BikeGuitarist

Hey Geezers! Okay, I'm only forty-nine years old until next summer, but I figured I might as well dip my toe in the water here. I've been riding the same Schwinn ten-speed since the early 1980s, and, here's the kicker, most of the many thousands of miles have been "no hands" while simultaneously playing a Fender Stratocaster guitar.

The Schwinn Sportabout (a "Varsinental" type) is not a light machine. I just weighed mine last week and it is forty-three pounds as equipped with a Schwinn U-lock, two headlights, two tail lights and a Schwinn Approved rack over the rear wheel. My own weight has topped two hundred pounds before, and for some years until this year was hovering between 190 and 200 pounds pretty consistently. I've ridden my bicycle a lot more this year (partly because my car is broken!) and I'm down to about 185 pounds now.

The great news is that sometime in the next week or so my vintage Schwinn is going to have some major improvements made to it. The original steel handlebar and stem will be replaced by an aluminum one from a different model Schwinn of similar vintage, and I am having the LBS lace vintage Schwinn Approved hubs to modern aluminum rims for lighter and stronger wheels. I am also upgrading to Kool-Stop "salmon" brake pads for the new rims.

I don't know if any of this will be enough to make up for the fact that I am older when it comes to riding up hills, but it's gotta help

The "upgrades" page isn't published yet on my web site until the work is actually done, but the "New Wheels" page is already up even though I leave space at the bottom for photographs of the finished wheels that aren't done yet.

Peace. Out. TBG

jppe

Congrats on the weight loss-normally that is a good thing.

Many of us have ridden the Schwinns as well-but probably not while strumming Fender or even an air guitar.

If you haven't tried some of the other new technology in bikes today you might give it a spin. For a lot of us it makes the riding experience even more enjoyable. But then again some folks very satisfied with the vintage models.

old and new

Sensible upgrades. You will the wheels. BEWARE of birthday party givers ! Fifty's a big one. Why don't you ride with a Les ? Is it on account of the weight ?

Allegheny Jet

Geez,

Another no-hand riding gitar picking young gun. You young guys are all alike!

Welcome aboard.

BikeGuitarist

The upgrades were suggestions sent to me in April 2009 by a former Schwinn store manager named Raleigh D. He is also the source of the better handlebar and stem. I was originally going to go with a handlebar and stem from a 1970s Continental to stay true to the "Varsinental" theme, but the parts he offered come from a Le Tour or similar Made in Japan model. These are still 1970s Schwinn parts, look similar to what one might find on a Continental, and are very pretty. I couldn't pass it up.

That's probably the biggest reason. Les Pauls weigh twice as much as Stratocasters, but I also like the way a Strat's body is contoured and the double cutaways, and there's nothing like the sound of a tortured Strat. I've always played a Strat or Strat copy.

BikeGuitarist

Another??? Thanks for the welcome! I wasn't sure how I'd be received in the 50+ forum considering I'm only 49.

BikeGuitarist

I've ridden the same Schwinn bicycle since the early 1980s. It has a very smooth, comfortable and solid ride even if it is twice as heavy and not as efficient as the bicycles of today. I've never even tried to ride another bicycle all this time, only this one. I'm not even sure if another Sportabout or Continental of the same era would have the same magic as the one I have.

According to the front page feature story of the October 15, 2007 issue of the News Review newspaper of Roseburg, Oregon, leprechauns running alongside are what make it possible for me to ride and play guitar at the same time. Do all Schwinns of that era come with attendant leprechauns, or did I just get lucky?

stapfam

Hate to say it but bikes have improved over the past few years- let alone pushing 30.

I only started riding in 1990 and I can still remember my first "New" bike. A Trek 820. in comparison to my 1990 Bianchi Grizzley there is a world of difference. Have to admit that not many of the Current MTB's interest me- but the quality of the parts does. They have improved a lot in the last year or so.

But Vintage and Veteran bikes have an attraction . Just not for me.

Allegheny Jet

We never can know how long we will be in the 50+ forum, so a head start is a good thing.