And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Man, I had an old 3 speed bike ( don't remember the make) that was handed down by an older cousin to me when he left his home for good Like an idiot, I got rid of it at a pawn shop after storing it for years. Probably much better constructed than what you get for now for five times the cost. I was dumb !
My first 10 speed was a Schwinn Varsity. It was $77 new, and it took me almost a year of delivering papers to pay for it. Yeah, my Dad told me "You want it, you pay for it". It was a different time. It was a great life lesson. He was a great Dad.
I had a black one speed Typhoon, my first new bike. Rode the heck out of it. I later saved up for a Schwinn Super Sport by doing lawns & weeding (similar logic to your Dad). Still have the Super Sport (!)
You guys had more than one speed gears sets on your bikes? I saw a three speed once as a kid...it had a thumb operated selector next to the handgrip on the handle bar. It was cool, but he couldn't lock his rear wheel up and skid for five feet.
It was (maybe) 1954, I was 8 years old, my parents gave me a used no-name "paperboy bike." It was ONE SPEED with a rear brake that worked when you backpaddled the peddles. About five years later, I got a Huffy three-speed and I really felt as if I had won the million-dollar lottery.
1956(?) Mark III Jaguar from an older cousin, rode the heck out of it and it still works fine, just a little worse for wear paint-wise. Hangs in the garage and gets ridden once a year now.
Around 1960, I bought a Royce Union 3-speed from Pep Boys. My grandparents didn't want me to buy it, wasn't the right kind of bike for country folks like us. I rode that bike for several years. I joined the Navy in '65 and the bike disappeared while I was 'serving my country".
My father bought all my bikes by some formula that probably had a lot to do with the weekly Sears insert. Last one came apart at the front fork while I was riding it.
My first bike was an old used 3 speed English Racer with 26" tires. I named it Rattletrap. My Dad put 4" blocks on the pedals so I could ride it. Mounting and dismounting was a real adventure.
Man, I had an old 3 speed bike ( don't remember the make) that was handed down by an older cousin to me when he left his home for good Like an idiot, I got rid of it at a pawn shop after storing it for years. Probably much better constructed than what you get for now for five times the cost. I was dumb !
ReplyDeleteI remember getting a 3-speed with the skinny tires some time in the late 50s or early 60s. They were called English Racers back then.
ReplyDeleteMy first 10 speed was a Schwinn Varsity. It was $77 new, and it took me almost a year of delivering papers to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, my Dad told me "You want it, you pay for it".
It was a different time. It was a great life lesson. He was a great Dad.
A little research tells me the above ad is from a '62 comic book, about two years before I bought my Varsity.
DeleteI had a black one speed Typhoon, my first new bike. Rode the heck out of it. I later saved up for a Schwinn Super Sport by doing lawns & weeding (similar logic to your Dad). Still have the Super Sport (!)
Delete"Still have the Super Sport (!)"
DeleteNice!
I also had a black Typhoon. Followed by a green Varsity. Don't have either now, but do still have my 1986 Trek road bike.
DeleteCirca 1964, Xmas present was a 26" Schwinn American 2-speed. You pedaled backwards a 1/4 turn to change gears. Candy apple red.
ReplyDeleteHad 2 speed kick back from brother great fun .........
DeleteYou guys had more than one speed gears sets on your bikes? I saw a three speed once as a kid...it had a thumb operated selector next to the handgrip on the handle bar. It was cool, but he couldn't lock his rear wheel up and skid for five feet.
ReplyDeleteIt was (maybe) 1954, I was 8 years old, my parents gave me a used no-name "paperboy bike." It was ONE SPEED with a rear brake that worked when you backpaddled the peddles. About five years later, I got a Huffy three-speed and I really felt as if I had won the million-dollar lottery.
ReplyDeleteIn the late 50s I got a heavy bike with big balloon tires from the Sears warehouse.
ReplyDeleteYears later I got a 5 spd because dad couldn't afford a 10 spd.
I got that exact bike around '62 as a hand me down when my older brother got a new 26".
ReplyDeleteI still have it.
1956(?) Mark III Jaguar from an older cousin, rode the heck out of it and it still works fine, just a little worse for wear paint-wise. Hangs in the garage and gets ridden once a year now.
ReplyDeleteAround 1960, I bought a Royce Union 3-speed from Pep Boys. My grandparents didn't want me to buy it, wasn't the right kind of bike for country folks like us. I rode that bike for several years. I joined the Navy in '65 and the bike disappeared while I was 'serving my country".
ReplyDeleteI like the seat, now all you can get is one of those crotch killers. Old guys like me would like a 1940's seat instead of a wedge up your ass.
ReplyDeleteMy father bought all my bikes by some formula that probably had a lot to do with the weekly Sears insert. Last one came apart at the front fork while I was riding it.
ReplyDeleteMy first bike was an old used 3 speed English Racer with 26" tires. I named it Rattletrap. My Dad put 4" blocks on the pedals so I could ride it. Mounting and dismounting was a real adventure.
ReplyDeleteThat $40 in 1964 rings in at about $400 today.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I noticed that too. Not so cheap.
DeleteI worked in a Schwinn bike shop in the mid 70's in California. Our shipments of bikes from Schwinn in Chicago came by train.
ReplyDeleteI had a black and white 'Spitfire'.
ReplyDelete