Alternatively, if you are looking for a used Schwinn bike, there are plenty of vintage and used Schwinn bikes that may delight you. Since workers built the company’s first bike in 1895, you can even find antique Schwinn bicycles on eBay. In the United States, however, bike companies had to find bike buyers outside the mass market dominated by bikes made in Asia. American and European makers geared their bikes for competitive riders, such as triathletes and other road racers.
The Paramount series had limited production numbers, making vintage examples quite rare today. Other road bikes were introduced by Schwinn in the early and mid 1960s, such as the Superior, Sierra, and Super Continental, but these were only produced for a few years. The Varsity and Continental sold in large numbers through the 1960s and early 1970s, becoming Scwhinn’s leading models.
In addition to its range of bikes, Schwinn also supplies cycling accessories including helmets, pumps, lights, and storage. Ignaz Schwinn was born in Hardheim, Baden, Germany, in 1860 and worked on two-wheeled ancestors of the modern bicycle that appeared in 19th century Europe. In 1895, with the financial backing of fellow German American Adolph Frederick William Arnold (a meat packer), he founded Arnold, Schwinn & Company. Schwinn’s new company coincided with a sudden bicycle craze in America. Chicago became the center of the American bicycle industry, with thirty factories turning out thousands of bikes every day.
A nod to the present is its eight-speed grip-shifter, an upgrade from the five-speed lever-shifter on the original. However, one member of the Schwinn family remained at the helm of a U.S. bike company. Richard Schwinn ran Waterford Precision Cycles out of the same plant in southeastern Wisconsin previously owned by his family. Products like bike helmets and safety gear are must-haves for each and every member of your family, as they protect your body from potential injury.
Another problem was Schwinn’s failure to design and market its bicycles to specific, identifiable buyers, especially the growing number of cyclists interested in road racing or touring. Instead, most Schwinn derailleur bikes were marketed to the general leisure market, equipped with heavy “old timer” accessories such as kickstands that cycling aficionados had long since abandoned. While the Paramount still sold in limited numbers to this market, the model’s customer base began to age, changing from primarily bike racers to older, wealthier riders looking for the ultimate bicycle. Schwinn sold an impressive 1.5 million bicycles in 1974, but would pay the price for failing to keep up with new developments in bicycle technology and buying trends. All Schwinn AC indoor bikes come standard with Double Link pedals with SPD and toe-clip combinations to accommodate both cycling cleats and regular athletic shoes.
The range is comprehensive and covers all styles of bike for the leisure and casual cyclist. Our kids’ bike size chart will help you determine the correct size bicycle that your child needs. The affordable, indoor cardio solution designed to keep you active. Go faster than last year (and the year before that!) with one of our zippy electric bikes.
E-bikes put extra power behind every pedal so you can ride further, faster, and over steeper hills on your journey to health and happiness. It also has an impressive 25 levels of resistance, which according to customer reviews is whisper-quiet, 29 built-in workout programs, and a 300-pound weight capacity. We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission. Spoke Life Cycles focuses on Schwinn Cruisers because they are second to none in style and performance. Schwinn said he didn’t shutter his company because demand for high-quality craftsmanship has dried up.
This range has more of a focus on speed than the cruiser or bike path range, with flat handlebars and a more fitness-orientated riding position. For many people the Schwinn brand is one that is steeped in nostalgia. One of its most famous models – the kid’s Sting-Ray bike – was the bike that every child wanted to own in the late 1960s. Its iconic ape-hanger handlebars and banana seat were copied by many other manufacturers after they saw Schwinn’s success. In the 1950s, Schwinn began to aggressively cultivate bicycle retailers, persuading them to sell Schwinns as their predominant, if not exclusive brand. During this period, bicycle sales enjoyed relatively slow growth, with the bulk of sales going to youth models.
And with so many great options to choose from, it can be difficult to name the best exercise bike from Schwinn because, as always, it’s going to depend on a few things. With over 100 years of cycling history, Schwinn is one of America’s oldest brands of bike. Today’s range features affordable, good quality bikes for the casual rider, the commuter and the fitness enthusiast.
Do you want a bike that they can simply ride up and down the street or around the park? Time for your child’s very first bike, or maybe something new schwinn bicycles in a larger size? Starting in 2005, Schwinn also marketed Motorscooters under the Schwinn Motorsports brand.[69] Production ceased in (approx).