Hello all. First post.

I have a really dumb question and need some help with it.

How do I get the old handlebars off of my 1968 Schwinn Stingray and put new ones on?

A little background: I got it new for Christmas, my parents are 85 and I recently rescued my old bicycle. It was and is still the greatest present I've ever received.

It still rides, though I just took off the sissy bar and started stripping the surface rust off.

I bought some new ape-hanger handlebars for it and some new lime green Schwinn grips.

During the early BMX craze in the 70s, I took off the original Schwinn handlebars and replaced them with motocross handlebars, which remain on it still. (I took it for a few spins and it still rides pretty good and a couple of guys called out wanting to know if it was original, would I sell, etc. Pretty cool.)

OK - I haven't worked on a bicycle in 30 years. I don't even know most of the terms you guys use. I've spent four hours trying to find the answer to my question, but no luck.

The problem is I don't know how to get the motocross bars off of my bike and get the new "original-style" Stingray-type handlebars back on.

I've taken an immense interest in getting my old bike back up to riding speed, so to speak. Not restoring, just getting it back to riding condition.

So, after I undid the clamp, the old motocross bars just flop about and I don't see how in the heck I ever got them on, nor have any idea how to get them off.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. After everyone makes fun, can someone please help me with what should be a terribly basic procedure.