'69 Heavy-Duti Lowered

[kanar]

3 years ago, when I finished my first build, something appeared. I hate carrying a backpack during a cruise... So I decided that my next bike would be a full carrier...

A friend said me : "If you want to do a custom, do it on a real basis !"

And one day, I found this one on Ebay :

A complete Schwinn Heavy-Duti from 1969 in nice condition. The 50's hornet back rack decided for me to buy it...
When you live in France, ride on a Schwinn is not so common.

I also found this a few minutes later...

So when the boxes came at home, I was like a child !

and after a couple of hours

A few weeks later I bought this reflector to change the back one

and this modification could be the last one to have a good and cool bike. But when already started to modify a first bike, It's complicated to stop...

So I found a new fork to try a fork bending with a friend :

but this fork was a little bit too pink... So I searched a red one to do the same

the genuine one is on the left

The bike looked better ! but I bought a Bendix 2-speeds Kickback and I wanted it on the bike

so I did my first wheel build

I mounted on it a Jerald Sulky. I always liked the tires with radial grooves ! that looks so old school !

But, some details was not good. The front wheel was to big reguarding the 24" rear wheel. the saddle needed to be changed. And the chain was in contact with the tire.

So I mounted a regular 26" front wheel with a QuickBrick. I mounted the sprocket on the other side, we worked a little bit on the chainguard

I also mounted a Polo saddle with a bended sissybar. We also switched for a new handlebar to keep the line.

and now the bike is perfect !

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Nice work! It is hard to stop once you start!

Luke.

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

that's a cool bike.

 

[Bicycle808]

Looks good! What is the French equivalent to our Chicago Schwinns and suchlike? Most of the French bikes that were imported to the USA are more road-race oriented, typically Peugeots, Motobecanes, and Merciers.... typically low-end 10 speed road bikes. Is there a class of older industrial/ cargo/ utility bikes in France?

 

[kanar]

Old European cycles have generally diamond frames and are oriented road-race.
European people like performance, always performance, too much performance...
There is also a lot of city bike like the Peugeot NS Series.

If you are looking for a cargo bike, the best is the postman cargo bike with its strong front and back carrier

 

[Randythe Rat]

Nice bike looks cool.

 

[RattusFattus]

That is SWEET! The banana seat and low bars totally change the look of the bike. It looks low, lean, and mean now. Well done!

 

[october]

I really like this bike!
Nice and clean, simple, well executed...
It's bikes like this, that this site is about!


october

 

[kanar]

Thanks all for your feedback !

 

[01dudley]

Nice work! It is hard to stop once you start!

Luke.

Boy you aint kidding! I get a idea, post a picture of the moch up, thrash on it get it ready for paint and then they usually get sent down the road! Then I go crap I forgot to get more pictures of it. Oh well time to start another one!

 

[Mike G]

Wow it's like, from hanging with the geeks in the computer lab to hanging with the cool kids in the area you're not suppose to be smoking in!

Nice job!

 

[kanar]

well... Someone can tell me why when you think your bike is done, you continue to modify it ?

This sunday we organized a CustomBrigade stand in a car meeting

and a painting company was close from us so...

 

[RattusFattus]

well... Someone can tell me why when you think your bike is done, you continue to modify it ?

Hahaha. Because they're never truly done. They're constantly evolving works in progress. I know the feeling well.

 

[kanar]

Update ! from the old days...

Last spring, I switched the Quickbrick front tire for a 3G slik. Looks better

I polished a rim.
now, I have to find a Schwinn front hub in nice condition to mount on this rim.


(And I fixed all the image links)