I like Ted's explanation of the period bikes and terminology for Balloon, Middleweight and Lightweight. Although I have not been around as long as Ted nor do I have the experience. I did collect quite a bit of different bicycles in my day and got quite familiar with several types. The so called lightweight with 1-1/4 or 1-3/8 tire sized drop handle bikes in my neck of the woods were called 10 speed bikes no matter what speeds combo they had. These we not lightweights, they were coaster brake bikes that were fitted with a heavy rear derailleur that hooked around the axle as there were no hangers. They were popular but not lightweights. Anyone who ever picked up a Schwinn Varsity, Collegiate knows what I mean. Three speed internal geared bikes were called English Racers no matter where they were made. You could call 1.75 or 1-3/4 Schwinn proprietary tire sizes middleweights till the muscle bikes came along. They used these same widths on a 20 inch rim. Prior to the muscle bike you could also say that a 2.125 was a balloon bike.
Back in the 60s when I really started riding, the bike name was not important to me. I just wanted to ride. I know my friend had a nice Schwinn Collegiate 5 speed that ran great. I rode anything and everything that I could get my hands on (not much has changed there). I do remember saving up in the late 60s to buy a 10 speed. Got up around $250 and went to my LBS to look around. To this day I cannot tell you what I bought but I know it was French, a ten speed with plastic fenders. The bike was light comparatively and ran great. I was kind of rough on bikes in those days so it did not last long. One quick ride in the park where a small branch somehow got between my spokes ended my relationship with the plastic fenders. I did not fall but the fenders shattered and its bits flew like pop corn as I recall. Then not long afterwards I was trying to impress some girls with my riding abilities. I chose a baseball diamond to do this. I rode the bases as fast as I could skidding round each one and kicking up a lot of dust. Upon rounding third and heading home I turned the bike sideways to skid into home plate and the rear wheel caught a divot in front of the plate and threw me and the bike into the chain link backstop. That ended the relationship between me and my French bike. The front wheel, fork and frame no longer met the manufacturerÂ’s specifications and I walked her home that day.
Well enough of memory lane, I just enjoy thinking about my old biking days. Maybe someday I will tell the story on how I separated the headtube from the rest of the frame on another stunt ride.
Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