What were you riding on July 20, 1969?
07-15-09, 06:27 AM
#1
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What were you riding on July 20, 1969?
40 years ago tomorrow (July 16th), mankind's greatest adventure began with the liftoff of Apollo 11. Four days later, Armstrong successfully landed the bug and took a leisurely stroll around the lunar surface. He didn't bring his bike with, but I'll bet once he got there, he wished he did!
If you are of a certain age and were like me, you spent much of that week glued to the old black & white TV watching those flickery images, and maybe audio tape recording some of the big event. When you weren't, you were out on your bike enjoying the dog days of summer. And a few short weeks later, you were rocking to the sounds of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, NY.
Share your memories, and what bike you were riding that incredible summer!
If you are of a certain age and were like me, you spent much of that week glued to the old black & white TV watching those flickery images, and maybe audio tape recording some of the big event. When you weren't, you were out on your bike enjoying the dog days of summer. And a few short weeks later, you were rocking to the sounds of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, NY.
Share your memories, and what bike you were riding that incredible summer!
07-15-09, 06:30 AM
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OK, I'll go first!
It was a 26 x 1 3/8" tire Rollfast on a frame that was still a bit too big for my 12 year old body.
For an entertaining trip back to that time, I highly recommend the Australian film, "THE DISH". Not entirely factual, but a wonderful movie just the same.
https://thedishmovie.warnerbros.com/index_flashmain.html
Click on the theatrical trailer.
It was a 26 x 1 3/8" tire Rollfast on a frame that was still a bit too big for my 12 year old body.
For an entertaining trip back to that time, I highly recommend the Australian film, "THE DISH". Not entirely factual, but a wonderful movie just the same.
https://thedishmovie.warnerbros.com/index_flashmain.html
Click on the theatrical trailer.
Last edited by Fibber; 07-15-09 at 07:00 AM.
07-15-09, 06:44 AM
#4
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1962 Falcon Black Diamond (still have it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8983160@N08/548312091/)
07-15-09, 06:47 AM
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A Huffy Cheetah Slick, my first new bike.
If you are ever driving down I-75 in Ohio, stop at the Neal Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta. It's right next to the exit. A few miles further south is the Bicycle Museum of America, in New Breman.
If you are ever driving down I-75 in Ohio, stop at the Neal Armstrong Museum in Wapakoneta. It's right next to the exit. A few miles further south is the Bicycle Museum of America, in New Breman.
07-15-09, 06:50 AM
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A black rattle canned 'English Racer', you know the typical 3speed with a brooks mattress
saddle and sturmey archer hub. Mostly I rode a '56 volkswagon beetle, at least for what
little I remember of that particular summer.
saddle and sturmey archer hub. Mostly I rode a '56 volkswagon beetle, at least for what
little I remember of that particular summer.
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07-15-09, 06:57 AM
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I think I had a little girl's bike from Sears that we got used for $3 at the local bike shop. My father tried to talk me out of it 'cuz it was a girl's model, but I didn't care, I wanted a two wheeler. In my mind it's a dull dark blue (but my color perception is terrible; if it was pink, as seems likely, I wouldn't have known unless someone told me). I'm not sure, but I think it had 16" wheels, so I must have outgrown it pretty soon after that....
07-15-09, 07:01 AM
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I was riding a Schwinn Sting Ray, too.
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07-15-09, 07:04 AM
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I was in the army, stationed in Vicenza, Italy. It's not where I wanted to be, but at least it wasn't Viet Nam.
Last edited by Grand Bois; 07-15-09 at 07:13 AM.
07-15-09, 07:50 AM
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I had a red lugged-frame straight-tube single-speed coaster-brake bike that my folks purchased at Toys-R-Us.
I don't remember the make or model but it had a nice leather tool case with a multi-wrench and oil bottle, attached to the rear of the seat.
Sometime in the mid-'70s, I converted it to a 10-speed with used parts and sold it to a friend.
I don't remember the make or model but it had a nice leather tool case with a multi-wrench and oil bottle, attached to the rear of the seat.
Sometime in the mid-'70s, I converted it to a 10-speed with used parts and sold it to a friend.
07-15-09, 07:54 AM
#11
aka Phil Jungels
A Schwinn Collegiate, 5 spd, blue, 26 X 1 3/8, with a child seat on the back..........
07-15-09, 07:59 AM
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Oh, and I was at Connie Mack stadium with my brother and cousin when Armstrong et al actually landed,
they stopped the game to announce that.
Marty
they stopped the game to announce that.
