My Bicycle

[The Golden Boy]

Sometime over summer, my wife and I picked up riding bikes as a little hobby- just to get out and get some blood moving- and a few months later and I'm a total geek about it. I don't know much about biking. But I know I like my bike- I love the look and the attitude about it. It's a 1987 Schwinn High Sierra. It's a cool "Black Chrome" finish- right now it's got sorta knobby tires on it, but this weekend I'm planning on getting some slick-y Panaracer tires on there- seeing as how most of the riding we're doing is on the paved bike trails around here.

I've had to replace the rear wheel and the chain- and I did the freewheel while I was at it... I've had the bike for the past 18 years and it rides nicer than I ever remember it riding.

It's really easy to get carried away with this sort of thing.

I wish there was a way to get that bronze-y black chrome finish to show right...

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[sodapopinski]

cool bike, but i was secretly hoping it would have a basket and streamers :(

[Urban Spaceman]

I got given a Trek 6700 mountain bike a couple of years ago and in fair weather I would tootle a few miles once or twice a week.
On New years day I pulled the tendons in my shoulder whilst bench pressing in the gym so by Spring I was putting on weight through inactivity.To try to get back to a reasonable level of fitness I started doing 5 to ten miles a day on the bike.

I soon started to really get into this and I started going further and further, like 25 -36 mile trecks. In August I decided to attempt a 62 mile trip and mapped out a route that would minimise the use of busy roads however I had to pass through one city and two largish towns.

Six and a half hours later I arrived triumphant at my destination in the English lakes, a little sore but still able to sink a couple of pints while waiting for International rescue (the wife) to pick me up. Not bad for a 56 year old.

Lately however I have develped "cyclist syndrome" in that I have enflamed the old water works area and keep needing to pee and have a tingling sensation at the end of my todger.

It is great exercise and you do get to see things that would pass you by in a flash travelling by car plus if you use the bike for domestic journeys you can save the planet by inhaling all the fumes from the traffic.

It beats goat wrestling or fish chasing any day.

[rob2001]

That's a fine bike!! My bro-in-law has a pretty expensive Trek and while it's also a fine bike, I could never justify spending the coin he did, I only ride once in a while. Shame, the new bike trail borders my property. They did the "Rails to Trails" thing and they are most exellent surfaces. I think you can go from West Bend to Cambellsport and beyond.

I've always been a Schwinn guy myself. Back in the early 70's I had custom Stingray choppers and Crate bikes. Two of mine were at a custom auto show at the Milwaukee Arena and I won 2nd place with one. My buddy's Dad was a custom auto painter and we did some pretty cool stuff with those bikes.

A few years ago I figured i'd re-live some childhood memories and I built another chopper....just a simple 20" Stingray. I spent months getting parts together from Ebay, had it painted, and put it together.....it was beautiful...springer front end and tall sissy bar, 5 speed ball shifter.......most awesome.

Then I rode it around the driveway and quickly realized I was no longer an 80 lb. kid capable of riding wheelies around town and it sucked to ride! $600.00 later and I have a killer looking bike that sucks! I sold it, broke even and bought myself an older schwinn 10 speed and i'm happy for as much as I ride.

Enjoy your bike!!:aok

[Peppy]

Had the same bicycle. Fit me perfectly. Stolen one week before I moved out of the white ghetto. Haven't owned a bicycle now for nearly 18 years.

[The Golden Boy]

Shame, the new bike trail borders my property. They did the "Rails to Trails" thing and they are most exellent surfaces. I think you can go from West Bend to Cambellsport and beyond.


I grew up a couple of blocks off the RR tracks in the WB. So it's kind of goofy to go back and see them paved over. We're probably going to try to get up that way in the next 2 weeks and take that trail from Jackson-ish up nort.

The trails I frequent go from Greenfield to Waukesha, Waukesha to SW Waukesha, and out to Wales. That trail actually goes out to Cottage Grove- pretty much just shy of Madison. So really you can leave Greenfield Park and with the exception of about a mile through Waukesha, you're only on bike trail (and not streets or roads) for something like 52 miles.

[The Golden Boy]

cool bike, but i was secretly hoping it would have a basket and streamers :(

You know, I could totally try to trick out our daughter's old Huffy "Fashion Craze" bike. It's white and pink. With pink tires. And purple streamers. And purple rims.

[The Golden Boy]

Had the same bicycle. Fit me perfectly. Stolen one week before I moved out of the white ghetto. Haven't owned a bicycle now for nearly 18 years.

Wait... I've had mine for 18 years...

[rob2001]

I grew up a couple of blocks off the RR tracks in the WB. So it's kind of goofy to go back and see them paved over. We're probably going to try to get up that way in the next 2 weeks and take that trail from Jackson-ish up nort.

The trails I frequent go from Greenfield to Waukesha, Waukesha to SW Waukesha, and out to Wales. That trail actually goes out to Cottage Grove- pretty much just shy of Madison. So really you can leave Greenfield Park and with the exception of about a mile through Waukesha, you're only on bike trail (and not streets or roads) for something like 52 miles.


Yep, they are all paved in town. Out this way it's all traffic bond. I didn't think it would be that popular but on a nice day there are loads of cyclists on the trail.

[Peppy]

Wait... I've had mine for 18 years...

Yeah, noticed that afterwards.

[The Golden Boy]

Yep, they are all paved in town. Out this way it's all traffic bond. I didn't think it would be that popular but on a nice day there are loads of cyclists on the trail.

We'll ride at different times on the weekends, and it's funny how many people you see and recognize. And it's really interesting how most everyone says hi or smiles, waves or nods. It's very much of a welcoming "community" even if you're not a part of it. I don't ever see myself ever considering a spandex cycling suit. You see the people who mean business and the people that are out for a stroll and I'd guess a good 85% of the people say hi or wave.

[Zelmo]

Raise your saddle up!

[66fs]

Those roller cam brakes are classic. They would be worth more than the whole bike to a collector.

[The Golden Boy]

Raise your saddle up!

I wouldn't be able to touch the pedals!!!

[fuzzbird]

I had that exact same bike when I was a kid. I loved it.
i cant believe you posted this!
same color and everything...when "black-chrome" was a brand new thing.
awesome.

[EightySix]

As long as you don't wear the dorky bicycle spandex 'gear', more power to you.

[Zelmo]

I wouldn't be able to touch the pedals!!!
Not necessary! Just go downhill! :banana

[PUCKBOY99]

Nice bike but LOVE that bitchin' kickstand !!!!! :D

[aeolian]

Cool, vintage steel. If you're going to be riding on pavement, seriously check out a real road bike. Even an entry level one. I had put slicks on my Klein MTB and thought it was great until I tried a $300 Schwinn road bike.

Now I have a LeMond steel. After joining a bike club, I noticed most of the serious recreational folks (the ones that ride 100+ miles a week but aren't into racing) were on steel. I'm not going to be doing 40-60 mile rides at 25+ mph, but at 18 or so, this thing just eats up the miles in comfort.

Still have the Klein hardtail for those days when I want to have 2 hours of exhaustion followed by 15 minutes of terror (everything around here is straight up and down).