Stevie J’s Sears Free Spirit Brittany

Posted

UPDATE (11/01/2011): This just in! Stevie requested that I update his Free Spirit with a picture of it’s most current configuration, which I have. Holy King Snake Batman!

Stevie J (formerly DirSirColon) submitted this Sears Free Spirit some time ago, and I’m only now getting around to posting it due to the frustration I got from a lengthy trip from one end of these handlebars to the other, only to end up in essentially the same location.

Sears fully lugged burgundy steel frame-made in Taiwan.(Giant?)  It screamed retro, but begged for rebirth.  Cottered crank replaced by Sugino two piece-as well as bars, seat and steel rims.(26 inch to 27 inch)  Suntour drive train that includes both derailluers and stem shifters.  Yard sale find with minimal cost yet monsterous potential…..”I should have a mental evaluation, or at least a credit check!”  And always, age appropriate. I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride… Stevie J.

Related posts:

  1. Neil H’s 1975 Centurion Super LeMans
  2. Francis S’s 1974ish Sears Free Spirit
  3. Larry B’s 1973 Sekine Medaille SHC
  4. Aditya T’s Batavus Intercycle Champion
  5. Darin N’s 1988 Panasonic DX-5000
  • BeaterRezQ

    …I’m on my hands and knees begging Cameron to please post the updated picture of the FS Brittany that I just submitted.(two minutes ago) It has really turned into a work of art for just being an old-yard sale find. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!?!
    Does he take bribes?

  • Hughs bicycle blog

    Are those block pedals? The MotoBecane I just re-built also had block pedals on it when I found it. What is up with that? By the way that Free-Spirit has re-badge written all over it.
    Nice Bike. Look forward to seeing the new pics.

  • John =)

    Those handle bars look intresting, are they from a schwinn dx900 ?

  • BeaterRezQ

    First of all…THANK YOU Cameron, I love you man!
    Thanks for posting the updated pic of my bike, you rule!!
    The first two pics were of the bike when I first started tinkering with it after sitting totally original in a shed for years. As mentioned earlier, it was a yard sale find for $20-25…don’t remember exactly. The Brittany was nearly pristine when I found it, but I noticed it had a slight pull to the left–when I let go of the handle bars. Upon further inspection I discovered that the forks were bent. I had an old 1970’s Lotus mixte that I had made an organ donor out of a long time ago, and lo and behold the gold-colored forks were nearly a perfect match; considering the Brittany was originally a 26” bike and the Lotus was a 27” bike. Long story short, now what was once a 26” bike is now running 700c with size 37c tires. Yes it’s a freak, kind of a cross bike on steriods….but hey, it’s me.
    to note: funky bars were a find at a bicycle recyle shop, and I am totally responsible for the block pedals and proudly take whatever blame and ridicule comes my way.
    BeaterRezQ

  • John =)

    Don’t take it the wrong way, about the bars. I like them, use to adjust them daily on the stationary bike at work, depending on the kind of day/mood I was having. I just didnt know if they would stand up to the rigors of actual road riding.

  • BeaterRezQ

    Dear John,
    The said bars now reside on a 1985 Fuji. They work flawlessly and have never had to be adjusted. The make of them is a mystery to me seeing that I found them used at a recycle shop. Funky, they are–but offer two riding positions for your hands/wrists, and that is mainly why I decided to use them. Also, they kinda look cool at night with a headlamp on each side. I never take things wrong concerning a bike build, it’s all personal preference. Heck, sometimes I go just on comfort alone, and other times it’s merely a cosmetic attraction or fetish. I make cruisers out of old mountain bikes that totally defy all the rules of the game. Sacrilege or creative?