Classic & Vintage - Lusting after an old Schwinn T&C trike...am I nutso?

I'm not sure why, but I find myself strangely attracted to these old trikes.

Am I out of my mind?
Will the novelty wear off after fifteen minutes, making me wonder what the hell I was thinking?

What are they like on the road? (Especially in a metro area?)

I suppose I would take it to the farmers markets nearby, maybe get a trailer to haul project bikes to the coop, etc, but mostly I want it for fun.

Sanity check please. (And if I pass that, price check?)

Thanks.

There's a guy here in C'ville that regularly rides one on the street. i've ridden by him a few times (for a few blocks, before I get on my way) and he can average about 15 mph, but says that up hills, it really sucks. He's got a big orange triangle and a tall, orange pennant type flag for increased visibility. I think they're sweet, and would love one for grocery runs, but I'd be concerned with the width factor - I ride down roads that are already almost too narrow, since cars like to blow by you.

I was thinking about picking one up and refurbing it for my Mom as an extra Xmas gift. My boys like to ride and "Mamaw" isn't up for a regular bike anymore (knees, hip, etc.). So the thought was that an old T&C would give here the opportunity to pedal around with the grandkids and it would be a little easier on her. I had my eye on an old one of CL, but I lost the guy's email address and it's fallen off the board now due to age. He wanted to trade for hunting gear...

You're not alone, I'd love one too... and recently passed one up in need of work. I kind of regret it, even though it didn't have the basket.
Since then, and a few others I've seen, I'd love one. Although, with more than the standard 3-speed so that I could actually use it for some decent rides. Though, I'm not sure if that's even possible.
-Gene-

I had my eye on an old one of CL, but I lost the guy's email address and it's fallen off the board now due to age. He wanted to trade for hunting gear...

Put up an ad asking for him to contact you if he sees your post.

-Kurt

I'd guess they're best for trips to the grocery store in places where the land is flat as a pancake.

They weigh 65 pounds!!

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/1980_43sm.jpg

Hmmm. I worked on a couple Schwinn trikes back in my mechanic days. They were a real pain. And they bent easily. The frames were always out of wack. And talk about heavy!

We maintained these trikes free of charge for their handicapped owners. So I'm sure they were ridden down curbs, and basic maintrnance, like keeping tires inflated, was minimum.

I'd really think hard before getting one of these, unless its free!

Put up an ad asking for him to contact you if he sees your post.

-Kurt

Did that very thing this morning!

Hmmm. I worked on a couple Schwinn trikes back in my mechanic days. They were a real pain. And they bent easily. The frames were always out of wack. And talk about heavy!

We maintained these trikes free of charge for their handicapped owners. So I'm sure they were ridden down curbs, and basic maintrnance, like keeping tires inflated, was minimum.

I'd really think hard before getting one of these, unless its free!

Not to mention that if you ever have to rebuild the wheels you're SOL. Most of the Town & Countries are running on 28 Spoke 24 X 1 3/8 rims which is a size now only used for Wheelchairs and even those rims don't come in a 28 drilling. Alloy rims are unobtainium.:(

If your intent on a trike I would look at the new production which is based on 26" wheels and the Cargo box is even slightly larger than the 69 to 80's. Or I'd look at the Worksman Industrial Trike.

I'd guess they're best for trips to the grocery store in places where the land is flat as a pancake.

They weigh 65 pounds!!


And with 50# of grocerie, and a 150# rider they weigh 265#. They are not designed for racing.

The lady (I can not think how to spell her name right now, Sianne?) in NZ has a trike made from an elderly roadster, I sure would like something like that (and a garage to keep it in).