We haven’t had a UK entry since Ken’s Elswick Hopper, and this is also the second Falcon in our collection. I like the bike David, but I’m docking you points for no pie plate and giving you bonus points for a Suntour rear derailer.:)
`73 ish falcon black diamond that i call gary francis (probably the previous owner if the peeling sticker on the top tube is anything to go by)
my daily commuter on a 25 mile round trip ever since i bought it about 3 months ago and i`ve replaced a lot of the original parts as a result,
breaking things is a particular skill of mine.
i`m getting really good at fixing things tho and i`ll try and keep my next creaky 10 speed lovely a bit more authentic, except for spoke reflectors anyway, i hate them things
Thanks David
It has been suggested by a loyal reader/contributer that I declare June Schwinn Month. I’m not sure about the whole month, but I am going to finish this week with ALL SCHWINNS. Now I expect all you non-Schwinn owners to come out and represent yourselves in July.
Today’s Schwinn adds yet another hue to the rainbow of fruit flavor we have begun to amass with all these Schwinn entries. This Le Tour III, sent in by John of OTiS the Omega fame, mixes old and new very nicely. Some chrome cable clamps on that top tube would be icing on the cake.
Rescued this Le Tour 3 from a decade of neglect. Tore it all apart and added aero brakes, a Felt brand racing saddle and a leftover crank from a Peugeot. Very responsive bike and for it’s age, it is very light weight. This one is named Bob in order to properly honor the winner of last months competition. I see that there were 2 winners but trying to ride that gorgeous Suteki with no pedals is a trick that even I could not pull off.
Thanks John
Every week lately, it seems we receive a some obscure(to most) Japanese 10-speed leftover from the first bike boom, and this week is no exception. Sure, we have lots of Schwinns and Fujis and Raleighs and Peugeots, but it is marques like Sentinel, Sanwa, Suteki and this Sekine that really make this place sssspecial.
Sent in by Ethan, this Sekine sure fits in nicely with the other OTS that reside here, but it is by no means typical. First, look at the size of those shifters! Those things look like soup spoon handles—that is, if soup spoons indeed have handles. Second, not only does this Sekine have a standard issue 9 inch chrome pie plate, but the pie plate appears to have SEKINE shaped cutouts! To all those Pie Plate Haters out there, it would be criminal to remove such a fine piece of bling. Now, if could just get Ethan to send in a shot of this beauty’s drive side!
Can we get some Sekine love on this site! This was a great find at a local flea market. The medallion on the front of the bike was still there too! After a little elbow grease and a lot of trial and error this bike turned into a gem to ride around town.
Thanks Ethan
Today’s OTS, a 1980ish Sanwa sent in by Ash, is another in a recent rush of newly recommissioned commuter mounts. I am happy people are dusting off perfectly serviceable OTS rather than purchasing some over priced, crappy, new bike. To me it’s like buying a purebred dog (or cat) when there are so many perfectly good mutts at the pound. And just like a mutt, there is nothing more faithful or lovable than an old ten speed.
1980-ish Sanwa. was sitting for about 20 years. New tires/tubes and a new seat and handle bar tape, And we are good to go. I added the rack and lock (so it stays mine) ,and so I can take my lunch with me to work. The picture of the handle bars is much newer , I have just installed new brake lever hoods. The Sanwa has been doing very well with its 8 mile daily round trip to work and much more on the weekends. Thanks
Thanks Ash
