Ironweed Bicycle Products
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Panniers
    • Dolliver Trunk Bag
    • Orpington Front Bag
    • Racks, Decaleurs, and Straps
  • Ironweed Retailers
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Proper Pannier Fit
  • Installing Stiffeners
  • Our Guarantee
  • Contact Us
  • Ironweed Blog
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Panniers
    • Dolliver Trunk Bag
    • Orpington Front Bag
    • Racks, Decaleurs, and Straps
  • Ironweed Retailers
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Proper Pannier Fit
  • Installing Stiffeners
  • Our Guarantee
  • Contact Us
  • Ironweed Blog
  Ironweed Bicycle Products

Chicago Fillet: The 1974 Sports Tourer

4/2/2015

15 Comments

 
I thought it might be interesting to one or two of my readers to share a few of the bikes I own and enjoy riding.

Like many people in the United States, my first bicycle was a Schwinn.  A Coppertone Stingray to be more specific.  I remember telling my dad I wanted one of those flashier looking Stingray-style bikes that the department store sold; like the Murray Eliminator.  But my father insisted that my first bike be a Schwinn because of the quality and durability.  I was 6 years old and desperate for my own bike, so I didn’t put up too much fuss. 

I still own a Schwinn; though it’s not a Stringray.  It is a 1974 Opaque red Sports Tourer (ST). 

The Schwinn Sports Tourer has a frameset and fork made with 4130 chromoly tubes.  The Sports Tourers, along with the Super Sport and later the Superior, were fillet-brazed by hand in the same part of the Chicago Schwinn factory where they made the Paramount. 

While clearly superior to the flash-welded frames featured on most Schwinns, the Sports Tourer looked very similar.  But with a higher price tag, it was not obvious to the customer why the ST – which looked quite similar to the Varsity and Continental – was priced closer to the top-of-the-line hand-made and lugged Paramount. 

But closer scrutiny reveals the source of the more expensive sticker price. In addition to the lighter chromoly frame/fork and the hand fillet-brazed joints, the Sports Tourer came with a cotterless (or should I say Ashtabula-less) crank and other lighter and better quality componentry.

My Sports Tourer came with a TA Cyclotouriste crankset.   Earlier versions were fitted with nice Nervar cranksets. In addition to a French cranks, there was a veritable United Nations of components.  Schwinn basically acquired components from wherever and frequently rebadged them as “Schwinn” or “Schwinn Approved.” 

A Shimano Crane rear derailleur was standard equipment on the 1974 Sports Tourer.  It was matched (or perhaps mismatched) with a Huret front changer.  First year models (1971) of the ST came with a Campagnolo Gran Turismo.  A five speed Shimano freewheel with the two largest cogs being skip-tooth, finished out the drivetrain. 

British parts included stem, handlebars (GB), saddle (Brooks).  French components were also well represented.  In addition to the front derailleur and the crankset, hubs, pedals, and Twin-Stick shifters were all French.  And the brakes, brake levers, and rims were Swiss (Weinmann).

Of course I’ve switched out a few of the components.  For instance I traded the 170mm TA Cyclotouriste for a 180mm TA Pro.  And the Weinmann brakes were exchanged for MAFACs.  I added a longer stem, wider bars (needs even wider) and added VO fenders. The old Brooks B15 grew a little tattered and I replaced it with Brooks Flyer.

I like the geometry, specifically the longer top tube, compared to its British and Japanese counterparts of that era. (I’ve seen 68cm Panasonics matched with 58cm top tubes!)  My Sports Tourer is called a 26 inch frame.  That’s from center to top of the seat tube, which rises well above the top tube. The top tube comes in around 62cm center to center.  By comparison, my British Woodrup is a 66cm frame with a top tube of 59cm.

In general, the Schwinn Sports Tourer is a pretty comfortable ride. It has a geometry not too dissimilar from the Surly Long Haul Trucker.  I would not hesitate to use it on a century ride or a weekend camping trip.  It’s not bad looking either!

