The Chainlink

The Bikes of Our Youth - Stingrays, Banana Seats, Huffy Bikes, and Riding Your Bike Everywhere

This is me with my brother and my beloved Huffy in the 70s. 

I loved to ride that bike as much as I could. I didn't take it to school but I rode it everywhere else - the pool, 7-Eleven to buy treats, to the park, out with friends, to the video arcade - everywhere. As a kid, it was freedom. I fell in love with the wind in my face and the rustle of the trees overhead. It still brings me back. 

This Wisconsin Bike Fed article talks about those days and compares the obesity rates:

  • 50% of kids walked or biked to school in 1969 compared to 12% today
  • 4% of kids were overweight in the 60s compared to 16% today with a dangerous increase in childhood diabetes

http://wisconsinbikefed.org/2015/01/16/remember-when-kids-rode-stin...

Kids tend to be stuck on their phones, at home in front of the tv or computer, and they aren't outside as much doing fun things like riding their bikes or playing baseball. It's a shame. Some of my happiest memories of being a kid involved riding my bike or skating.

Did you have those happy memories? Please share your pictures of you with your bike as a kid and your happy memories. Did you get into biking as a kid?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 19, 2016 at 10:01am
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 19, 2016 at 12:41pm

Aww, so cute. :-)

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on February 19, 2016 at 1:25pm

I loved my Huffy BMX bike!  I would have killed for a Mongoose, that was the hippest bike in town.  I think this training wheel-hampered bike was a Schwinn, or maybe a Raleigh, 2500 block of Fairfield, 1979. 

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 19, 2016 at 1:30pm

awesome pic! 

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 19, 2016 at 1:50pm

I like the red. Those pants tho... The yellow bike is a banana bike with a banana seat. ;-)

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on February 19, 2016 at 1:51pm

It was a magical era as far as fashion goes!  Beautiful bike indeed.

Permalink Reply by Zachary Corn on February 19, 2016 at 3:41pm

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 19, 2016 at 3:46pm

So happy. :-) 

Permalink Reply by Zachary Corn on February 19, 2016 at 3:50pm

Pretty sure it was the day I learned how to ride without training wheels. 

Permalink Reply by David Barish on February 19, 2016 at 3:56pm

I have searched and  can find no pictures. I had a Red Schwinn Stingray with a Sissie bar that I added. When I got older I craved a 10 speed bike  so my horizons would push farther but I really wish I still had that Stingray, or at least a picture. There were a few Stingrays in our neighborhood. The cool kids had the Apple Krates.

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