Bike Forums - Anyone ride cruisers?

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That is really a sweet ride you have crazyb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyb

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/crazy-b/002.jpg

Closest thing I have to a cruiser.

Really beautiful stable of classic bikes that you have there. Thanks for posting them. Classics and cruisers are alive and well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticwanos

Beautiful bikes, I-Like-To-Bike! Your Schwinn is a peach! I think the classics get all too often overlooked and are underappreciated. There are a lot of memories riding on those wheels.

I posted earlier regards a Schwinn Racer new to my stable ( I've determined it is a '71). I have since tarted it up a bit, as well as acquired a '74 Sprite freebie rustbucket that I have cleaned up and gotten roadworthy. Pics to follow. I thought I would include a photo of my next (MAJOR!) restoration project as soon as I rescue it from the woods.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...ayRide0009.jpg
This is the Racer pretty much as I got it. I just cleaned it up, put a Wrights saddle on it and a vintage saddle/handlebar bag.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...os/Racer04.jpg
The bike became an art project. Here it is with correct "S" saddle, Schwinn rack, and period correct lights. I added hand brakes after I found myself squeezing the handlebars and NOT stopping. I do have Huret cable guides for the rear brake, but everything else is either Schwinn, Schwinn approved or generic. The last steps are to get white cable "sheathes" and an appropriate fender reflector to replace the one that is missing. While this old horse can't begin to keep up with road bikes it is surprisingly quick for its weight and is a kick to ride.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/Sprite01.jpg
The Sprite in all its English gentleman glory. I will spare you a pic of its rustbucket phase. The original rusted solid Huret gear levers on the stem have been replaced by a better condition downtube set. A new low end RD to make it rideable (until I can get a good quality period correct RD--it came with the Huret Allvit--gotta get something better) and changing the mattress saddle that was falling apart to a Brooks are all I have done so far. The paint is really faded, but for the most part intact. I waffle on whether to repaint or not.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...Oldbike1-1.jpg
Thanks to the good folks on the Classic and Vintage forum I have found out this is a '50s era J.C. Higgins Color Flow. It waits on my cousin's farm in Oklahoma until I can retrieve it from her and see if it can be rejuvenated. They don't make bikes like this anymore! (And I'll bet there is a good reason.) I don't know whether to make this the ultimate RatRod and preserve the moss, or repaint to bring back its former glory. Either way, it looks like a lot of fun to try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyb

If you are looking for another Tourist, a guy out north of town on Gear has a couple of them laying around for 10 bucks apiece

Yeah, I know the old codger you are talking about, but I really don't need anymore bikes. My WorldTourist cost $15 at a garage sale, but I did have to replace the original tires that had like new tread, as they had dry rotted sidewalls. The leather saddle replacement cost 5DM at the Frankfurt flea market in the late 90's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledog

And the balloon tires,sprung saddle and front springer on my Schwinn make the curb bashing a lot easier on my old bones and joints.

Not just old bones. In 1971 a buddy gave me a Schwinn of undetermined age that had 26" x 2.125 balloon tires, full fenders, cantivever frame and springer fork. He didn't want that "old junk" as he had just gotten a new "10 speed racer". I added a Wrights W66 saddle (a very close relative of a Brooks B66). I often used that bike for a change of pace when commuting in Phila; it just soaked up the bumps. Also used it on a two day trip on the Delaware Canal Tow Path from just north of Phila. to Easton, PA, an 80 mile unpaved path. I was the only cylist of about 25 who rode the entire trip on the tow path (rather than the adjacent highway) as all the rest were getting too beat up on their narrow high pressure tires and racing saddles.

The same bike was perfect for a charity ride from Phila to Atlantic City way back then. 60 miles at a leisurely pace, riding with a comfortable posture on a perfectly flat highway.

I kept that bike til 1997 when I sold it to reduce household weight for an overseas move. Still have the Wrights W66 with the silver paint that I had spray painted the Schwinn over 30 years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

The leather saddle replacement cost 5DM at the Frankfurt flea market in the late 90's.

Now that's a deal! The best price I've paid for a Brooks was $45 shipped, for the B-72 on my pictured Collegiate. It's a '72 model, but still has decades of life in it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh

Now that's a deal! The best price I've paid for a Brooks was $45 shipped, for the B-72 on my pictured Collegiate. It's a '72 model, but still has decades of life in it.

In 1973 picked up a B72 attached to a 1969 Raleigh Sprite with a 5 speed internal hub for $40 complete with bike in perfect shape just like in the picture. At a thrift store run by the Hare Krishna bunch in Phila.

A couple of years ago I found a good barely used B72 for $10 in the seat replacement bin at Keswick Cycles in Glenside PA. Best retail price I ever paid was 99DM (about $45 at the time) for a new B73 from a German mail order place with free shipping in country, and $50 for a new B66 from Bickels Cycle in Burlington IA a couple of years ago.

I don't know where I got the Wrights W66 (pictured a few posts ago) from but I know I didn't buy it or steal it. It may have been a trash day find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledog

That is really a sweet ride you have crazyb.

Thanks for the compliment on the bike. Paid 15 bucks for it at auction. It has the much maligned Shimano FF system with Positron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledog

I have cruiserized my 1998 Trek 820 MTN bike.

I sure wish you could post some pictures. I have a Trek 820 and I'm looking for ways to make it a more comfortable ride.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyb

Thanks for the compliment on the bike. Paid 15 bucks for it at auction. It has the much maligned Shimano FF system with Positron.

I like the Shimano FF system with Positron on the World Tourist, and my wife likes the Positron on her Schwinn Suburban too. Makes shifting without pedaling easy as long as the bike is moving at all.

My red-white-and-blue Schwinn mountain bike (see signature) satisfies all of my cruiser urges.

I love cruisers. I just picked up a Raleigh Retroglide 7 and I love it. Old school looks will never go out of style.