This is my third bike build, a vintage “townie” style bike built on a 1970’s-era Schwinn frame. The frame came with leather-wrapped handlebars, which inspired me to build it out as a classy around-the-town bike. I replaced the heavy steel 26″ Araya wheels with lightweight 700c deep-v track wheels, and put Nashbar’s “Duro” tires on them. The dark brown sidewalls match the leather nicely.
The seat is a riveted leather Brooks copy, taken from from a Masi Soulville bike. I installed a 68x107mm Miche bottom bracket, red KMC single-speed chain, and built the single-speed crankset from a new 170mm Campagnolo Mirage set. It has a 42-tooth chain ring up front and a 16 tooth freewheel in back, with a flipflop hub & fixed gear cog & lock ring. Pedals are MKS Syvlan touring, brakes are new Tekro side-pull calipers, and I added a set of Planet Bike “Hardcore Road” fenders for all-weather riding.
Full story and more pics after the jump…