Vintage Schwinn Bikes Guide: Which Models Are Worth Buying?

The SRAM Double Tap Rival drivetrain was aided with a Wipperman chain. We always like the Fizik Arione saddle, and has anyone ever had a problem with the popular Mavic Askium wheels? The Schwalbe Stelvio tires were new to some test riders, and they received high praise for holding a line.

The front triangle is made as its own part and then bonded and wrapped to the rear triangle. The ‘semi’ compact frame has an integrated headset and is available in four sizes (small, schwinn road bike medium, large and extra large). Schwinn SmartStart bikes are an incredible feat of kid-size engineering. From top to bottom, they’re designed to help kids in motion stay in motion.

schwinn road bike

By 1975, bicycle customers interested in medium-priced road and touring bicycles had largely gravitated towards Japanese or European brands. In reality, mass-market French manufacturers such as Peugeot were not infrequently criticized for material and assembly quality — as well as stagnant technology — in their low- and mid-level product lines. Nevertheless, Peugeot proudly advertised its victorious racing heritage at every opportunity. schwinn road bike By 1979, even the Paramount had been passed, technologically speaking, by a new generation of American as well as foreign custom bicycle manufacturers. A growing number of US teens and young adults were purchasing imported European sport racing or sport touring bicycles, many fitted with multiple derailleur-shifted gears. Schwinn decided to meet the challenge by developing two lines of sport or road ‘racer’ bicycles.

As you’ll see, there are all kinds of choices in Schwinn road bicycles. There are mountain, hybrid, and cross country bikes, and if you want a low-maintenance bike, you can even get discount ones. They are made in all different styles and have all different features. These mostly 10-speed bikes were introduced in the 1960s to compete with the influx of European racing bikes.

This not only presented Schwinn with a lack of publicity, but also meant that Schwinn did not keep up with the latest innovations in frame geometry, gearing, and other components pioneered by the professional peloton. In conjunction with this, Schwinn, along with other USA-based bike manufacturers, successfully campaigned in 1955 to raise import taxes on foreign bikes. Prior to the 1950s, high street retailers bought non-branded bikes from producers and then put their own branding on them. When our shop re-opens to the public following the coronavirus outbreak, we’ll be happy to discuss options for fit customization, upgrades, and accessories. THE PARTSAs straightforward as the frame is, so too are the parts.