Summer Rides - 1947 Schwinn Continental Three Speed

 

Today we have a few photos of a very nice 1947 Schwinn Continental. This early version of the Continental, unlike the later 10-speed bikes, is a hand brazed frame of Cr-Mo tubing with a premium paint and decal finish. It has very nice, stainless steel rims and a good set of hubs. 

Sometimes I meet other collectors/riders who want a premium three speed, but also something out of the ordinary. One of the bikes I often recommend is the 1940s-50s Schwinn Continental. These bikes are reasonably light weight for their time, and ride very nicely once property set up with a good saddle. The only drawback are the 597mm rims, which have limited tire choices today (Kenda tires mainly). 

These Continentals are handsome bikes made to a high standard, roughly equal to a mid-range Raleigh of the same time period. They're certainly a step above the basic models, though perhaps not quite as high in performance as a Raleigh Clubman. They have a certain cachet, being an old, Made-in-USA product.

There are other options for "unusual" three speeds for the person who wants an out-of-the-ordinary bike. But the Continental is certainly something to add a little variety to the more usual Raleigh Sports and similar bikes from England. 

 

 

July 2025 - Some Ride Photos

 A few ride photos from this week - 1970 Raleigh DL-1 and 1960 Schwinn Traveler. 

This 1970 DL-1 is in excellent shape. I did most of the refurbishing last fall, but finished things up this spring with some final changes and adjustments to the bike. It came to me in decent shape through a Craigslist sale. It rides very nicely and, I think, came out beautifully.

 

The 24-inch frame, 28-inch wheel DL-1 is a big bike. It towers over most others on the road. It is not an agile machine, but it is certainly a durable and steady one.

 

This bike has some beautiful decals by H. Lloyd in England. Their graphics are very close to the originals and of very high quality. I recommend them for any quality restoration of a vintage bike.

 

This 1960 Schwinn Traveler came in this spring as a tire, old newspaper or mail bike. But these bikes are so durable and well-made that refurbishing still brought out the best in it. This Travelers have a little extra showiness, typical of mid-century American design. It's also a great rider.

 

Matching green dice valve caps round out the classic, 1950s-60s American look.  

 

 

Mid-Summer 2025 (1959 Schwinn Traveler)

We're well into summer now, with suitably summer weather: warm and humid with the occasional thunderstorm. I have been dividing my ride time among my various Raleigh and Schwinn vintage three speeds. 

 

1959 Schwinn Traveler three speed

I take a little different approach to each. I like my bikes to be very "traditional" overall, but I have always felt a little freer to put a little "bling" on the Schwinns. For whatever reason, I like my Raleigh very much in the traditional, British style. The Schwinn three speeds have more of that "mid-century American" type style: lots of stainless steel, chrome, and bright colors. I've had people stop and take pictures on their phones of some of these Schwinn bikes because they stand out from the crowd.

I have even thrown a set of matching dice valve caps on a few of the Schwinns I own. 

 

Lastly, I love these old Schwinn "winged oval" badges from the 1950s. They're just ornate enough to stand out, but not so over-the-top as to distract.  I will admit I'm partial to the winged motif. Even the Bike Shed logo has wings.

 

Keep on riding... it's that time of the year. 

1938 Raleigh Bicycle Catalogue "The All Steel Bicycle"

 Over the years, I have accumulated a few old Raleigh, Schwinn, and Torrington Co. catalogues. For your enjoyment today is this beautiful 1938 Raleigh Catalogue. This is the British version, with prices in the old British money system. Enjoy. [Click on the image to enlarge]

 

Ride Time as Diagnostic Time - Finding Small Issues on Vintage Bikes (1960 Schwinn Traveler content)

 

Sometimes a thorough test ride is the only way to shake out minor issues on a bike. There are certain issues that only appear once you put some miles on the bike. Such has been the case with this 1960 Schwinn Traveler.

This 1960 Traveler came from Missouri, where it was in a large bike collection that was auctioned off in summer 2024. As auctioned, the bike had been serving as a newspaper or mail delivery. It was in decent condition, but the rear newspaper baskets had taken a toll on the back fender. Over the course of a couple months, I repaired and refurbished it. The whole process took a little over two months. I work pretty slowly.

This bike now has a fair number of miles on it since being refurbished. One thing I noticed is a cyclical thumping and bumpiness, which is indicative of a wheel issue. The most common cause is that the tire is not quite correctly mounted, or an imperfect tube or tire, or the rims is slightly out of round. It doesn't take much to have this issue, and its one that you need to ride the bike to fully notice.

 

So I put the bike back on the stand and started with the basic fixes: put on a better set tubes (Schwalbe in, Kenda out), re-mount the tires to and check for seating, and then some more fine truing of the wheels. The result of these three basic fixes, which took only a couple of hours one evening, is a much improved ride.

So the 1960s Schwinn Traveler rolls on this summer. It's a comfortable bike, and it's yet another case where riding the bike, feeling out an issue, and then making conservative and careful repairs make a difference. 

 

A Couple American Three Speed Bikes - Fourth of July

1947 Schwinn Continental three speed bike

 

Happy Fourth of July

In keeping with the holiday, here are a few photos from rides this week on Schwinn three speeds: a blue 1947 Continental and a green 1957 Traveler. They're both excellent riders. The 1940s-50s Continental (not to be confused with the later 10 speed bikes) was light, sporty touring bike for its time, while the Traveler was heavier and more luxurious bike that was fully equipped. 

1947 Continental

 

Both bikes are reminders that American companies produced their own version of the English three speed, complete with styling and equipment geared more toward the American market of the mid-20th century.

1957 Schwinn Traveler

1957 Traveler head badge

A 1957 Thunderbird logo added to the Traveler's bag