Friday, October 16, 2015

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - A Maine Bicycle!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle After
This is Peter's Schwinn Continental shipped to me in a couple boxes all the way from Maine!  Peter is the original owner of the Schwinn Continental.  It is in for a new paint job along with a total restoration.  I love that Peter is the original owner of the Continental and still has it after all this time and still puts miles on it.  Can't be a better story then that.

At on time in it's life the Continental got a new paint job.  A pretty cool paint job for the time but is now showing the miles.  We are going to put the Continental back to as close as possible to the original Schwinn Sunset Orange color. 

The components are in okay starting shape and I think they will all come back beautifully!  The Continental will get all new cables, bearings, brake pads and tires and tubes.  I can not wait to see the results, the Sunset orange is one of my all time favorite colors!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Top Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Area

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Down Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Crank

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Seat Stays

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Drop Outs

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Crown

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Blades

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Bicycle Before
Fork Drop Outs

I finished breaking sown the bicycle. In a few of the photos below you can see the Sunset orange peeking out that I will use to match the powder to.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Top Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Top Tube - Orange Peeking Out

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Area

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket 

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Seat Stays

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Chain Stays

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Drop Outs

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Fork

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Frame Before
Fork
The photos below are of the frame just after paint stripping and before frame prep for powder coating.  Check out the photo below of the bottom bracket with Peter's initials carved in.  So Cool!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete - Initials!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration - Paint Stripping
Complete

I need to find where the photos went of the frame prepared for powder coating.

The powder coating has been a slow process.  I ran into the same problem I had on a recent Raleigh Sports and the only times I have come across this problem.  When I heat the frame a sludge drips out.  It is not just a little bit but it makes a puddle on the bottom of the heat booth.  It is so strange and such a lot.  I don't think it is just dirt build up over the years because it is way to much for the amount of dirt that could possibly get into an assembled bicycle.

I have worked through getting all the sludge out.  I cleaned and flushed it many times and then backed the frame twice at the powder coat temperature but no powder to burn everything off.  After powder coating I am going to spray the inside of the frame with frame saver.

Missing photos to come.  Check back in a few days for the powder coating to be complete.



Since it took so long to get the paint correct the post for the Continental is a little out of order.  I am going to post some of the photos of the polished components

I started work on the handlebars, stem and brake levers first.  I have always really liked these style Schwinn handlebars, they are kind of like Randonneur handlebars.  The flares at the top are nice and the way the drop outs flare out you can really lock your arms in the drop outs.

The handlebars cleaned up nice and polished really nice.  The stem cleaned nice and then took a good amount of work to polish.  The work to polish the stem was worth every bit, the stem polished just beautifully!  I love the Schwinn "S" logo stem.

The brake levers cleaned and lubricated very well.  With the levers cleaned I worked through the polishing grits.  The brake levers polished beautifully, I always like polishing these brake levers, they come back so nice and so far.

Overall I am very happy with the results of the brake levers, stem and handlebars.  I can't wait to see them installed with the new paint!
Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebars & Stem - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebars - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem - Exploded

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem & Handlebars - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebars - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Stem & Handlebars - Installed?

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Levers - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Levers - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Levers - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Levers - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Levers - Installed
Next I started the brake calipers. The brake calipers had a few rough spots.  I broke down the brake levers and ran everything through the sonic cleaner.  With everything clean I worked through the polishing grits on the polishing wheels.  Most everything polished beautifully!  There is a little pitting on a few of the bolt heads but not bad.

With all the pieces polished I assembled the calipers lubricating all the pivot points.  I really like the center pull brakes, they restore so nice and they actually brake very well.  I still have the cables that stretch across the tops of the calipers soaking in rust remover, they should be ready for installing the calipers to the frame, which I can't wait to see.  Those bright calipers against the orange should be amazing!
Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Calipers - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Calipers - Exploded

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Calipers - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Brake Calipers - Complete

The Schwinn rear derailleur that is on the Continental and Super Sport is not my favorite to restore.  It is a very complicated derailleur which makes no sense that it works and is pretty much bullet proof.  It takes a great deal of hand cleaning and hand polishing.  I broke down the derailleur and cleaned all the hard grease and grime.  With the parts clean I polished everything I could on the polishing wheels and then started working by hand.  I am very happy with the way the rear derailleur turned out.  Lubricated it functions perfect and it looks good too.  Even all the hard to reach areas by hand turned out really nice.  And some of the brass color came out in the cast piece that the cable attaches to and work to the under side.  I think the derailleur will look even better with the new paint.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - exploded

