!Complete bicycles for sale  

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There is a method to my madness.

In a hobby, there is no justification to any expenditure (Quote me on this!). In my introduction I explain my beginnings of my cycling maturity with a Schwinn cruiser that my dad gave me as a last gift before he died of leukemia in 66'. I have been in love with them ever since.

I am still well noted for my efforts in the bicycle restoration business here in Wisconsin working out of Tail Wind Shoppe. Many folks over the years have stopped by to sell me their cruiser in their last hopes that it is to be resurrected some day. Now is the time to find new homes for these classic single speed ballooners. Most are of the 50-70 design that is typical of the ‘post war’ Schwinn design. The reason that these are so sought after is that ‘Old Man Schwinn’ began to use the technology of Plasma welding with investment cast head tubes, bottom brackets and dropouts. This is why these frames are still around and pulling very cool comments by on-lookers when you take some time to slick them up. Even when brought back to commuter status they are very 'cool' and dependable… Not necessarily the type of bike that gets stolen as long as it is locked up.

My time involved in stripping the bike down and then selling a frame puts me in a brake even situation at $55 for frame (+ $20 shipping and handling) or if you are purchasing a frame with a fork and headset add $15. If you are in the Madison Wisconsin area just set up an appointment to stop by and pick one up. I will sell the best first until they all have a new home. I can repaint and add options until your heart is content. Options are listed on the pages listing the frames. Cable guides and stops, water bottle mounts and a derailleur hanger can also be installed. A frame restored for multi-speed is pictured on this link.


  
 
There are two sizes for the Schwinn ballooners that I have. One accommodates the traditional 26” tires and then there is the small version that came originally with 24” hoops. The thing here is you have a 22.5inch top tube and a 19inch chain stay length with the larger frames. On the smaller frames, top tube is 20.5inch and chain stays are measuring in at 17.5 inches. I have built bikes with 26inch hoops on a smaller frame with modifying a 'Bontrager' fork to allow the geometry to be accurate or I suggest that you run a 24inch hoop on the front and a 26inch on the back to keep the geometry to the original design when using a suspension fork with around 2 inches of travel. Braking can be done with a disc or drum wheel. If you do not make this adjustment, you will find the steering a little ‘funky’.  
   
If you are incline to have your frame and/or fork repainted or additions such as cable guides, hangers for a rear derailleur, cantilever brake mounts or anything that a conventional frame would have, Desperado Cycles can do those things for you also! Have an old AMP frame sitting around and want to update it with a converted Schwinn main frame? Can do!
Continue to check out a frame and then look at the options. If you have a frame that needs to be upgraded, let me know!