Schwinn Super Letour Replacement

[Bruce Baird]

After participating in a 3-1/2 week, 700 mile tour of Europe in 1982, I became a biking enthusiast. I purchased a 12-speed Schwinn Super LeTour road bike with 4130 chrome-moly tubing in 1983 and rode on weekly club rides and annual centuries for 9 years before being hit by a Toyota van and quitting cycling. After that I took up walking 5 miles a day for 4 days a week, increasing the mileage and frequency every spring in preparation for annually backpacking a section of the 2,175 mile Appalachian Trail. This month I completed the A.T. and am thinking about returning to biking, which to me was a lot more fun.

I am now age 71, and am looking for a new bicycle to replace my 1983 Schwinn which was totaled in the accident. I have read recommendations to select a road bike with chrome-moly tubing, but all of the bikes I have found in my price-range have aluminum tubing. I have also looked at comfort/hybrid bikes, which didn’t exist when I was riding, but I remember how grateful I used to be when I could drop down when riding into a stiff headwind, so I doubt I want one of those.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Bruce Baird

 

[rosborn]

Bruce,


What price range are you looking at?

Rob

 

[Bruce Baird]

Hi Rob,

I was looking for something in the $300 to $400 range, but if I have to go higher, I can. I saw a restored 1976 Super Le Tour on e-bay for a buy-it-now price of $235 + $66 shipping, but I want a new bike.

Bruce

 

[rosborn]

Hi Rob,

I was looking for something in the $300 to $400 range, but if I have to go higher, I can. I saw a restored 1976 Super Le Tour on e-bay for a buy-it-now price of $235 + $66 shipping, but I want a new bike.

Bruce

Bruce,

For right around $650 you can buy a Giant OCR3 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/road/7/11474/), for around $700 you can buy a Trek 1000 (http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1413000&f=3) and for around $800 you can buy a Specialized Allez (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=21888) - all of these are aluminum frame road bikes. Also, please remember that a lot of bike shops sell the previous year models at reduced prices. Of course, you can always check out www.bikesdirect.com which is an online seller of bikes. The problem I have with this route is that you don't get to test ride the bike first and the bike is shipped in a box to your house, which means some assembly is required. However, I did notice that they carry a steel chrmoly framed bike - the 2007 Mercier Corvus Road Bike:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/mercier_corvus.htm

So, you have some options.

Rob

 

[Bruce Baird]

Thanks Rob for the excellent advice. I was basing my $300 to $400 price on what I found for popular comfort/hybrid bikes. I checked and found I paid $348.55 after tax for my 1983 Super Le Tour. Adjusting this for inflation results in a current price of $718, so it appears $700 - $800 is a reasonable price for an equivalent bike today. The specifications of the bikes you suggested indicate you now get more bike for your money. The Mercier Corvus chromoly bike impressed me. I don't mind the assembly, since it appears I would have to do this if I ship the bike for a tour. Not having the opportunity to test ride it before purchase is a big negative factor, as you point out.

Bruce