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Complete

The front derailleur is designed a lot like the rear derailleur but is a little easier to restore.  I cleaned all the pieces and polished all the pieces.  The pieces polished really nice. I then flushed and lubricated all the pivot points and assembled the front derailleur.  The derailleur came out really nice and should just pop on the painted seat tube.  I love this stuff!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Exploded

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Derailleur - Complete

I kind of ran out of ideas on how to remove the sludge or off gassing oil inside the frame.  I thought I had it all out and applied the orange color and it turned out very nice.  When I applied the clear coat it yellowed in all the areas near the openings of the frame.  My last shot was to soak the frame in a heavy none water based degreaser for four or five days.  It worked!!

The powder coat orange finally and did turn out so amazing.  Everything is so smooth other then the normal few rough spots in a Schwinn Fillet braze frame and the few small nicks (Maybe the word.) that is normal to Schwinn tubing.  I love this orange!!  But then I am a sucker for an orange bike!  You know what they say about an orange bike? It's the fastest!

It took a lot of frustration but it was worth every bit.  The frame looks amazing!! The bottom bracket area looks so good painted.  All the little braze-ons look amazing with the new paint.  The rear drop outs look like glass!!  I love this stuff!!

I am currently redoing the fork.  I did the fork first but while the frame was soaking I changed the shade of orange by two shades.  Soon the fork will be done too!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Seat Area

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Rear

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Drop Outs

While waiting on the fork I just had to see the head badge cleaned and installed against that orange.  The head badge cleaned very nice.  Installed the head badge is amazing.  Such a classic beautifully look!! To a graphic artist there a few sights nicer then the black lettering, all that white panel back ground and that bright orange!!  I love it!! I love it all!!


Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Head Badge - Before - Screws in the green tape.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Head Badge - Cleaned & Ready

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Frame Painted - Head Badge - Installed
Money Shot!!! LOVE IT!!

Because I changed the shade of orange a few steps between painting the fork and then the frame I had to repaint the fork.  The fork turned out so very nice. The orange is so vivid and fresh.  I love it.  

The fork crown chrome cap was dull and dirty.  I gave it a good cleaning and then hand polished it.  I hand polished it because these caps are thing and delicate with out the fork inside it to give it strength.  They can collapse on the polishing wheels.  Man, that chrome fork crown cap just pops and brings everything together.  I love this stuff!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork - Painted

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Painted - Fork Crown

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Painted - Fork Crown

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Painted - Fork Blades

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Painted - Fork Drop Outs

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Installed

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Installed

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Fork Crown Chrome Cap - Installed

From here the write up order and the actual build is a little out of sync.  You will see some components already installed that have not been written up yet.  This is because I did work that I could while the fork was being painted a second time and a lot of things where being polished while I was having the trouble with the sludge leaking out of the frame.  I decided to write things up that would attempt to bring the most continuity to the build.

The headset is one of my favorites.  Schwinn made a great headset, I know its a little heavy but it is heavy duty and function so nice.  It also restores very nice because of that heavy duty construction.  It is also one of my favorite shaped headsets but you don't see it on a continental with the shift elvers covering it up.

I cleaned the headset and did all the polishing.  The headset polished beautifully.  Installed it looks amazing with the new orange paint.  It doesn't get much better then the new paint and all that Schwinn chrome!  Amazing!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Headset - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Headset - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Pressing Headset Cups

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Headset - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Headset - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Headset - Complete

The Schwinn Big Stick shift levers before are photoed up above.  I some how forgot to take a photo of the levers exploded but I had to completely break down the shift levers and replace two of the small thin washer shims.  I also had to drill out the old shift cable ends.  Replacement cables sometime in the past where the wrong size ends and where hammered in.  They where frozen in now.

The shift levers work great now with the replacement shims and all the points lubricated.  They look even better polished and installed.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Shift Levers Polished & Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Shift Levers Polished & Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Shift Levers - Installed

The stem, handlebar and brake lever unit where polished and completed above.  It was time to install the unit.  They handlebars and stem look amazing installed.  I am extremely jealous of the Continental, Orange is my favorite color for a bicycle and you know what they say about and orange bike?  Orange bikes are the fastest!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebar -Stem & Brake Levers - Installed

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebars - Stem & Brake Levers - Installed
The brake levers where completed in the photos above.  It was time to install them.  I also installed the NOS Schwinn brake pads that Peter found.  In the above photos I had basic black pads installed.  The brake calipers sure look amazing polished and installed.  In the photo below you can also see the wheels completed and installed.  

