Waterford bicycle factory closes So, too, does another chapter in Schwinn history

By 1979, even the Paramount had been passed, technologically speaking, by a new generation of American as well as foreign custom bicycle manufacturers. By the late 1970s, a new bicycle sport begun by enthusiasts in Northern California had schwinn mountain bicycles grown into a new type of all-terrain bicycle, the mountain bike. Mountain bikes were originally based on Schwinn balloon-tired cruiser bicycles fitted with derailleur gears and called “Klunkers”. A few participants began designing and building small numbers of mountain bikes with frames made out of modern butted chrome-molybdenum alloy steel. Using the standard electro-forged cantilever frame, and fitted with five-speed derailleur gears and knobby tires, the Klunker 5 was never heavily marketed, and was not even listed in the Schwinn product catalog. Unlike its progenitors, the Klunker proved incapable of withstanding hard off-road use, and after an unsuccessful attempt to reintroduce the model as the Spitfire 5, it was dropped from production.

“Even if we built every bicycle in this country, you would probably build them with less than 10,000 people. And that’s not nearly as strategic as the automobile industry, which employs half a million people,” Schwinn said. Richard Schwinn said bicycle manufacturing isn’t and has never been a large enough industry in the U.S. to warrant government protection or subsidies like the automobile industry. Out of the Schwinn bankruptcy in the 1990s, Richard Schwinn and business partner Marc Muller emerged with the factory in Waterford but not the legal right to do business under the Schwinn name. I could not get up this mountain (hill) even with a triple chainring up front.

The more you know about the bike and its condition, the better your estimate of its value will be. In the 1980s, Waterford Precision started building cyclocross bikes. They are similar to the gravel bikes popular today, which also handle well on a range of surfaces. The original factory in Chicago that once employed as many as 2,000 people is long gone. The Schwinn brand is now owned by a Dutch conglomerate that manufactures bikes overseas and sells them to big box stores such as Target and Walmart. For more than 130 years, the Schwinn name has been synonymous with bicycles.

I sometimes wonder where I would be today if she had just asked to go out for a cheeseburger, beer and a couple cigarettes. We’ve got a wide selection of bike sizes and styles, including electric, schwinn mountain bicycles to fit a wide variety of riders. Zip between classes and haul your stuff with ease on a hybrid.

Front and rear mechanical disc brakes deliver all-weather stopping power and speed control so you can ride with confidence in a variety of conditions. Forty-five pounds lighter I started working at bike shops and raced every race I could find. It’s been 33-years since the car ride and proposition that altered my mongoose excursion life.

Full-suspension bikes, equipped with both front and rear suspension, offer optimal comfort, control, and traction on rough terrain. These bikes absorb impacts from rocks, roots, and bumps, providing a smoother ride, especially on technical single track trails. ElectricElectric mountain bikes are hardtail mountain bikes with pedal assist motors and throttle. While it’s probably not a great idea to use these on the most rough-and-tumble terrain, they do great on most trails and paths. And thanks to the electric motor, you ride the trails without worrying so much about long distances or steep hills. A couple great examples of this style would be the Healy Ridge and Ridgewood.

That’s a good thing since an upright position is key for off-road handling and maintaining a more central center of gravity. Conquer tough trails with the Schwinn Ider Dual Suspension Mountain Bike. The Ider features a Schwinn aluminum dual suspension frame and Schwinn suspension fork to soak up all the bumps on your next trail ride. The Shimano 21-speed EZ Fire shifters with Shimano front and rear derailleurs offer quick, precise gear changes so you can easily adapt to your terrain. Front and rear mechanical disc brakes deliver superior stopping power in all conditions.

Chicago became the center of the American bicycle industry, with thirty factories turning out thousands of bikes every day. Bicycle output in the United States grew to over a million units per year by the turn of the 20th century. But what eventually drove Schwinn into the turmoil that led the company to file for Chapter 11 in 1992 was it’s inability to cope with management and quality problems, as well as some unsuccessful investments. Basically, the company had to choose in where to produce bicycles at a more competitive prices. The Schwinns decided to turn to Taiwan and China, but even though suppliers like Tony Lo’s Giant Manufacturing (photo) made high quality products, unlucky sourcing desisions led to supply shortage, angry retailers and receding customers. Edward Schwinn, CEO, just wasn’t as passionate about bicycles as his ancestors were.

It was black with silver splatter paint and yellow logos. Last time I rode a bike it had skinny road tires and brakes that needed 100 yards to come to a stop. This bike seemed like it was ready to take on any trail or obstacle. As I pondered being out in the woods in my birthday suit, I saw wheels…Two of them in a store window. At that point I asked the budding photographer to pull over into the parking lot of the local Schwinn shop. Back in those days most towns had a local Schwinn shop.

Everything after that comes from the power in the rider’s legs.These bikes are allowed wherever bikes are permitted. Get up to 50% off mountain bikes, cruisers, and more while supplies last. Do your research, both online and at local bike shops, to get the very best deal on vintage bikes or to restore your Schwinn to its original condition. Although shopping online for a vintage Schwinn may net results, you may have better luck if you look at local shopping resources. Bicycle stores and repair shops often carry used or vintage bikes, and they may have some beautiful Schwinn models available.