Green Schwinn Bikes... Superior and Traveler

 Nothing new or earth-shattering to report this week... sometimes "no news is good news". I've gone on a few rides this week. The weather is warm and has stayed dry, which is a contrast from the rainy weather we had previously experienced. 

 

I had my 1949/50 Schwinn Superior out. The new tires help the ride quite a bit. The wheels also needed some truing, which is a common need after returning to the road from several months of sitting. These early post-war Superior bikes are uncommon. I have a registry of them, and only a few examples have turned up in several years of looking. I guess they didn't sell very well...

 

 

These bikes have a true hybrid of American and English style on them: the white rear fender tip of the English combined with the more pronounced graphics and front fender stripe of American style. 

 

This particular bike has a nominal 21-inch frame, though in reality it is closer to 22 inches. It seems that these post-war frames ran a little larger than their stated size in the catalogues. That's fine with me because I find a 22-inch frame on 26-inch wheels comfortable, though perhaps at the low end of what I prefer. I find a 21-inch frame on 26-inch wheels just a touch too small...

 

Sometimes I see bikes being ridden that are obviously way too small for the rider. You can tell these bikes because the seat posts are set too high (like a saddle atop a flagpole) and the handlebars are tilted skyward. Each rider has a range of sizes he or she can ride comfortably. Sometimes you have one bike that is a little smaller and one a little larger, but they both fit comfortably and ride fine. That is perfectly OK. But don't try to ride a bike that is many inches too small, such that there is more seat post than there is frame. Like a good pair a shoes or a set of good golf clubs, a little smaller or a little larger may work just fine, but if it's many sizes too small or large, it's asking for trouble... 

 

 

Another bike out this week for a couple rides: my 1957 Schwinn Traveler. This is another green bike, albeit a different shade of green (Radiant Green). This bike nominally has a 23-inch frame, though the frame is actually closer to 24 inches, on top of 26-inch wheels. I find this size quite comfortable. It's closer to the high end of what I can comfortably ride. 

 

 

The Schwinn Traveler (1951-66) is one of my favorite bike models. It represents the British three-speed style with a uniquely American interpretation. The bikes capture a nice mix of British practicality and American post-war style. I currently own 4 of these bikes ('57, '59, '60, and '64). I like this model so much, I bought it four times... All of them are refurbished, on the road, and running nicely.

 

 

If I had one gripe about the Traveler, it's that the bikes tend to be quite heavy, and they use a somewhat obsolete tire size (only Kenda brand tires are available new in this size in the US right now). But they ride wonderfully and capture a nice blend of British and American influences.

 Hopefully the good weather continues. I look forward to more ride time, whenever I can squeeze it in.