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Brake Caliper - Installed

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Brake Caliper - Installed

The rear derailleur is stunning installed.  The frame drop outs look amazing and with the restored derailleur installed brings it to a whole new level.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur - Installed

Below is a photo of the seat post and seat binder collar polished,  The seat post had a lot of rust and staining but polished very nice.  the Seat binder collar and cable hanger polished just perfect.  I love this stuff.
Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Seat Post - Seat Binder Collar - Cable Hanger - Polished

These are the little things that really make a restoration and excite me.  The rear derailleur cable stop on a Schwinn is chrome and screws on.  I polished the stop and installed it.  The polished stop and screw look perfect against that orange paint!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Derailleur Cable Stop & Screw - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Derailleur Cable Stop & Screw - Installed
I have been working on the crank for a while.  The chain guard ring on the crank has some very rough rust spots and pitting.  I soaked it for days to remove the rust.  The best I could do I was not happy with.  I went through the parts collection and found another chain guard ring that has some rust but not as bad.  It is soaking.  For now I installed the bottom bracket and the crank with out the rings while I get the chain guard ring complete.  Even with out the rings the crank looks great polished and installed.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Crank - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Crank - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bottom Bracket - Before



Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Crank & Bottom Bracket - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Pressing Bottom Bracket Cups

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Crank & Bottom Bracket - Installed

The wheels are a little rough.  The chrome has some nice areas and a few bad areas.  The hubs are dirty dull and the grease is nasty.  I broke the wheels down and started the cleaning and polishing.  The wheel hubs polished so very nice.  The rim chrome actually cleaned very nice and polished well.  The rear wheel rim almost polished perfect, the front wheel rim has some rough areas but overall not to bad.  

I rebuilt the wheel hubs and packed everything in new grease.  I installed the new tires.  Right now the tires are not fitting very well.  They are not exactly Schwinn S-6 tire size and they have some bad spots from being folded up for shipping.  I have been massaging the tires a little at a time and they are starting to come around.

I don't have a good photo of the wheels complete because of the way I built the bike up but there is one below of the wheels complete and installed at some point along the build.  The wheels spin fantastic and restored pretty darn nice, overall I am extremely happy with the wheels.


Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Hub - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Hub - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Rim - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Hub - Old Grease

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Hub - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Front Wheel Rim - Polished - Rough Area

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Axle Pieces - Ready

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
New Kenda Tires

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Hub - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Rim - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Hub - Old Grease

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Hub - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Rear Wheel Rim - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Wheels - Complete

At this point I decided to wire the Continental.  Peter sent along a Schwinn cable set.  I used the cable from the set and some of the cable housing and then I used some Jagwire cable housing because a good deal of the Schwinn cable housings had kinks in it.  I really like the black cable housings and the orange paint.  So cool!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Cable Set

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Wired

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Wired

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Wired
Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Wired

The Continental is almost complete  Right now I have the seat collar soaking for rust removal.  The seat collar has a lot of rust but I think I can get it to come back pretty nice.  I also have the kickstand first soaking in paint remover and then now in my homemade rust remover solution.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Seat Collar - Before Rust Soaking

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kickstand - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kickstand - Before
Check back soon!  I hope to have the Continental done very soon.  

The black paint stripped from the kickstand very easy, the polishing however took a good deal of work and time.  There where some very rough spots on the kickstand.  I worked through the many grits of polish.  In the end I think the kick stand polished very nice, there are a few small rough spots but not bad at all.  I am very happy with the kickstand and it looks great installed.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kick Stand Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kick Stand Polished - Bad Area

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kick Stand Bracket - Ready

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kickstand - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Kickstand - Complete

I tired all mu tricks on the crank chain guard with out good results.  I am glad I had a replacement chain guard in the parts collection.  That is why I strip parts from every far gone bicycles I can, even if it is just one piece, one bolt or one nut, you never know what you will need down the road.  The replacement chain guard polished very nice and with the crank complete and installed it looks just amazing with the orange paint.  I love this stuff!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Replacement Chain Guard & Original Chain Guard

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Replacement Chain Guard - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Crank - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Chain Guard - Complete

Above is a photo of the seat coupling before, it was rough.  I soaked it for almost a week and a half then cleaned it up, it turned out good.  I also sprayed it with a rust preventive but probably one a season it might need some metal protector.

