Bottom Bracket for a 1973 Schwinn Continental

[cvs1998]

hey I have a 1973 Schwinn Continental frame and fork. I ordered it off of eBay and it did not come with a bottom bracket or anything. How would I go about deciding which bottom bracket to buy?

thanks

[nfmisso]

Please show us pictures of what you have - a picture of the whole frame, and a close up of the BB area - so that we can better advise you. What kind of crank set do you want install on the bike? And what do you want the chainline to be?

[cvs1998]

(12-31-2014, 08:27 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  Please show us pictures of what you have - a picture of the whole frame, and a close up of the BB area - so that we can better advise you. What kind of crank set do you want install on the bike? And what do you want the chainline to be?

well actually, I am away for the weekend and unfortunately do not have the bike with me, but I can tell you that the diameter of the bottom bracket shell is 51.3 mm, the and width of the shell (I think it's referred to as width, but I measured across the bottoming the shell, perpindicular to the chain line) is about 63-64 mm. and I plan on buying a TruVativ bottom bracket adapter (American to euro). (I'm not sure if there are any other relabent measurements, but the bottom bracket shell is not currently threaded or anything, it just has a sort of seam that sticks out?)

I do not yet have a crankset though, should I buy that first?

and I do not have any wheels yet. should I buy some and then install a rear cog sp that I will have some idea of the chain line before I buy a BB, or is it possible to buy the BB first?

I should also mention (maybe?) that I plan on making this into a fixie.

thanks

[nfmisso]

You need to pick the BB and cranks as a set; some come as a set; after deciding on what your chain line will be.

Examples:
http://www.amazon.com/Projekt-Fixie-Fixed-Gear-Single-speed-Crankset/dp/B00AF1JCAS/
http://www.amazon.com/Retrospec-Bicycles-Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Crankset/dp/B00GTKYQG4/
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Fix-Cycles-Fixie-Crankset/dp/B00C1CW89G/
http://www.amazon.com/Sugino-Track-Fixie-Crankset-Pista/dp/B00F0K7KQ2/
http://www.amazon.com/Alloy-Fixie-Single-Speed-Crankset/dp/B00M1Q1AFU/

Chainlines mentioned for fixies include 43.5 and 45mm.

If you stay with one brand, for example, Pure Fix Cycles, most likely the crank set, BB and cog position on the wheels will work well together.

---

One more thing: you do realize that a Schwinn Continental frame will result in a fixie that is 20% or more heavier than most fixie/single speeds?

[nfmisso]

And another thing you need to determine: crank arm length and number of teeth on the chain ring. There are formulas out there determining for crank arm length based on your leg measurements. There is a LOT of discussion on this:
http://sheldonbrown.com/cranks.html
http://bikedynamics.co.uk/FitGuidecranks.htm
http://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/06/crank-length-which-one/
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-with-lennard-zinn-when-it-come-to-crankarm-length-no-easy-answers_178528

[cvs1998]

ok thanks a lot!

I looked around and had difficulty finding things of the same brand in the size/color I wanted, but I found these:

a 68 x 103 mm bottom bracket
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003COD29C/

a 165 x 46t origin8 gear set
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ACTJW3K


from what I understand, these should work correctly, but if anyone could just verify I would appreciate it.

and nfmisso, yeah I know it's heavy but I'm a kid and won't be using it fir much more than just riding around, so it's ok. thank for your help, by the way!

[GeorgeET]

Here is some information on the frame you got. It is not a high value light frame. IMO look around for used components to build it with. One way is to buy a complete used bike and use the parts. Its far less expensive than buying parts individually.


http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1971_1980/index1.html
http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1971_1980/1973_13.html