Classic & Vintage - 60s Schwinn Breeze

Just picked up a black (with white stripes and decal) 60s Schwinn Girl's Breeze this weekend at a garage sale - I really should have taken before and after pics - the bike was in decent enough condition, barring some rust on the chrome bits and a really dry chain and bearings... now it sparkles!

I spent a couple days scrubbing all the rust off the metal/chrome - The bike has most of the original parts (such as the fenders) and I was able to get a matching original front wheel (signed Schwinn) to replace the one that wasn't original - replaced the tires with new gumwalls - and bought some streamers... a few more tweaks, and it is ready to go!!

Looking forward to cruising to work...

(I have to fight my urge to accessorize - for instance, buying a vintage Schwinn seat ;-) All in good time!

Anyone else on a Breezie?

Hi! I just recently picked up a 1973 Campus Green single speed coaster brake Schwinn Breeze, and I love it! I had been looking for one for a while when I found this one. Obviously, at one time, it must have been someone's pride and joy, because it's gorgeous! I can't wait to get a chance to polish the frame. I've done the chrome fenders, and they sparkle! Enjoy the Breezes!

The Breeze is the bike that Wal-Mart OUGHT to be selling. A three-speed Breeze with a coaster brake, fenders, rack, and grocery basket would be the perfect "go to the corner store" bike. Close to zero upkeep and repairs. But, Wal-Mart prefers to sell "dual suspension" mountain bikes assembled by the kid that usually is taking care of the "clean-up in Aisle Nine".

A lot of adults would be riding bikes again if bikes were built for comfort and durability, not for people who want to pretend to be Lance Armstrong.

And, Dynamic is absolutely correct about the difference between a Breeze and a "modern" Wal-Mart bike. The quality of the important stuff, the wheel bearings, crank bearings, headset bearings...all of them are far better than the parts used on typical Wal-Mart bikes. Perhaps Schwinn made bikes that were TOO good. A woman could buy a Breeze when she was twenty-five, and still be getting good service out of it thirty years later. And, her grand-daughter might be riding that bike today.

Schwinn went bankrupt building bikes that last nearly forever. And, Wal-Mart became the world's largest retailing with the "philosophy" that a bike that lasts six months insures another sale next Christmas.

The Breeze is the bike that Wal-Mart OUGHT to be selling. A three-speed Breeze with a coaster brake, fenders, rack, and grocery basket would be the perfect "go to the corner store" bike. Close to zero upkeep and repairs. But, Wal-Mart prefers to sell "dual suspension" mountain bikes assembled by the kid that usually is taking care of the "clean-up in Aisle Nine".

A lot of adults would be riding bikes again if bikes were built for comfort and durability, not for people who want to pretend to be Lance Armstrong. Sigh.

True, but the old Breeze is built far better and sturdier than WalMart's best bike. However, your point is well taken that they would sell more if they sold more, better built cruiser type bicycles than the cheaply tricked out mountain bike kind of bike. :)

i agree. my wife has a 69 breeze, but it is being replaced by a lighter bike. a 79 raleigh sport. breezes are great tanks, except when it comes to thoose hills.

Schwinn bikes manufactured in Chicago were basically indestructable. Almost all of the parts are solid steel and will last for decades. Also very easy to disassemble, clean , regrease and you are back in business. Sort of like how steel bumpers on cars from the 1960's actually protected the car from damage, while if you hit anything with a car from today you are probably talking $2-5000 damage in an instant. As stated, today's bikes purchased in mass merchandise outlets are total throw-a-ways.

Until last summer, the only Schwinns I'd ever owned were
Paramounts. I've always viewed the bike boom era, one piece crank
varieties as little more than Huffy's with good PR. I just spent a
few hours working on one, and I'm impressed.

One day I stopped at a garage sale, just to see if they had any old
British bikes. All they had was an old woman's frame Schwinn 3
speed. But I figured a 36h Sturmey Archer hubshell (most British 3
speeds were 40H) and a working shifter were worth the $10 asking price.

When I got it home, Jane says "That's kinda cute. How does it
run?" I'd not looked at it as anything but some useful parts, but
closer examination showed I had a yellow '73 Breeze that appears to
have been knocking around in someone's garage for 3 decades, but
ridden very little. Lots of minor dings and scratches, and rust on
the chrome. The clear part of the transfers had discolored to brown,
but OEM tires and brake pads show little wear. The 32 year old
blackwall tires showed no ozone cracking. The mattress saddle had no
tears or cracks in the vinyl, unlike similar old Brooks' which always do.

The bearings were all in adjustment so I just injected Phil Tenacious
Oil into them to revive the old grease. Several drops of 5W30 into
the SA and a little TriFlow in the cables and brake pivots had the
bike working like new. Every spoke nipple turned with little or no
"plink"ing (I've had NEW Huffy spokes break when trying to adjust
them) so I snugged them all up 1/2 a turn. Turns out the rust on the
chrome was the type that disappears with a little SimiChrome and 0000
steel wool. I'll leave it alone though, "camouflage".

Then I installed a set of Wald's biggest rear baskets, a big
"Comfort" saddle, 22t cog and a 36t Wald chainring to turn this into a sweet
little shopper for her. All it needs now is lights and wheel
reflectors. http://bikesmithdesign.com/MyBikes/breeze.jpg

The perfect errand bike - geared low, looks shabby, runs great. Just
what we need.

Wow! What a great looking bike! You really scored at that garage sale! I love the yellow color, too! It looks so 70's and so happy! Enjoy! :)