Comments on: Dragster bike of 1969 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 08:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Chuck Shotton http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1610442 Chuck Shotton Tue, 18 Dec 2012 02:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1610442 Same, but I had the Yellow/Gold one. "Parking brake" never worked right either. I was kinda ticked about that. Same, but I had the Yellow/Gold one. “Parking brake” never worked right either. I was kinda ticked about that.

]]> By: Stuart Bogue http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1608528 Stuart Bogue Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1608528 We all put our hi rise handlebars as far forward as possible. This gave a desired look ,but most of all,allowed you to stand upright on the pedals and "run" up hills . My brother and I had this style bike from JC Penneys. I had asked for green metal flake,sissy bar and red striped drag slick. My brother did not yet ride,so he had no preference. Come Christmas morning, there were two bikes under the tree. A green metal flake,sans sissy bar and red striped slick. Also a red bike,with sissy bar,red striped tire,crossed checkered flag accent on the seat.I jumped the red bike and was in heaven. Mom got up later and strongly insisted I was on the wrong bike. I won that discussion. I soon tore the sissy bar off and the seat along with it on a tree. I put a very cool leopard print seat (along with a strategically placed Valvoline decal)  from my friends sisters bike and never looked back. And I have loved red since then. We all put our hi rise handlebars as far forward as possible. This gave a desired look ,but most of all,allowed you to stand upright on the pedals and “run” up hills . My brother and I had this style bike from JC Penneys. I had asked for green metal flake,sissy bar and red striped drag slick. My brother did not yet ride,so he had no preference. Come Christmas morning, there were two bikes under the tree. A green metal flake,sans sissy bar and red striped slick. Also a red bike,with sissy bar,red striped tire,crossed checkered flag accent on the seat.I jumped the red bike and was in heaven. Mom got up later and strongly insisted I was on the wrong bike. I won that discussion. I soon tore the sissy bar off and the seat along with it on a tree. I put a very cool leopard print seat (along with a strategically placed Valvoline decal)
 from my friends sisters bike and never looked back. And I have loved red since then.

]]> By: there4im http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1608407 there4im Sat, 15 Dec 2012 06:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1608407 They are COMPLETELY missing the mandatory clothespin and playing cards for the spokes.  Lived it, loved it. They are COMPLETELY missing the mandatory clothespin and playing cards for the spokes.  Lived it, loved it.

]]> By: Jack_Walker http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607597 Jack_Walker Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607597 I converted my first bike to something similar by adding ape hangers and a banana seat. I saved my birthday and Christmas money to buy the bars and seat from Western Auto. I think the year was 1968. I was so cool I could pop-a-wheelie. My older brother was so much cooler though, he added a Briggs and Stratton motor to his bike. I converted my first bike to something similar by adding ape hangers and a banana seat. I saved my birthday and Christmas money to buy the bars and seat from Western Auto. I think the year was 1968. I was so cool I could pop-a-wheelie. My older brother was so much cooler though, he added a Briggs and Stratton motor to his bike.

]]> By: dmc10 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607499 dmc10 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607499 I can't believe no one commented on the obvious MOST important thing that is MISSING... a clothespin and a playing card... duh... (edit: nevermind, someone did, thank goodness, I was getting worried) I can’t believe no one commented on the obvious MOST important thing that is MISSING… a clothespin and a playing card… duh… (edit: nevermind, someone did, thank goodness, I was getting worried)

]]> By: mjfgates http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607121 mjfgates Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607121 If you were riding it fast enough, you'd fly over the handlebars during a crash instead of junking your junk. Safety first! If you were riding it fast enough, you’d fly over the handlebars during a crash instead of junking your junk. Safety first!

]]> By: Joel Wilson http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607063 Joel Wilson Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607063 when "you" crash?  Dude the stick's between your legs. You were probably showing off. when “you” crash?  Dude the stick’s between your legs. You were probably showing off.

]]> By: Joel Wilson http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607062 Joel Wilson Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607062 ++Torsion Spring detail, +Banana seat w/quilted backrest, -bad knee clearance on Pretzel Bars.  Oh! always a critic. ++Torsion Spring detail, +Banana seat w/quilted backrest, -bad knee clearance on Pretzel Bars.  Oh! always a critic.

