Jim,

Thanks for the great site! Ever since I discovered this site I've spent hours checking out all those beautiful bikes!

I'd like to submit these before and after photos of a $10.00 dollar thrift store find. The bike is an '80's Schwinn World Tourist. All original components were used where I could. I stripped, sandblasted & refinished the bike myself. The rear derailleur is an obsolete system made by Shimano. It was called the "FFS" sytem. You can shift without pedaling because the front crankset ratchets while the rear wheel casette rotates with the wheel itself. I started out restoring it for my wife but I then found a Nishiki mixte frame that I thought was beautifully unique & better suited for her, so the Schwinn went to my sister because she has always wanted a classic looking ten speed to ride around town.

List of new parts include: Nitto "Dove" handlebars, Bell handlebar grips, a "Bell Cruisin' "seat (which my sister says is super comfortable) 45 mm "SKS Edge" fenders, Pyramid rear rack, new brake and shifter cables and sheaths, and kenda 27 1/4" tires. I hope the photo's are of decent quality (I'm not the best photographer, my profession is as an auto refinisher 20 yrs. and for the last 15 yrs.an auto damage estimator.).

Thanks again for the wonderful site, keep it up!

John Tsataros, Tarpon Springs, Florida