Motivational Poster Thread (warning content)

Schwinn frames - for the smaller single speeds - were 'electroforged', that is to say - welded.
The frames were also brick shithouse tough. My first bike was a Schwinn frame in that size - a Mongrol my Dad picked up for a couple of bucks. We tore it apart and replaced the bearings, got new tires and I rode it untill I was too big.
Had the banana seat/ape hanger bars been available back then, I could have ridden until I hit HS.

I upgrade to a JC Higgins (Giant brand rebadged) - this had Timken bearings, the only bike I know of that used roller bearings.

Finally, I rode an old, and very used Schwinn Varsity 10 speed for decades.
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Schwinn is long gone and they were from an era where people expected a bike to last damn near a lifetime//or could be used by your children/grandkids.

Today, the Big Box store bikes fall apart after a year or so.....

 

It wasn't just Schwinn at one time we(USA0 made products that would last --not any more I have a 1974 Troy Bilt Tilt horse still going strong -----true Troy Belt Tillers ---gone

 

As a kid in the late 1960s, I had an old Schwinn bike, standard frame, "balloon bomber" tires, single speed. Dad and I repainted it and replaced the bearings at one point. I was all over the neighborhood and even rode about three miles to the old TG&Y Store to buy model kits. Then nearing 16, I got my first motorcycle. Don't know what Dad did with the old bike.