Sara C's 1985 Schwinn World Sport Restoration & Conversion to City Bike

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle After Restoration

Recently I started work on Sara's 1985 Schwinn World Sport.  The World Sport will be converted to a city bike with upright handlebars and city brake levers.  A mixte with drop handlebars converted to upright handlebars is just so much more useful and looks great too.

The World Sport is in descent starting shape and the frosty blue color is a great color, I like the color a lot and the yellow Schwinn decals are great contrast to the blue.  A very nice feature of this world sport is it has alloy wheel rims.  The alloy rims are lighter, easier to true and a much better braking surface in wet conditions.

The Schwinn World Sport will receive a total restoration and a conversion to a city bicycle with upright handlebars.  New cables, cable housings, bearings and brake pads will be installed along with new handlebars, new brake levers, new handlebar grips, new seat, new tires and new tire tubes.

I look forward very much to the completion of the World Sport, mixte frames with city handlebars are such a great look and I think the frosty blue of this frame against the new tires, cork handlebar grips and the synthetic brown leather saddle will put the World Sport over the top!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Handlebars

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Brake Levers

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Stem & Handlebars

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Head Badge

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Front Brake

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Hub

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Front Wheel Rim

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Shift Levers

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Top Tube Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Down Tube Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Crank

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Front Derailleur

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Rear Brake

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Rear Derailleur

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel Hub

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Before - Rear Wheel Rim

I stripped the frame of the components and found the paint to be in pretty good shape, only a few chips and scuffs.  The paint should polish beautifully!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Head Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Head Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Down Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Seat Lug

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Seat Tube Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Seat Lug

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Drop Outs

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Fork

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Fork Crown

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Fork Blades

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Before - Fork Drop Outs

After cleaning the frame I started working through a couple of polishing grits.  The frame really started to come to life.  The frosty blue is an amazing color and really shines now.  The decals cleaned up really nice also and really look good against the blue.  I am very pleased with how the frame polished!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Head Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Head Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Top Tube Deal
The graphic designer in me really likes the yellow letters.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Down Tube Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Seat Tube Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Bottom Bracket

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Seat Lug

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Drop Outs

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Fork

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Fork Crown

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Fork Blades

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Frame Polished - Fork Drop Outs

Below is a photo of just all the small pieces, screws, nuts and bolts, spacers and washer that put all the pieces of a bike together.  The small pieces will be cleaned to remove all the dirt and grease and then polished on industrial polishers.  It takes time to polish all these pieces but so worth it for the final results.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Small Parts for Polishing

The first thing I do is put the headset and bottom bracket pieces into a crock pot with dish soap and water on a very low setting.  In an hour or so the grease and dirt will be very soft and will wipe off with one swipe.  It is important to experiment with this process before you try it as it will make damaged chrome flake off and never put painted parts in unless you want the paint stripped.  It does a great job at stripping paint.

With the headset and bottom bracket cleaned i did the polishing of the pieces.  The pieces really polished nice and with new bearings and grease they really spin nice. I think the photo below of the polished headset and bottom bracket is before I replaced the bearings.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset & Bottom Bracket - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset & Bottom Bracket - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Pressing Headset Bearing Cups

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset Bearing Cups - Pressed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset Bearings - Packed in New Grease

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bottom Bracket Bearings Packed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bottom Bracket - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Headset & Bottom Bracket - Complete

I like the stem, it is made by Custom.  I just like stems from this era, they are clean and have a nice shape.  This stem cleaned and polished extremely nice.

I also installed the new Wald City handlebars at this time.  The Schwinn World Sport is starting to come together nice and the upright city shape is coming together.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Handlebars

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem & Handlebars - Compelte

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem & Handlebars - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem & Handlebars - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Stem & Handlebars - Complete

With the handlebars its time to install the new Velo Orange brake levers.  I really like these brake levers, they are classic and the design has been around for ever but it is nice that Velo Orange replaced the binding bolt with a 4 mm hex key bolt which is a lot nicer then the old flat head screw bolts the older ones have.  The brake levers look great installed.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Velo Orange Brake Levers - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Levers - Installed

The Sun Tour shift levers have the classic Schwinn mounting plate that has some shape to it.  I cleaned and flushed the shift levers and then polished and lubricated them.  The shift levers polished amazing!! And they work great too!!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Shift Levers - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Shift Levers - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Shift levers - Installed

The Sake crank is very nice, it looks great and has a great shape.  I cleaned all the pieces and then got on with the polishing.  The crank arms polished wonderfully and all the hardware as well.  Assembled the crank looks fantastic and installed everything is spinning great!  I love it!!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Crank - Installed

The brake calipers where in a little bit of rough starting shape.  I disassembled the calipers and did a lot of cleaning.  With the pieces cleaned I worked through the polishing grits.  The polishing turned out fantastic.  I assembled and lubricated the brake calipers and installed the new brake pads.  They brake calipers look amazing.  One of the adjustment barrels was broken so I replaced that.  Installed the calipers look great!!  I am very pleased with the results of the brake calipers.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Calipers - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Calipers - Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Calipers - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Calipers - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Brake Caliper - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed

