Classic & Vintage - Schwinn - Pint Sized Version

Did Schwinn or any other MFG produce smaller (kids) vintage 10 speeds?

I ride with my 8 year-old on weekends, and his mt bike is so slow. I wanted to get him a vintage 10 speed, but not break the bank since the bike's only good for a few years.

Any suggestions are welcome - but please don't make me buy a huffy or a roadmaster.

My wife just picked up mint condition Schwinn Varsity 10 speed w/24" wheels, so yes, there are juvenile bikes out there. I'd sell you ours for cheap, but I think the freight would be a deal breaker.

Try some different tires on the Mtn bike for a cheap fix.

Check garage sales and church rummage sales, or put a wanted ad on CL if you want a 'mini 10 speed'.

Gitane also made some child sized road bikes. I've seen a few of them on ebay over the past several years, but I imagine that they are fairly rare and hard to find.

Nishiki made a 24" wheel Olympic, which I dubbed the "Babyoly" in 1973 when I worked at a dealership.

Peugeot with 24" wheels. The person that sent me the picture found two of them, still in the boxes in a warehouse.

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/1673/1471891884068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://news.webshots.com/photo/1471891884068014369tHMFRC)

I was just browsing through some Ebay listings and saw this in our neck of the woods... http://cgi.ebay.com/Schwinn-Varsity-Road-Bicycle-Vintage-Mini-Small-Bike_W0QQitemZ290171523749QQihZ019QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Needs work, but it is Schwinn and small...

Phillyrider, I'm assuming you are in Phila, PA, yes?

If so, it's your lucky day if they're not sold. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/455727798.html Right in your backyard. :)

there is a very small schwinn varsity on ebay, as we speak, good luck

Picked this up http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=354938 for $60 last week. Took a long time to find one. It is a 34cm, so they are out there.

Raleigh made a 24 inch Record. In addition, they marketed a 24 inch Rampar. These are sort of rare. I've never seen one in all the yard sales I've gone to. I've never seen one on CL here. They have been found on ebay from time to time. I think the idea about street tires on the MTB might be the way to go.

Clicky linky in posty seveny... itsy asy twenty fouray inchay Recorday :)

Here's my daughter's mixte with 24" wheels. I apologize for the poor quality of the pics.

I had a 24" wheel Schwinn Caliente that I picked up at a garage sale for $5.00 earlier this year. I was lugged frame with a 3 piece alloy crank. Sold it to a small stature college student.

This guy posts alot of bikes on craigslist. Anyone ever buy anything from him? Just curious. I've seen some beater bikes of interest, but have obviously not bought anything.

I need to check on sizing for the kid's bike - but thanks for the info...

phillyrider,
I have a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed. It rides and shifts nice but the paint is very dull. Shoot me an email at Lwiker@aol.com
Doug

My wife just picked up mint condition Schwinn Varsity 10 speed w/24" wheels, so yes, there are juvenile bikes out there. I'd sell you ours for cheap, but I think the freight would be a deal breaker.

Try some different tires on the Mtn bike for a cheap fix.

Check garage sales and church rummage sales, or put a wanted ad on CL if you want a 'mini 10 speed'.

This was my first road bike when I was a kid. It was a Schwinn Junior Varsity in lime green! Wish I still had it!!!!

OK, this weekend I take images of my daughter's 19 inch Nishiki Century. It kicks some serious @ss

This was my first road bike when I was a kid. It was a Schwinn Junior Varsity in lime green! Wish I still had it!!!!It's for sale, but it's blue.

Is it the bike that's slow, or the kid?

What I remember about 8-year-olds is that they don't have a lot of strength or endurance, nor the mental toughness to use 100% of the strength/endurance that they do have- so no guarantee a different bicycle is going to change a lot. It might work better to slow down and make sure the kid enjoys the ride rather than trying to speed him up much.

For the serious little riders out there whose parents can afford it, this little gem is on e-bay for $550.
http://i16.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/bb/0c/b767_12.JPG

I have one of those Raleigh Record 24". I got my friends little sister to ride the thing to try it out, she loves it now. So now i leave it over there for her to ride till the neices are a bit older or she out grows it, witch ever comes first.

Is it the bike that's slow, or the kid?

What I remember about 8-year-olds is that they don't have a lot of strength or endurance, nor the mental toughness to use 100% of the strength/endurance that they do have- so no guarantee a different bicycle is going to change a lot. It might work better to slow down and make sure the kid enjoys the ride rather than trying to speed him up much.

It's a little of both. I have to remind myself that the ride is all about him. It's more about an introduction to riding, not stopping in the middle of the bike path to itch under your helmet, manners in passing other bikes, learning to sneer at cheap-o bikes and giggle at ben & jerry jersies. (this is just a joke, only a joke...), etc. I hate to say it, but kids are more structured these days. Gone are the days are just riding wherever. Most of us have a fondness of our first bikes - so the vintage 10 speed is kind of cool (at least to me, to an 8 year-old, who knows...). Enough said, I get what you're saying.

Anyway, back to the forum about bikes. Thanks for the reminder.