Marty
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07-15-09, 08:00 AM
#13
Lanky Lass
Some knockoff of a Stingray. I don't remember how it was acquired, or where it went to after I was done with it 
.
I do know that I didn't ride a bicycle after that until almost 20 years later .
East Hill
.I do know that I didn't ride a bicycle after that until almost 20 years later
.East Hill
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07-15-09, 08:02 AM
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My brothers Sting Ray- with one of those little motors on the front wheel. He rode it on a few weeks and got a 70cc Honda. I remember leaning way over the handlebars to drop her down on the tire, hearing that motor roar(yeah) and feeling like Marlon Brando in "The Wild One"
Don
Don
07-15-09, 08:03 AM
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yes i was on a gold flecked Schwinn Stingray that i had inherited from my brother
it had a stick shift and a white banana
A lot like the ones pictured in this blog post from the The Selvedge Yard
I rode that until I inherited his Schwinn 10speed. it may have been a Varsity.
it had a stick shift and a white banana
A lot like the ones pictured in this blog post from the The Selvedge Yard
I rode that until I inherited his Schwinn 10speed. it may have been a Varsity.
07-15-09, 08:06 AM
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Still just a couple of months shy of 11, so no Woodstock for me afterwards.
But I was riding my Schwinn Apple Krate. It took all my savings, IIRC around $95 with tax. Bought it at one of the ubiquitous lawnmower & bicycle shops of the day.
Just like this one
But I was riding my Schwinn Apple Krate. It took all my savings, IIRC around $95 with tax. Bought it at one of the ubiquitous lawnmower & bicycle shops of the day.
Just like this one
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07-15-09, 08:16 AM
#17
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I was also 12 and had a HUGE Murray that my parents bought me for Christmas. Although I rode the bike for years, I am not sure what they were thinking when they bought such a large bike for such a little boy. 
07-15-09, 08:48 AM
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A Schwinn Collegiate Sport, 5 speeds with a stem shifter, drop bars, 26 x 1 3/8" tires, steel rat trap pedals, single 44 t chainring and 14-28 freewheel. Went on my first North Hollywood Wheelmen and Los Angeles Wheelmen rides on that boat anchor. It was indestructible--somebody is probably still riding the frame, turned into a 650b fixie! And the news of the day about Neil Armstrong was shared with the birth of my step-nephew Matt.
07-15-09, 08:56 AM
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i was probably *wishing* for a Stingray, but riding nothing. It would have been between a Schwinn Typhoon I had outgrown and before I bought my first 10-speed (some Austrian gas-pipe job with a Huret Allvit) off a neighbor for $17.76 (July 4th sale). Never did get that Stingray.
07-15-09, 09:20 AM
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My parents were 11 and 12 years old.
I'm pretty sure my mom had a yellow Varsity. My dad wanted a stingray, but didn't actually have one. He has mentioned to me on a few occasions that my great-grandfather (a really neat guy, I'm lucky to have known him when I was young) helped him "make" a stingray out of his existing bike, by adding new bars and supporting the seat further back, etc. Pretty cool.
I'm pretty sure my mom had a yellow Varsity. My dad wanted a stingray, but didn't actually have one. He has mentioned to me on a few occasions that my great-grandfather (a really neat guy, I'm lucky to have known him when I was young) helped him "make" a stingray out of his existing bike, by adding new bars and supporting the seat further back, etc. Pretty cool.
Last edited by Ashen; 07-15-09 at 09:28 AM. Reason: adding a less trite answer
07-15-09, 09:20 AM
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At that point I had never had a bicycle, but I would shortly after that, as the family had just moved out of the city.
An unknown middle weight frame that I built from the ground up, including relacing the rear wheel to get a 3 speed instead of a coaster brake.
It was equipped with a banana seat and rmas horn handlebar, and I fiddled around and hooked both caliper brakes to the rear wheel. I could do wheelies real well, and could also skid the back tire on demand.
The tires were 26 x 1 & 3/8, even though the frame was built for 24" wheels... I had to bend the brake bridge a little to squeeze in the tires... not something I would do today.
An unknown middle weight frame that I built from the ground up, including relacing the rear wheel to get a 3 speed instead of a coaster brake.
It was equipped with a banana seat and rmas horn handlebar, and I fiddled around and hooked both caliper brakes to the rear wheel. I could do wheelies real well, and could also skid the back tire on demand.
The tires were 26 x 1 & 3/8, even though the frame was built for 24" wheels... I had to bend the brake bridge a little to squeeze in the tires... not something I would do today.