Originally Posted by mswantak
I doubt that the more sophisticated bikes I have now would have stood up as well -- and I was one of the more careful of my crowd in terms of riding and maintenance.
I think people need to understand the difference between "golden age" Chicago Schwinns and the X-Mart bikes of today. Although the ordinary Schwinns were modestly priced bikes aimed at the general market, they were built and sold with a lot of care. They were very reliable... unlike today's X-Mart bikes which tend to disintegrate fairly quickly.
The 3-speed Schwinn "English Racer" I got when I was twelve years old was my lifeline for years. It stayed with me until grad school when some neighborhood punks stole it and ripped it to shreds. That is the bike I would love to have again.