Vintage Schwinn Bikes: A Trip Down Memory Lane

The new frame and component technology incorporated in the Paramount largely failed to reach Schwinn’s mass-market bicycle lines. W. Schwinn, grandson Frank Valentine Schwinn took over management of the company. SCHWINN made their contributions to mountain biking long before the mountain bike movement of the past 25 years.

schwinn mountain bicycles

A bike with a shorter reach will have a shorter wheelbase and is not that stable but is easier to move around. Whether you prefer steel, aluminum or other materials, such as carbon fiber, finding the perfect fit ensures proper stand-over clearance, comfortable reach to the handlebars, and adequate space for adjustments to fine-tune your riding position. Additionally, some riders may opt for framesets, allowing customization of components for a personalized riding experience. At the close of the 1920s, the stock market crash decimated the American motorcycle industry, taking Excelsior-Henderson with it. Arnold, Schwinn, & Co. (as it remained until 1967) was on the verge of bankruptcy.

That philosophy far outlived both of these men – a testimony to its power. Choosing the right frame size is essential for maximizing comfort and performance on the trails. The frame size can be determined by the riders’ height, but many riders find that they are between sizes, therefore to go up or down a size depends on your personal riding style and body proportions.

These bikes have been around since the 60s, but they’re still fresh choices for a hot summer ride. Make it a trip to remember with camping and mountain biking combined! The kids will sleep great in their tents after all that riding. In road cycling, Giant celebrated multiple achievements as the bike supplier of UCI WorldTeam Team Sunweb (both men and women), which competes in the highest level of road cycling. They are most noted for when both men and women teams won the Team Time Trial event at the 2017 UCI World Championships in Bergen, Norway. Notable riders include Tom Dumoulin, winner of the pink jersey in the 2017 Giro d’Italia; Warren Barguil, winner of the polka-dot jersey in the 2017 Tour de France, and Michael Mathews, winner of the green jersey in the 2017 Tour de France.

These bikes absorb impacts from rocks, roots, and bumps, providing a smoother ride, especially on technical single track trails. Giant was established in 1972 in Dajia, Taichung County in Taiwan (now part of Taichung City), by King Liu and several friends.[who? ] A major breakthrough came in 1977 when Giant’s chief executive, Tony Lo, negotiated a deal with Schwinn to begin manufacturing bikes as an OEM, manufacturing bicycles to be sold exclusively under other brand names as a private label. As bike sales increased in the U.S., and after workers at the Schwinn plant in Chicago went on strike in 1980, Giant became a key supplier, making more than two-thirds of Schwinn bikes by the mid-1980s, representing 75% of Giant’s sales.

From streamlined Aerocycles and classic Phantoms to Varsity eight-speeds and Sting Ray Krates, vintage Schwinn bicycles are popular with collectors. In addition to the fond memories these beautiful bicycles inspire, enthusiasts praise their quality workmanship and enduring value. Whether you’re considering a vintage Schwinn for personal use or want to invest in a piece of American popular history, you’ll have a lot of options. In some cases the manufacturer does not allow us to show you the price until further action is taken. Hector Leonardo Paez is another well known sponsored athlete, as he is a previous world champion XC mountain bike champion.

If that wasn’t enough, the motorcycle business suffered through a marketplace saving its available dollars for cars. Schwinn’s other asset, the bicycle business, had shrunk from 100,000 high-priced models in 1900, to 30,000 discounted models thirty years later. IGNAZ SCHWINN was born in the little town of Hardheim, province of Baden, Germany. The second of seven children, his father died when he was eleven and Ignaz was sent to vocational school. An intense interest in the high-wheeled “ordinary” bicycle of his day, led him from town to town working on bicycles and bicycle parts whenever he found the opportunity. In time, he came to work in the machine shop of Heinrich Kleyer, who soon employed him as a designer & works manager for the Kleyer factory.

Frames came in three sizes (small, medium, and large), with riders fitted through the use of stems and seat posts of different lengths. By 2018, Giant road frames were available in up to six sizes (X-Small, Small, Medium, Medium/Large, Large and X-Large). Schwinn followed the Scrambler line with the Predator in 1982,[38] their next step into the competitive modern BMX market. Schwinn had a very successful BMX factory supported racing team (beginning in 1976) made up of some of the best riders of the day. For more than a century, the name Schwinn has represented a leader in the bicycle industry. The company began in 1895 when partners Ignaz Schwinn and Adolph Arnold founded their corporation Arnold, Schwinn & Company.

Alloy, high-profile double wall rims provide durability without weighing you down. Plus, 29 x 2.25 inch all terrain tires give you that go-anywhere capability. Like all Schwinn mongoose bmx bikes, the High Timber ALX comes with a limited lifetime warranty for as long as you own the bike. Conquer tough trails with the Schwinn Ider Dual Suspension Mountain Bike.

National Road Champion as well as the founder of the Bahati Foundation which works to build strong communities by providing underserved youth with bicycles. Starting in 2005, Schwinn also marketed Motorscooters under the Schwinn Motorsports brand.[69] Production ceased in 2011 (approx). The Sting-Ray[28] sales boom of the 1960s accelerated in 1970, with United States bicycle sales doubling over a period of two years.