In a message dated 5/6/2003 9:00:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, sachs@erols.com
writes:
>
> Sam FitzSimmons 1960 Schwinn Continental with slapper front and telescopic
> rear trumped Larry Black's '76 Schwinn Varsity.
> Last year (?) Wayne Bingham brought one of his immaculate Raleigh tourist
> bikes.
> This year, I brought (and rode) my ~1965
With all due respect for Harvey's recollectionand esteemed historical sense of B bikes, (the truly experienced scavenger that lurks in him is evident at times) I was at one time to Schwinns as he was to Sears (Roebuck was around at that time and so was Montgomery for that matter) I bought a new Varsity in '61 for $66.95 (snooty rich kids got the Conti for $74.95, slightly higher in the West and South!) The example I had had a cable-less (I like the word 'slapper' Harvey coined) front mech, like the Conti of Sam's. Mine was soold it had 26" wheels. I purchased it from the former owner, who cast it off to buy a used SchwinnBalloon bike that he converted to a 'klunker' to ride down Mt Tam.
Know who this aging co-claimant to Mtn bike invention might be?
The bike is way specialt to a few but gets many a poopoo by many around here. I paid full liust price, too. $about$65.00 a few years ago.
Larry Black
Mt airy, Md