Thread: Dutch Bicycles
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Old 01-20-20 | 10:22 PM
  #11  
Vintage Schwinn
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https://www.walmart.com/ip/Huffy-26-...?selected=true


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-H...teal/45089324?


https://www.walmart.com/ip/Huffy-Nel...-26/844867253?



https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Hyper-...ike/801855176?



All of the above are currently available, NEW, single speed, coaster brake, traditional Dutch style cruising bicycles.
They are nice looking. They represent an excellent bargain at their current retail prices, as they are durable and ride well.
These bicycles are simple.
The ONLY major concern is that YOU WILL NEED TO ADD GREASE TO THE THE BOTTOM BRACKET (crank bearings), AS THEY DO NOT COME WITH ADEQUATE GREASE FROM THE CHINESE FACTORY (usually with no grease at all !!!) AS GREASE WOULD ADD TOO MUCH TO THE UNIT COST OF SAID BICYCLE!! The assemblers DO NOT grease the bicycle when assembling it at the store. Failure to GREASE the CRANK BEARINGS will result in lots of noise within thirty miles of riding and probable destruction of the Crank Bearings within about 150 to 300 miles, possibly sooner, maybe longer, but likely sooner if bike is exposed to very light rain, or any water at all. The crank bearings for the ONE-PIECE ashtabula american style crank are very simple to CHANGE OUT or GREASE. They are also so simple to deal with due to the caged bearing design. The replacement caged bearings are less than $7 each. However, if you choose to ride on without grease or with a damaged, "bad" bearing, you will score and ruin the races, bearing cups. Again, you can buy the two cups and two crank bearings in an entire replacement set for about $20 total or slightly less from sellers on the web, ebay and amazon. There is nothing that would require a local bicycle shop's technician! Absolutely nothing!!
The bicycles with the ONE PIECE american style crank and a single speed Coaster brake CAN BE EASILY SERVICED BY ANYONE WITH MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE OF USING TOOLS AND JUST TYPICAL TOOLS THAT MOST EVERYONE ALREADY HAS IN THEIR HOME TOOL BOX.
Obtain a USED copy of "GLENN's COMPLETE BICYCLE MANUAL (c) 1973 approx 8 1/2 x 11 softbound approx 340 pages---------you can find copies at all times from the ultra-huge mammoth used booksellers on Ebay for between $3.50 with FREE SHIPPING to $5.50 with FREE SHIPPING. There were probably 3/4 of a million copies sold during the years from 1973 to 1978, so there are no shortage of copies and most that you'll find from those mega booksellers are ex-library books-------there is no need to pay more than $6 with Free Shipping. Yes, you might have someone that has their old copy listed for a ridiculous price, but there are certainly others there in the $4 with free shipping range from the ultra-huge mammoth used bookdealers, if you simply look.
Hey, it is easy to dimiss these bicycles from Wal-mart because Walmart sells them, but they are decent enough bicycles for a single speed, coaster brake bicycle.
Sure, the chrome on the handlebars, and crank, and fenders if applicable is POOR compared to anything from the Seventies or earlier. You can if you wish as many folks do, swap the handlebars for a handlebar from a 1970's era SCHWINN COLLEGIATE/SUBURBAN/BREEZE/SPEEDSTER/RACER or from a 1960's era SCHWINN COLLEGIATE/BREEZE/CORVETTE/RACER............. etc there are many other models too............Schwinn had the best Chrome plating, thus their handlebars are the best used value and the typical "7881" handle bars have a great comfortable shape..................to identify them, these bars will have SCHWINN along with 7881- year,
for example 7881-67 from say a 1967 Breeze or whatever, and 7881-75 would have been from a 1975 Schwinn Breeze or collegiate/suburban or whatever.....
You should also plan to replace the PEDALS on these NEW bicycles with the ONE-PIECE CRANK from Walmart with the Reproduction "Krate Bow Style" Pedal which is a quality repro of a very nice style of pedal for 1/2 inch---One Piece Cranks.............those repros can be found from web sellers for approx $18 with free shipping.
Now, that Hyper brand bicycle seen above has a Three piece Crank and requires 9/16" pedal size. You will need a specific tool to service the bottom bracket on the three piece crank HYPER branded single speed coaster brake bike that Walmart has. You can buy this bottom bracket tool for between $6 and $10 typically from any one of the US based or China based bicycle parts sellers on Ebay and Amazon. YOUTUBE has several great user filmed videos that show you how easy it really is.
Sure, you have about three times as many videos that show you but they are not the best, poorly narrated, poorly filmed, have poor explanation, profanity, etc.....
A single speed Coaster brake bicycle is so simple that as they said in that old tv ad, ----"SO SIMPLE THAT ANY CAVEMAN CAN DO IT".
Look at it this way, there is nothing wrong with simplicity, and there are no laws saying that you cannot own a simple bicycle along with your lightweight high tech speed machine. You can also go Vintage and USED with coaster brake cruiser simplicity. They are so simple to get them back on the road. The advantage that you have with these NEW Wallyworld single speed Coaster brake bikes in the $100 or so price range is that you have very nice new paint and new tires/tubes and wheels and new seat. Now, sure, the seat may or may not be comfortable to your liking, but for the $100 or so level, you do get a great value and a very decent bicycle IF one makes certain to grease the crank bearings.
Sure, some folks will say that you only have essentially one frame size to choose from, but the seat post height can be adjusted and the quil stem can be slightly adjusted for height, such that these bicycles will fit nearly everyone between 5 feet tall and 6 feet one inch tall..............fit on an UPRIGHT CRUISER Dutch style bicycle is much easier to accomodate on these UPRIGHT riders rather than the critical fitting that one needs on a RACING BICYCLE WITH DROP BARS.
You don't need a LIGHTWEIGHT bicycle to cruise at a comfortable SLOW Speed. The bicycles mentioned above are very good bicycles for doing just that and they represent extraordinary value for anyone seeking such a bicycle. You likely will not ever need any assistance from your Local Bicycle Shop as these bicycles are so simple that anyone can do everything with just direction from a book or YOUTUBE and simple tools one may already own.
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