For the first time in over 30 years I bought a brand new bicycle. After years of chasing vintage parts I decided 2017 will be a year focused on actually riding a bike rather than scouring the web for just the right bits. Not saying I'm never going to build a bike again, but for the near future I'll be riding, not building.
I've always loved the Schwinn Sting-Ray (built several since I joined RRB) and when MBBO5 was completed, I started planning a Sting-Ray BMX build. I soon found that to build what I wanted I'd be spending quite a bit, and from riding my other builds, I knew it would be creaky and small. The Sting-Ray does fine around the cul-de-sac or on the boardwalk for leisurely rides, but for some real exercise, not so much. I opened my mind a little bit to bikes other than vintage USA-built and after some research decided to get a modern BMX bike. I want something that really gets my legs pumping, and helps me maintain what balance and coordination I have left. I'm fine with having to stand throughout the ride, and I'm really not into derailleurs and lycra.
Here in northern Virginia, road bikes are king, followed by mountain/hybrid style bikes. Most shops only carry one or two "children's" 20" bikes, but I did find one shop that catered a bit more to the BMX crowd. I thought I'd try a 24" cruiser, but they felt too big. Figured if I'm going to go bigger than 20" I should go all the way. I tried on a few 20" bikes and was really diggin' them when the sales guy pointed out this bike hanging from the ceiling (which I hadn't seen). It was love at first sight:
She's a 2016 Sunday Broadcaster, 20.75" TT, full chromoly frame and fork, chromoly bars, aluminum double-walled rims, sealed hubs and BB, and 2.4" tires front and rear. Most importantly, she's "Slimer Green," which is practically an exact match for my favorite Schwinn color, Campus Green. Here she is next to my wife's Campus Green '68 Slik Chik...
Once the weather gets a little warmer, I intend on starting out just learning how to ride and control this bike before I start working on some basic tricks. I'm a bit too old and brittle for some of the crazy stunts kids are performing today, but I definitely want to work my way up to some park riding eventually. Riding in a bowl looks like a heckuva lot of fun, but I've got to build some confidence and somewhat respectable skills before I give it a try.
I'm sure I'll personalize this bike to my liking, and maybe it'll be a scruffy rat someday after a lot of hard use. Love this forum a bunch - it's run well, the folks are great and the talent is astonishing. I'll probably end up building something again down the road, but this year I'm going to use it while I have it, if you know what I mean.
furyus
I've always loved the Schwinn Sting-Ray (built several since I joined RRB) and when MBBO5 was completed, I started planning a Sting-Ray BMX build. I soon found that to build what I wanted I'd be spending quite a bit, and from riding my other builds, I knew it would be creaky and small. The Sting-Ray does fine around the cul-de-sac or on the boardwalk for leisurely rides, but for some real exercise, not so much. I opened my mind a little bit to bikes other than vintage USA-built and after some research decided to get a modern BMX bike. I want something that really gets my legs pumping, and helps me maintain what balance and coordination I have left. I'm fine with having to stand throughout the ride, and I'm really not into derailleurs and lycra.
Here in northern Virginia, road bikes are king, followed by mountain/hybrid style bikes. Most shops only carry one or two "children's" 20" bikes, but I did find one shop that catered a bit more to the BMX crowd. I thought I'd try a 24" cruiser, but they felt too big. Figured if I'm going to go bigger than 20" I should go all the way. I tried on a few 20" bikes and was really diggin' them when the sales guy pointed out this bike hanging from the ceiling (which I hadn't seen). It was love at first sight:
She's a 2016 Sunday Broadcaster, 20.75" TT, full chromoly frame and fork, chromoly bars, aluminum double-walled rims, sealed hubs and BB, and 2.4" tires front and rear. Most importantly, she's "Slimer Green," which is practically an exact match for my favorite Schwinn color, Campus Green. Here she is next to my wife's Campus Green '68 Slik Chik...
Once the weather gets a little warmer, I intend on starting out just learning how to ride and control this bike before I start working on some basic tricks. I'm a bit too old and brittle for some of the crazy stunts kids are performing today, but I definitely want to work my way up to some park riding eventually. Riding in a bowl looks like a heckuva lot of fun, but I've got to build some confidence and somewhat respectable skills before I give it a try.
I'm sure I'll personalize this bike to my liking, and maybe it'll be a scruffy rat someday after a lot of hard use. Love this forum a bunch - it's run well, the folks are great and the talent is astonishing. I'll probably end up building something again down the road, but this year I'm going to use it while I have it, if you know what I mean.
furyus
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