Greetings Retro-Classic guru's,

It looks like I am the owner of the schwinn from the Owen Meany auction, here are some pics so you don't have to cross link:

<br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15888&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15889&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15890&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15891&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15892&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<img src="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15893&amp;stc=1" border="0" alt="" /> <br />
<br />

rwbadley thinks it's an early 70's frame, is there any way to narrow it down to the exact year? Where did the continental fall in Schwinn's lineup during that time? From my limited knowledge, Schwinn's lineup from lowest to highest was Varsity, Continental, Paramount. Was the continental the same as the varisty just diff components?

Also, what would it be acceptable (period-wise) to put a rear rack on this bike? If so where can I get something like that? My LBS doesn't seem to have much older items, so I'm guessing I'll be internet sourcing any additional items I need for the bike. The other item I might be interested in would be a kick stand. I've thought of using the bike to be able to rent/return movies, go to the library, general neighborhood riding and it might be more convinent than leaning it next to the buildings.

OR, I could fix it. Would would be involved in this project? Obviously from that question, it would be my first fixie.

Any help would be appreciated,
Phil

Here is a link that describes how to determine the production date of the Continental. http://www.geocities.com/sldatabook/serial.html

The Chicago Schwinn "lightweights" of the early 70's were the Varsity, Continental, Super Sport, Sports Tourer, and the Paramount. The Varsity and the Continental were electroforged. Sheldon Brown has an interesting article on the electroforge process. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/varsity.html. These bikes were built to survive a nuclear war. 500 years from now someone will be riding an electroforged Schwinn from the 1970's.

The Continental and the Varsity had the same frame, but the Continental had a tubular fork, center pull brakes, alloy handlebar and stem, and quick release alloy hubs. The Varsity had a solid steel blade fork, side pulls, and steel handlebar and stem, and solid axle steel hubs.

The most popular rack in the 70's was a Pletcher aluminum. Watch Ebay.

The Continental had a super heavy duty solid steel brazed on kickstand that never ratttled. If it's not still attached, you can probably find a replacement. Maybe post at oldroads.com under vintage lightweights. There are a lot of Schwinn collectors there.

I think it would be a shame to convert that nice Continental into a fixie. I had a Continental during high school and college. I would have bought this one if the frame was bigger.

RW did a great job, with 2 critical period-correct upgrades--the saddle and the rear derailleur. I made exactly the same upgrades on my Continental in 1976--a Suntour derailleur that was 1000 times better than the original Huret, and a brooks saddle that was 1000 times better than the original plastic padded steel shell. I'm getting nostalgic here.