free schwinns given to me :) made my day

[karfer67]

two days ago i was working in the shop and this familiar looking dude walks in. he was my buddy's father who i went to school with years ago. way back then (i must have been 12 at the time) he had a 50's schwinn cruiser that i wanted in the worst way. at the time he would not sell it and it just sat rotting. fast forwards a few years lol and here he is. i asked him if he still had the old schwinn and was amazed that i remembered it. he said "you know what i will just give it to you and i have another that i will give to you too." i was shocked and tried to give him money for them but refused to take it. however i did not get my hopes up as i am almost always dissipointed in life and never catch any breaks lol. well i go into work this morning and there he is waiting for me with two old bikes hanging on his rack. the first one is a 1950 something schwinn speedster middweight (yes a canti frame cruiser not diamond frame) with a hand shifted bendex two speed in green. the other is a racer of the same vintage with the peaked front fender, top hat decal on the seat tube, and a red band two speed kick back hub. both are rough and will take some work to ride once again. i did not have my camera to take pics but i will shortly. WOOT finally i catch a break!!!!

 

[user 135]

I hope I can get the same deal some day. I let every one I know that I am on the lookout for old bikes. But I guess it was your day to win the lottery.

 

[Markm]

RIGHT ON!!!!!

 

[Rat Rod]

Can't wait to see the photos....great story!

BTW...do guys who work in bike shops make any money? A lot of times I see guys in their 30s-40s working in bike shops and wonder how and if they are able to support a family. I'm assuming that the owner is the only one really making any money.

Just curious.

 

[karfer67]

wow rat rod you hit the nail on the head. i am a pro mechanic and i do sales as well. in my shop i am high up the lader and still only make 12 an hr. i am due for a raise in the spring but still bike mechanics do not make nearly as much as you may think. but then again i get to play with some very rare cool bikes as well as getting paid to build one of customs for customers. :mrgreen: as for the photos i have tomorrow off i will take them on monday when i go in.

 

[Clothespin n]

wow rat rod you hit the nail on the head. i am a pro mechanic and i do sales as well. in my shop i am high up the lader and still only make 12 an hr. i am due for a raise in the spring but still bike mechanics do not make nearly as much as you may think. but then again i get to play with some very rare cool bikes as well as getting paid to build one of customs for customers. :mrgreen: as for the photos i have tomorrow off i will take them on monday when i go in.

it is a tough industry..I have a Friend,Steve Kim,who ventured out on his own and he specialises in Road Bikes.He was well known with his Clients
at John Henry Bike Shop...and when he left he had his regulars follow.

It doesn't hurt to become good friends with a few Rep's as well
( from what I have seen ) so that if you make a move they follow as well.

My friend Troy who owns Maple Ridge Cycle started a Riding Club.
He has over 120 Members...and guess where they purchase their bikes
and parts..you guessed it..from him!
He is Loyal to them,and they are loyal to him!

previous to buying into the shop,and then buying out his partner
he was a Norco Rep for 17 years..he has been loyal to them!
and we all know how HUGE Norco has become in the Downhill
bike world.

I do know this though...he is still in the shop every day busting his knuckles
and turnin wrenches to make a go of it!

so,hats off to guys like Karfer...and other on Board..who do what they love for low wages..way lower than they deserve! :wink:

 

[fattroy]

Can't wait to see the photos....great story!

BTW...do guys who work in bike shops make any money? A lot of times I see guys in their 30s-40s working in bike shops and wonder how and if they are able to support a family. I'm assuming that the owner is the only one really making any money.

Just curious.

I am the sole employee at my Bike Shop I run and manage. I have a mortgage, girlfriend and she has a 12 yr old daughter it is hard sometimes but just like anyone else. My bike shop has been in business since 1936 in my town and in the same building for 60 years. But the times are definitley changing with all the Department Store bikes as a bike shop can not match those prices and on the service end is usually cheaper to buy a new one then fix your old one. Thats the biggest problem I deal with everyday. So I do know the WALMARTS of the world have killed A LOT of cool bike shops as well as other businesses. I also live in Indiana where you cannot ride all year so that is a big difference from the west coast shops. So it is hard for bike shops these days with the changing corporate world. But on the bright side I do save a lot of $ on parts for my addiction. Troy

 

[Rat Rod]

I am the sole employee at my Bike Shop I run and manage. I have a mortgage, girlfriend and she has a 12 yr old daughter it is hard sometimes but just like anyone else. My bike shop has been in business since 1936 in my town and in the same building for 60 years.

Wow Troy...you've got to give us the story behind how you ened up with the shop. Do you sell a lot of new mountain and road bikes? I'm assuming the cost of living is pretty low where you are????

 

[fattroy]

Well I don't own the shop but the owner is a silent owner so it's all up to me, and feels like i'm the owner sometimes. I wrenched on motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATV's before I came here. As far as the bike shop goes we were one of the original Schwinn dealers in my town, also sold Columbia back in the day too. We kinda have a collection of old bikes that we display on our walls some from late 1800's to 1960's, just gives people something to look at when they come in and travel in time. We sell a lot of hybrid, comfort and mountain bikes more than anything. The overhead is pretty low which is why this place has been around as long as it has. Also we sell a lot of cruisers now from me and all my bike club friends cruising around town with giant ape hangers and white walls. People see 12 of us cruising the streets at night and ask where did we get our bikes and we tell them and they usually come in and pick one up. So its still got some growing to do in my town but we'll get it there. Well hope that gives you some insight on my bike shop any more questions just ask. Troy

 

[karfer67]

good for you toughing it out. our shop is doing very well but then again there are none others like it in town. as for the schwinns sorry guys i was so excited getting the speedster home i forgot to take pics :x but i did date code it and it is december of 59. i think i am going to clean it up as best i can and make it my swap meet bike to take around. won't care so much if she gets a few more dings and scratches.