- Joined
- Jul 19, 2009
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 0
I don't know what year this bike is, but it was my Dad's, and has been hanging upside down from the rafters for at least 30 years. I remember riding this thing a couple of times when I was a kid, but thought it was uncool, and was much more into my Stingray and eventually my Huffy 10 speed. I've done-up a few bikes this summer, and got the inspiration to "reclaim" this bike from it's spot in the rafters and "freshen it up" rat rod style.
That child seat makes me laugh -- how did any of us ever reach our 40th birthdays when our parents stuck us on contraptions like that (no seat belt, no suspension, no real secure attachment to the frame, no way of insuring you don't fall over the sides, no helmet, etc.)? What a beautiful tartan vinyl seat! But the Schwinn "schwing" lettering is nice -- to bad I don't know how to stripe like that -- it's going to get stripped off, because this bike will not be keeping it's blue color.
It's a Bendix 3 speed with a front brake. I rode it tonight -- the tires hold air well, but the bike is stuck in 3rd gear, and the front wheel needs truing. My wife decided she wanted this one, and told me how it was going to be painted -- flat black all over, lime "margarita" green rims and whitewall tires. It will be adorned with lime wedges, a salt shaker somewhere, and a margarita glass holder. The fenders are staying on, but will be painted, not chromed.
I'm building an AWESOME fixie right now with some ultra-cool components, so until that's done, I probably won't tear-into this (no sense having two projects going at the same time). Ideally, I'll have it rolling by the end of August.
That child seat makes me laugh -- how did any of us ever reach our 40th birthdays when our parents stuck us on contraptions like that (no seat belt, no suspension, no real secure attachment to the frame, no way of insuring you don't fall over the sides, no helmet, etc.)? What a beautiful tartan vinyl seat! But the Schwinn "schwing" lettering is nice -- to bad I don't know how to stripe like that -- it's going to get stripped off, because this bike will not be keeping it's blue color.
It's a Bendix 3 speed with a front brake. I rode it tonight -- the tires hold air well, but the bike is stuck in 3rd gear, and the front wheel needs truing. My wife decided she wanted this one, and told me how it was going to be painted -- flat black all over, lime "margarita" green rims and whitewall tires. It will be adorned with lime wedges, a salt shaker somewhere, and a margarita glass holder. The fenders are staying on, but will be painted, not chromed.
I'm building an AWESOME fixie right now with some ultra-cool components, so until that's done, I probably won't tear-into this (no sense having two projects going at the same time). Ideally, I'll have it rolling by the end of August.