Now that I could drive, a bigger world opened up to me. The Sting-Ray28 sales boom of the 1960s accelerated in 1970, with United States bicycle sales doubling over a period of two years. However, there were clear warning signs on the horizon. 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.
Questor/Schwinn later purchased GT Bicycles in 1998 for $8 a share in cash, roughly $80 million. The new company produced a series of well-regarded mountain bikes bearing the Schwinn name, called the Homegrown series.62 In 2001, Schwinn/GT declared bankruptcy. As a result, Schwinns became increasingly dated in both styling and technology. By 1957, the Paramount series, once a premier racing bicycle, had atrophied from a lack of attention and modernization.
Single frame adult bikes may be available in a range of wheel sizes, from 24” up to 29”. While the wheel size can offer guidelines for the recommended height range, always check the product description for each bike, as it may vary a little by model. Check out the chart below for a complete list of height ranges. Blaze new trails with a High Timber mountain bike. Featuring front suspension, 21 speeds, and all-terrain tires, these bikes are built for grand adventures. In late 1997, Questor Partners Fund, led by Jay Alix and Dan Lufkin, purchased Schwinn Bicycles.
Rotate the tabbed washers so the schwinn cruiser bike tabs engage the holes on both fork dropouts. Save up to 50% on select bikes at Schwinnbikes.com. Charges for non-qualifying items, shipping and sales tax are excluded from discounts. No adjustments on previous purchases, or orders in progress that have not yet shipped.
We reserve the right to limit order and item quantities. Wide, knobby mountain tires provide the grip and stability you need out on the trail, while alloy wheels add lightweight strength. Front and rear mechanical disc brakes deliver all-weather stopping power and speed control so you can ride with confidence in a variety of conditions. If you find an old bicycle at a flea market, yard sale, or thrift store, it’s important to be able to identify what you have. Not every transportation treasure is worth taking home, so learning how to identify vintage and antique Schwinn bikes is important.
Hardtail bikes are lighter and more agile than their full suspension counterparts, but they’re not as well suited on ultra bumpy, rough terrain. By the mid-1970s, competition from lightweight and feature-rich imported bikes was making strong inroads in the budget-priced and beginners’ market. While Schwinn’s popular lines were far more durable than the budget bikes, they were also far heavier and more expensive, and parents were realizing that most of the budget bikes would outlast most kids’ interest in bicycling.
As I pondered being out in the woods in my birthday suit, I saw wheels…Two of them in a store window. At that point I asked the budding photographer to pull over into the parking lot of the local Schwinn shop. Back in those days most towns had a local Schwinn shop. In the shop, I hurriedly purchased a Schwinn High Plains mountain bike for $335. I wrote a check (remember those?) And so began my cycling career…well, not really. I actually called my sister and had her come and get me and the bike in her Chevy S-10 pickup.
Check TiresInflate the tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, which is marked on the tire sidewall. Just put on your helmet and you’re ready to ride. 21-speed twist shifters provide quick, precise gear changes on the trail.
Install Front WheelIn the box, locate the quick-release skewer, adjusting nut, a tabbed washer, two springs, a second tabbed washer and the quick release lever.Remove the adjusting nut, one tabbed washer and one spring. Insert the quick-release skewer through the front wheel axle, from the side opposite the brake disc. Reinstall the spring, narrow end first, and the tabbed washer, tab facing in, and lightly tighten the adjusting nut.