Sadly, as soon as a driver’s permit had my name on it, I dropped cycling from my life faster than you could say “parachute pants” (Oh the 80’s!). The only pedals I was interested in were the gas pedal and occasionally the brake pedal. Now that I could drive, a bigger world opened up to me. Often, vintage bikes aren’t in great condition when you find them.
I soon found a road bike that really got me excited (no splatter – 3 color fade instead) and I began to ride almost every day. Gone were the cigarettes along with some extra weight. I was hooked and I soon found myself wearing tight Lycra clothing and hideous Oakley sunglasses.
Perhaps less obvious but also handy are a repair kit (just in case) and a cell phone holder, especially if you use it for navigation. With the right gear, you can really take your trail ride to the next level. Schwinn followed the Scrambler line with the Predator in 1982,38 their next step into the competitive modern BMX market.
Campus Bike shop is located in Tresidder Union near the center of the Stanford University campus. For over 85 years, we have served the biking needs of Stanford students and faculty, our Bay Area neighbors, and visiting friends and families. As the only on-campus bike shop, we recognize the importance of low prices, quality products, skilled repairs, and fast turnaround. 21-speed twist shifters provide quick, precise gear changes on schwinn cruiser bike the trail. Plus, the Schwinn alloy triple crank offers optimal gearing and less maintenance.
Schwinn distributed unbranded and/or rebranded bikes through other companies, especially before the 1950s. In excellent condition, vintage Schwinn bikes can be worth thousands of dollars. In rough shape, they may still be worth several hundred. Compare your bike to others that have sold recently to get a sense of how much yours might be worth. These recently sold examples of vintage Schwinns can give you a starting point. Over the years, Schwinn has empowered millions of people, earning a special place in the hearts and minds of generations of riders.
The Predator took just eight percent of the BMX market. Schwinn had a very successful BMX factory supported racing team (beginning in 1976) made up of some of the best riders of the day. They were even used for an episode of the TV show CHiPs. If you’re interested in purchasing an antique or vintage bicycle made by this iconic company, you’ll have plenty of options.
During the next twenty years, most of the Paramount bikes would be built in limited numbers at a small frame shop headed by Wastyn, in spite of Schwinn’s continued efforts to bring all frame production into the factory. Another problem was Schwinn’s failure to design and market its bicycles to specific, identifiable buyers, especially the growing number of cyclists interested in road racing or touring. Instead, most Schwinn derailleur bikes were marketed to the general leisure market, equipped with heavy “old timer” accessories such as kickstands that cycling aficionados had long since abandoned. While the Paramount still sold in limited numbers to this market, the model’s customer base began to age, changing from primarily bike racers to older, wealthier riders looking for the ultimate bicycle.
Wide, knobby mountain tires provide the grip and stability you need out schwinn cruiser bike on the trail, while alloy wheels add lightweight strength. It was black with silver splatter paint and yellow logos. The knobby tires and cantilever brakes were new to me. Last time I rode a bike it had skinny road tires and brakes that needed 100 yards to come to a stop.
In 1938, Frank W. Schwinn officially introduced the Paramount series. Developed from experiences gained in racing, Schwinn established Paramount as their answer to high-end, professional competition bicycles. The Paramount used high-strength chrome-molybdenum steel alloy tubing and expensive brass lug-brazed construction.
We have print at home, paperless and collection options available. In the late 1960s, the Varsity and Continental pioneered the use of auxiliary brake levers, which allowed the rider to rest hands on the straight, horizontal center section of the ram’s horn handlebars, yet still have braking control. This feature, attractive to older riders, soon found its way to other Schwinn models, especially those intended for senior citizens. Ignaz Schwinn was born in Hardheim, Baden, Germany, in 1860 and worked on two-wheeled ancestors of the modern bicycle that appeared in 19th century Europe. In 1895, with the financial backing of fellow German American Adolph Frederick William Arnold (a meat packer), he founded Arnold, Schwinn & Company.