When they failed to find what they wanted at Schwinn, they went elsewhere. While the Paramount still sold in limited numbers to this market, the model’s customer base began to age, changing from primarily bike racers to older, wealthier riders looking for the ultimate bicycle. Schwinn sold an impressive 1.5 million bicycles in 1974, but would pay the price for failing to keep up with new developments in bicycle technology and buying trends. It was then that the company began to lose touch with the fast changing market, especially market innovations that came from California. Frank W. Schwinn died in 1963 at a time when the iconic Sting-Ray was under design. Frankie V., Frank W.’s son, took over the company and though he didn’t like the Sting-Ray, there was little he could do about it.
These bikes have a much simpler mechanical design with some versions having just a single-speed drivetrain and they are incredibly durable which makes them very easy to maintain. With so many different types of bikes to choose from, it’s difficult to figure out the best one for you. Learn about the basic bike styles to see which one matches your style. Direct Focus, Inc., a marketing company for fitness and healthy lifestyle products, acquired the assets of Schwinn/GT’s fitness equipment division.
With this partnership, Schwinn increased their bicycle sales to 500,000 per year by 1985. Schwinn’s annual sales soon neared the million mark, and the company turned a profit in the late 1980s. However, after huffy mountain bike unsuccessfully attempting to purchase a minority share in Giant Bicycles, Edward Schwinn Jr. negotiated a separate deal with the China Bicycle Co. to produce bicycles to be sold under the Schwinn brand.
He partnered with Adolph Frederick William Arnold and together they started their Chicago-based Arnold, Schwinn & Company bike company. The Schwinn Bicycle company is the equivalent of a classic Cadillac in the bike world, they are just iconic. The resurgence in cycling fits perfectly into Schwinn’s strategy of leveraging its storied legacy. “We want to use our heritage to bring us to the forefront of the industry,” he explained.
The share of the United States market taken by foreign-made bicycles dropped to 28.5% of the market, and remained under 30% through 1964. Despite the increased tariff, the only structural change in foreign imports during this period was a temporary decline in bicycles imported from Great Britain in favor of lower-priced models from the Netherlands and Germany. In 1946, imports of foreign-made bicycles had increased tenfold over the previous year, to 46,840 bicycles; of that total, 95 per cent were from Great Britain. Imports of foreign-made “English racers”, sports roadsters, and recreational bicycles steadily increased through the early 1950s.
It’s amazing how much people struggle through the issues of color and styling. Our feeling is that if you like the ride, the color, no matter what it is, gets prettier with every pleasurable mile. Handling is also tied to fit, so it’s important that we settle on the right fit before we tune the ride qualities. If you look at the Waterford web site, you’ll see all sorts of models – Road Race, Stage Race, Road Sport and so on. Four years ago, Reynolds introduced a new high performance stainless steel alloy- 953.
We’ve recently added disc brake cross and commuter designs which offer great tire clearance and wet weather braking. Along with the inescapable masculinity of this operation, there was also an intensity and pressure that came with maintaining an impossibly high standard of quality. Schwinn bikes were pricier than a lot of the other brands on the market, but “German engineering” was a popular selling point then as it is today, and that reputation was vital to the business. A Schwinn wasn’t a Schwinn until Mr. Schwinn said it was a Schwinn. Models for Mountain Bikes in the Schwinn catalog include 5 models with their subsequent customizations and off-shots.
By 2002, Waterford added TIG-welded designs to its regular line-up. From streamlined Aerocycles and classic Phantoms to Varsity eight-speeds and Sting Ray Krates, vintage are popular with collectors. In addition to the fond memories called up by these beautiful bicycles, enthusiasts praise their quality workmanship and enduring value.