Picture
Picture
Picture
The re-badged Shimano Crane long-cage derailleur affixed to a forged Huret dropout.
Picture
Huret front changer.
Picture
I replaced the unmarked TA Cyclotouriste with this 180mm 3-pin TA Pro
Picture
Picture
Picture
The four point star headbadge
Picture
Picture
This Schwinn Sports Tourer comes complete with the "Schwinn Approved " canvas saddlebag
Picture
Picture
The original crankset did not come with the TA foil decal
15 Comments
    Picture

    Brian Loring


    Archives

    December 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

    Categories

    All
    30th Century Bicycle
    650b
    Airbnb
    Albert Finney
    Alex Moulton
    Amf Bicycles
    Amish
    Amusing Bicycle Stuff
    Art
    Back In Stock!
    Back To Earth
    Beer
    Benelux
    Bicycle Chain
    Bicycle Travel
    Bike Culture
    Bike Expo
    Bike Friday
    Bike Friday Partnership
    Bike Library
    Bikes
    Bikes And The City
    Bike To Work Week
    Bill Walton
    Bluemels
    Bobbin
    Brian Eno
    Brompton
    Brooks Flyer
    Budget Bicycle Center
    Cambridge
    Campeur Racks
    Cargo Bikes
    Christmas
    Classic Rendezvous
    Claus Barbie
    Cognition Caps
    Collector
    Condor
    Copenhagen
    Customers
    Cycle Goods Catalog
    Cycle Truck
    CyclingTips
    Cyclocross
    Dapper
    Daughters
    David Byrne
    Decaleur
    Defeet Duraglove
    Derailleurs
    Dew Point
    Dia Compe NGC 450 Brakes
    Dolliver Sale
    Dolliver Trunk Bag
    Donkey Bike
    Dr. Science
    Drycycle
    Dutch
    Dutch Carriers
    Dynamo
    El Zumpango
    Evel Knievel
    Fenders
    Fillet Brazing
    Films
    Frame Pump
    France
    French
    Front Bag
    Gb Brakes
    Gilles Berthoud
    Giveaway
    Groundhog Day
    Hand-Painted Signs
    Harris Cyclery
    Heel Strike
    Hooks
    Huret
    Iowa Bike Expo
    Ironweed Retailers
    Ironweed Stuff
    Japanese
    Jingle Cross
    Kalona
    Kids
    Kurt Vonnegut
    Kuwahara
    League Certified Instructor
    League Of American Bicyclists
    Leather Straps
    LED Light Bulbs
    Lighting
    Lygie
    Lyon
    Made In Usa
    Madison
    Malartre Museum
    Mercian
    Mick Jagger
    Mixte
    Motobecane Mixte
    Moulton
    Mud Flap
    Mudguards
    Mulberries
    Music
    My Bicycles
    North Road
    Orpington
    Packing
    Pannier Size
    Paris-Nice
    Park Tool
    Pashley
    Pathé
    Paul Charrel
    Peugeot Nouveau Style
    Peugeot NSL-40
    Photos
    Planet Bike Cascadias
    Porteur
    Practical Cycles Uk
    Practical Cycling
    Prototype
    Racing
    Racks
    Ragbrai
    Raleigh
    Raleigh Roadster
    Raleigh Rsw
    Ralph Sampson
    Rando
    Rapha
    Repurposing
    Reynolds 531
    Rhone River Valley
    Rides
    Rubberizing Hooks
    Sakae/Ringyo
    Schwinn Sports Tourer
    Schwinn Tiger
    Scooter
    Sculptures
    Shifting
    Shilling
    Shimano Crane
    Simplex
    Six Speed Bar-End
    Soma Tradesman
    Sr
    Sugino
    Surly Long Haul Trucker
    Swept Back Handlebars
    Tennessee Williams
    Third Hand Tool
    Tiller Effect
    Touring
    Touring Bicycle
    Trailers
    Training
    Transportation Alternatives
    Treadmill
    Trek 728
    Trunk Bag
    Tweed
    Umbrella
    University Of Iowa
    Var
    Velo Orange
    Velo Vitality
    Video
    Vintage
    Viviers
    Wabi Woolens
    Wald Basket
    Wallingford Bicycle
    Water Bottle
    Waterproof
    Water Resistance
    Weight
    Wet Socks
    Wheelhouse Detroit
    Winter Bike
    Woodrup
    YORR
    Youth Off Road Riders

    RSS Feed

Picture
The time is now - load up and ride!