We are proud to announce the 1st of a 147 part series (if Murphy’s Law has anything to do with it) on upgrading an old Schwinn Collegiate to a practical and pleasing daily bicycle for transportation.

When it comes to building and outfitting commuter bikes, we realize two important things:

1. Not everyone has the means to purchase their “dream bike” from Renaissance Bicycles.
2. Not everyone has the experience or knowledge to upgrade their old beater bike into something that can be useful as everyday transportation.

So we have created this little project to address point number 2.  (As for point number 1, please consult your financial advisor … and ask him / her for a personal loan.  They should recognize the value of a healthy and happy customer.)

Anyway, the title of the project is Murphy’s Law, as in “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”  Obviously, this is a little tongue-n-cheek, but it serves as a gentle reminder that that hiccups during a unique project are the norm, not the exception.  We would like to think as “professionals” we could take on any bicycle project and have it knocked-out without delay.  Realistically, there are always new challenges and obstacles to overcome, no matter how many times we build up a Betty Foy.

This story, like any good story, begins with the underdog. In this case, it is a vintage Schwinn Collegiate headed to the scrap pile.  We intercepted it before it made it all the way into the dumpster, and we were glad to get a project bike for the sum of $0.  Of course, there are a few issues to deal with (it wasn’t headed to the landfill for no reason), but there should be (remembering the previous paragraph) a pretty straight path towards making this bike road-worthy once again.

View the Murphy’s Law photo gallery →

Over the next few days, weeks, months (again as dictated by Murphy’s Law) we will chronicle our project.  Here are some of our basic goals / intentions:

• Be realistic about this project from a consumer perspective.  Sure, we could build a sub 20lbs. mountain bike for $12,000 instead, but it seems to make more sense to lose 20lbs. by riding this free bike.
• Provide examples of best practices for such a project. In other words, we would like to use our experience to help guide others so that they can lessen the Murphy Effect as much as possible.  In some sense, we can afford to make mistakes more than the average home mechanic.
• Document some of the technical challenges faced in upgrading an older bike, but without getting too bogged down in the details.  In other words, we want to show the selection and installation of a new chain, wheelset, shifter, etc. without without getting too “How-To”.
• Show both the challenges and rewards in trying something a little unusual. We don’t take ourselves too seriously … we just feel fortunate to classify such a project as “Work”.
• And when everything is said and done, we would like to find a deserving home for this project by donating the proceeds from this endeavor to a worthwhile cause.

So hang-on as we head down the bicycle path less traveled.  We are sure that our reward will be well worth the effort, we just need to make the effort.

And if you have any comments, questions, or cuss words along the way, feel free to make use of the Comments section of the Shop Talk blog.