The Huffy company has been making bicycles since 1887, and through much of the 20th century, Huffy bikes competed in the U.S. market with companies such as Schwinn and Raleigh. The Aerowind was a popular Huffy bicycle model introduced in 1980. Now discontinued, the Huffy Aerowind is popular with vintage bike collectors and nostalgia seekers.

Models and Features
The Aerowind was produced in 10-speed and 12-speed models, and different bicycles were made for men and women. Avocet seats were installed on original Huffy Aerowinds. The original tires on the Aerowind measured 1 3/8 inches by 1 inch, and had steel rims. The gears and cranks on the Aerowind were made by the Japanese company Shimano. Huffy intended the Aerowind to be a fast road bike, a style change from the cruiser and mountain bike models Huffy had been selling immediately prior to 1980.

Because the Aerowind was a popular bike in the 1980s, there are plenty of Aerowinds out there. You might find an Aerowind for sale at a garage sale, or through local classified ads. Of course, it is unlikely that the original features -- such as tires -- would have been preserved over several decades. An old Aerowind that has been unused for several years may cost more than its purchase price to fix up and make roadworthy. Collectors often wish to use original, vintage parts when restoring a bicycle. A fully and accurately restored Aerowind may cost as much as $1,000, according to the Boston Biker website.

Pros and Cons
The Aerowind has the unique look of a 1980s road bike. The tubing is flattened in places to give an aerodynamic, streamlined feel to the frame. Other pros include the relatively low cost and high availability of Aerowinds today; it is not the rarest or most expensive collector's bike. Like most older bicycles, however, the Aerowind frame is heavy, and may slow you down if you wish to use the bike for fast road riding.

Quality
According to online culture magazine "Smile Politely," the quality of Huffy's bikes between the 1930s and 1960s was relatively high. Huffy's offerings at this time were of similar quality to those of the Schwinn bicycle company, although Schwinn bikes were typically more stylish. In 2010, vintage Huffy bikes are not considered as collectible as the older Schwinn models. Between the 1960s and 1980s, the Huffy company imported some very high-quality bikes that were manufactured by Carlton and Raleigh. The Aerowind is one of Huffy's higher-quality vintage bikes from the 1980s, although there is not the price premium on an Aerowind that a vintage Schwinn would command.

The bike will accommodate most any rider comfortably.