Can’t Assist Myself – Garin’s Weblog

After I see bikes like this on the market I actually can’t assist myself.  I feel that the affliction is a mixture of things, on this case the bike: is from my period, is all inventory, is $50, and for my part must be saved from the dump?   To be clear, that listing was seemingly all rationalizations.  Rationalization or not, this utterly inventory 1987 Schwinn Sierra was billed as a cute, sturdy bike that need’s some TLC and for $50 no haggling {dollars} it's the subsequent bike on my listing.

I bear in mind a pal of mine, again maybe even in 1987, poo poo-ing the entire Schwinn off-road line on the Crossroads Schwinn Vendor in Bellevue, WA.  In any case, we each had Specialised Hardrocks, actual mountain bikes ya know.   Additionally ya know, younger is the brand new silly.  Sometime I'll drag that Hardrock down from the attic, restore it, after which do a shoot out trip agains this Sierra.  That’ll be enjoyable.  Apart from the younger and silly incident, I knew principally nothing about this bike.  And by principally I imply that I as soon as had a Schwinn Prelude highway bike from the identical period and it was a properly made gentle bike even when it stated Schwinn.   I even have the S-30 which after some analysis turned out to be a pleasant bike.  This Sierra was from the time when bike producers have been nonetheless attempting to determine the mountain bike factor so actually anybody’s guess is pretty much as good as mine as as to whether this can be a bike or an anchor.

After getting the Sierra residence I gave it a as soon as over earlier than goin on-line to see simply what I had.  I observed using 4130 Chrome-Moly tubing which pointed to this being greater than a ship anchor.  I observed somewhat sticker close to the derailleur that learn “Schw App GIANT” which meant that the Sierra’s body was made by Large simply earlier than Schwinn deserted Large and went to China to economize.  I’ve learn that Schwinn’s transfer to China left Large tooled up and able to broaden their very own line of bikes into the U.S. and European markets; which they did.  (So is it that Schwinn made some actually good bikes within the 1980’s or is it that Large made some actually good Schwinns within the 1980’s?)

I additionally observed bizarre white hubs, however they have been massive flange and had stickers saying that they have been sealed bearing; additionally good.  I additionally started to essentially take discover of how little or no put on there was for a 35 yr outdated bike…the stickers weren't solely there, they have been simply readable and the edges, sprockets, and many others have been simply soiled, not worn.  One other time niched factor I observed was that the shifters have been proper at that transition between friction and index shifting.  The entrance derailleur was strictly friction which I really like as a result of it may be “trimmed” on the fly to eradicate chain rub.  The rear derailleur was modified by a thumb-shifter which might be switched between listed (SIS) and friction.   Tires have been flat, so I bought new tubes.  Tires have been additionally Bell Dirtsters for which I've no witty naming remarks, only a head shake…what have been they pondering?

More often than not I give a brand new to me bike a brand new set of cables, tires and an intensive little bit of upkeep earlier than I take it on it’s first trip.  For the Sierra, I didn’t.  Undecided why, guess I felt like using.  I did put in new tubes, lubed and adjusted all cables, tightened all fasteners, checked the Dirtsters for dry rot after which went using.

I do know that I'm not actually demanding with regards to path using, however this bike did all the things I wanted it to do with little to no fuss.  As I stated, I felt like using so I hit the low a part of Galbraith climbing all three of the Pigs earlier than heading over and down Mullet earlier than doing all the bunny trails.  I had enjoyable.  The moist brakes did a ok job stopping.  The listed shifting shifted.  The Dirtsters gripped.   Effectively that’s accomplished, unsure what to do with it now.