The original saddle was dirty and had some very light rust but overall was is good shape.  I gave it a good cleaning and applied some vinyl treatment.  The saddle looks great installed.


Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Seat Coupling - After

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Saddle - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Saddle - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Saddle - After

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Saddle - After

The the rear wheel pie plate looks rough but what is nice is that Schwinn put a very thick coat of chrome on the pie plates.  I gave it a good cleaning and a hand polishing because it is very difficult to polishing on the polishing wheels.  The pie plate turned out great.

The freewheel was very dirty, very greasy and gritty and a little rough when it spun.  I gave the freewheel a deep cleaning and many flushings  With the freewheel glean I gave it a good lubricating.  The freewheel spins great now.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Pie Plate - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Pie Plate - Polished

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Freewheel - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Freewheel - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Freewheel - Before

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Freewheel - After

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Freewheel - After

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Continental Almost Complete
The decals is the part that totally transforms the restoration.  Peter sent these Continental decals along with the bike. The decals are pretty good quality.  The photos below are the order that I applied the decals.  Man those white decals look fantastic on the orange paint.  I love the star burst decal on the fork, it doesn't get better then that!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
New Decals

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Star Burst Fork Decal - I love this stuff!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Star Burst Fork Decal

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Schwinn Chicago Decal - Awesome!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Schwinn Continental Decal - Wow!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Schwinn Continental Decal - Also a WOW!!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Decals - Complete

The best synthetic leather handlebar tape by far is Ritchey handlebar tape. That is if you can find it. Very hard to find at times.  It is made by Tom Ritchey's company, or at least I think it is made by him. This handlebar tape looks and feels just as good as Brooks leather tape, it holds up way better and costs a lot less.  I have used it on some builds in the past. Tom is one of the first few frame builders to build what we now know as the mountain bike.

The black handlebar tape in leather is the perfect look for the Continental and the orange paint.  I love it!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
New Synthetic Leather Handlebar Tape

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Installing Handlebar Tape - Half Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebar Tape - Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Handlebar Tape - Complete

That completes the Schwinn Continental.  I gave the Continental another test ride, a very careful test ride with all the ice still on the roads.  I tuned out a few things, adjust cables and the brakes and now it shifts and brakes great.  The tires where folded very tight for shipping and they still have a little twist in them.  I massage them again and adjusted them one more time.  The tires are getting a lot better.  They should be perfect after a few more miles of riding.  I did install some very ugly block pedals to ride and took them off for final photos because they where such an eye soar.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle - Complete

I took two sets of final photos.  One set indoors and one set outdoors.  For me anyways it is very hard to get good photos with all the white snow but I really wanted to see the orange pop in the sun light.

The Continental looks fantastic, I am very proud of the work that went into it.  The orange is beautifully.  I am going to order more orange for a Miyata Ridge Runner I have been slowly working on.  Just love the orange and the white decals!!  But then I am a sucker for an orange bike!  The black cables and black leather handlebar tape go so well with everything.  I wish I remembered to lower the saddle for the photos for a more correct proportion.  I had it up that high for me for the test ride.

My favorite part of the Continental is the head badge against the orange paint.  The head badge cleaned beautifully but is not perfect, it shows a little history next to the new paint.  Plus the white black and orange is just cool.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Stem & Handlebars

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Head Badge

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Brake

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Star Burst Decal

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Hub

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Rim - That was a rough part.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Stem & Shift Levers

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Down Tube Decal

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Cable Stop - I just like the look of this.

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Half

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Saddle

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Chicago Decal

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Crank

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Cable Hanger

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Rim

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Head Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Brake
And my Beagle Haley!

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Fork

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Hub

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Wheel Rim

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Stem & Shift Levers

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Handlebars

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Down Tube

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Saddle

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Chicago Decal

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Drive Train

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Crank

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Front Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Bottom Bracket

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Brake Caliper

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Derailleur

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Hub

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete - Rear Wheel Rim

Peter J's Schwinn Continental Restoration
Bicycle Complete

2 comments:

  1. Hey fellow riders, it's Peter from Maine. When I decided to restore my old Continental, it didn't take much reading here to know I had found the right guy for the job. John is a real pro at this and I love how passionate he is about it. I can't wait to see and ride the finished product! Thanks, John!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great job John! That is one beautiful Continental!

    ReplyDelete