I like the derailleurs a lot, they are Sun Tour and pretty much bullet proof, the bullet proof part is what I really like.  I cleaned and polished the derailleurs and lubricated them as I assembled them.  The derailleurs look great installed against the frosty blue paint.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Derailleurs - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Derailleur - Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Derailleur - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Derailleur - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Derailleur - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Derailleur - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Derailleur - Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Derailleur - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Derailleur - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Derailleur - Installed

The new saddle has not showed up yet so for now I polished the seat post and seat collar and installed them.  The pieces look great polished and installed.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Seat Post - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Seat Post - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Seat Post & Collar - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Seat Collar - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Seat post - Installed

I polished the reflector bracket and installed it at the time I installed the rear brake caliper.  It looks great installed!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Reflector - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Reflector - Exploded

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Reflector - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Reflector - Complete

That completes the main components of the body.  Next is the wheels.  In the photo below the World Sport is really coming along nice!!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle to this Point

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Pedals - Before

The wheels are in descent shape, the old grease is very dirty and shows its time for a rebuild.  I cleaned the wheel hubs and then polished them.  The wheel hubs polished very nice.  I then cleaned the axle components and installed the new wheel bearings and grease.  The wheels spin great and look great installed on the World Sport.

The tires have not arrived yet, they should be shipped with the saddle, the seller of the tires and saddle are usually pretty slow at processing orders so I expect them last and soon.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Rim - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Hub - Old Grease

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Axle Components - Ready

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Bearings - Packed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Wheel Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel Hub - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel Rim - Before

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel Hub - Old Grease

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel Bearings Packed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Wheel Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Wheels Complete

With the wheels installed I wired the bicycle or installed the brake cables and shift cables.  I chose the gray Jagwire cable housing as it looks great with lighter colors like this frosty blue.  With the cables complete I tuned the brakes and shifting and both work great.

I really like the photo below of the shift cable housings around the head tube.  The cables look great, the headset chrome looks great polished, the blue paint looks great, it all looks great.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Cables & Cable Housings

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Cables Installed - I like this photo a lot!!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Cables Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Brake Cable Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Wiring Complete

As soon as the tires and saddle show up it will be very quick to finish up the Schwinn World Sport.  I can't wait to test ride it!


Things have finally shown up.  First to go on are the new Kenda tires and new tire tubes.  The tires went on nicely and the gum walls make for a great look.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Kenda Tires

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Front Tire - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Rear Tire - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Tires - Complete

I really like this saddle, it is a great value, the color is great, the stitching is good and the look is perfect for a lot of builds but most of all its very comfortable.  Installed the saddle looks great with the frosty blue.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Saddle

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Saddle - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Saddle - Complete

With just about everything done its time to shellac the cork handlebar grips.  I installed the grips and then masked off the area for the shellac.  I have been using amber shellac with the brown saddle, the amber color looks good with the saddle.  I love the look of shellac cork grips, such a classy look.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Cork Handlebar Grips

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Handlebar Grips - Installed

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Cork Handlebar Grips - Masked for Shellac

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Cork Handlebar Grip - Shellacked

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Handlebar Grips - Complete

The Schwinn World Sport was missing one of the front wheel clips.  These came around in the 1980's with the whole lawyer tab movement.  The safety clips help hold the wheel on if the quick release was not locked down properly.

I knew I had a few of these clips somewhere, I finally found them in a drawer after on and off looking.  I cleaned and polished the clips and they look great polished and install against the frosty blue and all the other polished pieces.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Replacement Safety Clip

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Safety Clips - Polished

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Safety Clips - Complete

 Last thing to do is install the freewheel and chain.  I cleaned, flushed and lubricated the freewheel and installed the chain.  The chain seems to be new and hardly used so that is great.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Freewheel - Cleaned & Lubricated

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Freewheel - Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Freewheel & Chain - Complete

I installed new water bottle stainless steal bolts.  Weather a water bottle cage is installed or not its good to have the bolts installed, the bolts keep water and dirt out of the frame.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
New Water Bottle Mount Bolts

The pedals where rough but most pedals are, they take a beating.  I cleaned the pedals and polished them the best they will.  They look pretty good and still spin great with just a little rust pitting in inner area.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Pedals - Polished

 That completes the Schwinn World Sport conversion and restoration.

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle - Complete

I completed Sara's Schwinn World Sport this morning and by the afternoon the rain stopped and I was able to test ride it and take the final photos.

The World Sport really turned out fantastic!  The frosty blue is an amazing color and with the gum wall tires, saddle and cork grips really looks classic.  I love it!!

The best part is the ride, it is so smooth and comfortable with the handlebar conversion and that was comfortable for even my tall frame.  The shifting is very easy and stops very well.  The Schwinn is an all day rider!

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Stem

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Head Tube

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Front Brake

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Hub

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Rim

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Stem

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Cork Grip & Brake Lever

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Schwinn Decal

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Saddle

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Crank

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Rear Derailleur

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub

Sara's 1985 World Sport Step Through Restoration & Conversion
Bicycle Complete - Rear

Thank you,
John Z.