Old Rusty Bike: Schwinn Traveler Single Speed

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Schwinn Traveler Single Speed

I built this bike to commute, using 42-18 gearing and a lot of used parts. The wheels were 700c with Campy hubs that had a freewheel hub on the rear - perfect for using a BMX gear. The brake handles and hoods were Shimano 600 that I bought new/clearance in 1996. Check out the sweet matching fenders and saddle; all used parts. The bar tape was emblazoned with the Japanese Rising Sun, although from a distance it looked like polka dots.

This was a smooth rider. One of the cool things about single speeds like this is that they're very quiet. No derailleur chattering at all. You don't realize it until you don't hear it. Surprisingly, this bike was a great climber despite the single gear. I'm not sure now why I sold this bike, but I kinda miss it.

Single speeds get in your blood after awhile.

4 comments:

MarcSep 23, 2009 12:49 PM
That's a beautiful bike. Selling it was certainly a mistake. Love the blog.
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Kurt ClarkSep 23, 2009 12:55 PM
Thanks! Yep, it's tough to look at the pix even now, but I can build another one someday. First order of business: lose about a gazillion pounds...
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buffetSep 22, 2010 08:47 AM
hi kurt,

i am recently bit by the single speed bug, just built my second as a commuter and i live in a rainy place. any tips on where to get fenders that will fit between my shimano brakes and the frame/fork? it is an old italian benetto. i see you have fenders on the red one...

thanks, andrew
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KevinNov 9, 2011 10:38 PM
man i woulda have loved to of been the one who bought this bike off of you, i had a schwinn traveler 10 speed just like that one a for the longest time and that thing was a major hobby for me, found the bike in a garbage dump in Connecticut, amazing what people throw away, i had to replace about 75% of it and then the remaining 25% needed alot of work, but it was worth it because afterwards i felt like some kinda road bike guru, although i always kinda wished it was a single speed, only rode it in the one gear but i never had the money to convert it. But living in philadelphia, i locked it to a row of newspaper vendors one day, went into work, and when i came out it looked like someone had mounted the curb, hit the row of vendors, and pinned my bike to a lamp post, major damage to the frame, havent been able to find a suitable affordable bike since ...
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