a gym membership. You get plenty of strength training just moving it around the garage.

      • BeaterRezQ

        …and a hernia or two 🙁

  • BeaterRezQ

    **also, is that a duck and a dog in that cage? I sure hope that they are friends and not feeding time at the old farm….
    B

    • oldtenspeed

      BRQ, I was thinking the same thing! Looks like duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck–it must be a duck. Or just a Papillion! http://www.akc.org/breeds/papillon/index.cfm

      • BeaterRezQ

        Steve McQueen?

      • Roger A

        Also featured in the picture is Tallulah, my Lab and Sophia, my wife’s Pekinese, who thinks she is big dog too.

        • oldtenspeed

          Pekinese! I looked that one up too, but decided otherwise.

        • Ryan Surface

          Plus one on the Black Labs – how did I miss that! sharp eyes BRQ and Cameron

  • DOCSPROCKET

    I DIG THE BIKE MAN LOVE THE BLACK & RED COMBO
    GREAT FIND

  • Rob in CNY

    Roger, nice find! I got the blue version of that same bike (same size) for the same price a few years ago! I’ve since acquired a few “better” bikes, but that Traveler III is still used often. Though I have to admit, I’ve swapped out almost everything but the frame. I do use its cranks on a different bike and they are still my favorites.

    Also, though it would disqualify it as an OTS, you can very nicely fit a 7-spd freewheel on there with almost no effort. If the upgrade fever ever hits.