An Introduction to Vintage Bicycles

Article by Dave Muggleston









Although people have been collecting antique bikes–like boneshakers and balloon-tire cruisers–for decades, recently the classic vintage bicycles of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s have been making a comeback, both for their style and usefulness as practical transportation.

When it comes to 1960s muscle bikes, most people remember one name: Schwinn. The Sting-Ray line, with colorful models like the Pea Picker and Orange Krate, is legendary. But there were dozens of other companies producing great bikes that echoed the styling and performance of the muscle cars of the era. Fat back tires, stick shifters (which were later outlawed), “banana” seats with sissy bars, and high-rise handlebars identify these classic American bikes.

But America isn’t the first country that comes to mind when enthusiasts talk about vintage 3-speeds. That honor goes to England, where Raleigh, Hercules, Robin Hood, Rudge and numerous other brands (most of which were eventually absorbed by Raleigh) produced rugged, reliable bikes for decades. English 3-speeds from the 1960s are stylish, dependable and readily available in the USA.

Great Britain didn’t entirely corner the 1960s and 1970s 3-speed market. Schwinn manufactured hundreds of thousands of heavy, colorful cruisers during this era, and due to their bulletproof construction, many of them have survived to this day. And even department-store brands like Huffy and Murray released some classic 3-speeds.

For retro fiends who want to go fast or put together a fixed-gear bike, the best choice in vintage bicycles is a road bike. These relatively lightweight, multi-speed bikes have thin 27-inch wheels, narrow high-pressure tires, curved drop-down handlebars and 10 or more gears. Companies like Fuji, Peugeot, Motobecane and Nishiki, along with scores of competitors, produced fast road bikes with beautiful lugged steel frames well into the 1980s.

With roots in the 1970s and a boom in the 1980s, vintage bmx bikes are hugely popular with riders who were born in the late 1960s and early 1970s. From the modified Schwinn Sting-Rays that burned up the downhill tracks in California in the late ’70s, to the Mongoose that almost every suburban teenage boy in America owned in the early ’80s, to the high-end race bikes from Redline and Hutch, to the freestyle bikes produced by GT and Haro, BMX was huge. It still is, but for the kids who lived it back then, nothing brings back memories like 1980s BMX bikes.

Another popular variation of the vintage bicycle is the folding bike. Although they were made famous in the 1980s by Dahon and their endless informercials, there are plenty of classic folders (and bolt-together “stowaway” bikes) from the 1960s and 1970s. Peugeot and Raleigh both made fantastic high-quality examples. And there were dozens of Russian and eastern-European companies also producing folding bikes during that era.

Last but not least, who can forget the bicycle built for two? Tandem bikes, with two seats, two handlebars and two sets of pedals, have been a popular pastime with enthusiasts for years. And like most vintage bikes, tandems from the 1960s and 1970s, like the classic Schwinn Twinn, are usually stylish and colorful. But they do tend to be heavy!

If you’re planning to buy a vintage bike, or pull your old bike down out of the rafters in the garage, make sure to take it to a local bike shop to have the tires, cables and brake pads replaced (these parts deteriorate with time, regardless of how little use the bike has seen) and get fresh grease in your bearings and light oil on the chain. Once your old bicycle is tuned up, it’ll give you years of stylish, dependable cruising!



About the Author

My quest for vintage bicycles never ends.