]]> By: jokerlola http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607043 jokerlola Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607043 Actually there was no "Cherry Picker". There was the Apple Krate, Orange Krate, Pea Picker, Cotton Picker, Lemon Peeler, Grey Ghost and later the Grape Krate! Actually there was no “Cherry Picker”. There was the Apple Krate, Orange Krate, Pea Picker, Cotton Picker, Lemon Peeler, Grey Ghost and later the Grape Krate!

]]> By: Art Fugue http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607015 Art Fugue Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607015 Where's the card between the spokes?  Vroom, vroom. Where’s the card between the spokes? 

Vroom, vroom.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607011 Stefan Jones Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607011  I had a knockoff as well. And it may well have been the Sears model. It didn't have the "sissy bar" or backrest.  I had a knockoff as well. And it may well have been the Sears model.

It didn’t have the “sissy bar” or backrest.

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1607003 jimh Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1607003 I love that story... I love that story…

]]> By: Kimmo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606998 Kimmo Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606998 Because not a single engineer ever came near this thing, let alone in the marketing department. LOL, torsion spring. Although I guess when you think about it, coil springs <i>are</i> twisted when they're extended or compressed... for anything shaped like a helix to deform, it pretty much has to twist a bit, if it's stiff enough. Because not a single engineer ever came near this thing, let alone in the marketing department.

LOL, torsion spring. Although I guess when you think about it, coil springs are twisted when they’re extended or compressed… for anything shaped like a helix to deform, it pretty much has to twist a bit, if it’s stiff enough.

]]> By: Michael Crumpton http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606990 Michael Crumpton Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606990 Ahh I remember these, with the deadly gear shift that crushes your jewels when you crash. Ahh I remember these, with the deadly gear shift that crushes your jewels when you crash.

]]> By: JIMWICh http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606976 JIMWICh Fri, 14 Dec 2012 02:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606976  That's a hand-colored (Photoshop) scan of a Polaroid that I took with my Swinger™.  What a groovy camera that was.  That’s a hand-colored (Photoshop) scan of a Polaroid that I took with my Swinger™.  What a groovy camera that was.

]]> By: JIMWICh http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606974 JIMWICh Fri, 14 Dec 2012 02:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606974 My Orange Krate of yore... My Orange Krate of yore…

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606935 Halloween_Jack Fri, 14 Dec 2012 01:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606935 I would have loved a banana seat bike as a kid, but instead I got a heavy single-speed with front and rear baskets for my paper route. Razzn frazzn Abe Lincoln uphill both ways in the snow... I would have loved a banana seat bike as a kid, but instead I got a heavy single-speed with front and rear baskets for my paper route. Razzn frazzn Abe Lincoln uphill both ways in the snow…

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606934 Halloween_Jack Fri, 14 Dec 2012 01:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606934  At least he wasn't the little castrato, like his buddy.  At least he wasn’t the little castrato, like his buddy.

]]> By: sockdoll http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606859 sockdoll Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606859 Schwinn Orange Krate? Schwinn Orange Krate?

]]> By: Bob Knetzger http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606811 Bob Knetzger Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606811 Why does the call out say '"torsion" spring? Why does the call out say ‘”torsion” spring?

]]> By: Michele aka Latente http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606740 Michele aka Latente Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606740 looks like an Italian Saltafoss http://i.imgur.com/T6MJb.jpg or a modified bike as i see in Merida(MEX) http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-coli/2734829803/ looks like an Italian Saltafoss http://i.imgur.com/T6MJb.jpg

or a modified bike as i see in Merida(MEX) http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-coli/2734829803/

]]> By: Dwight http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606703 Dwight Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606703 That looks just like a Sears Screamer to me. Of course, the one I had, I pulled out of a ravine and it was well rusted. That looks just like a Sears Screamer to me. Of course, the one I had, I pulled out of a ravine and it was well rusted.

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606702 niktemadur Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606702 If you love it so much why don't you marry it? Well somebody had to slip in a Pee Wee reference somewhere in this thread. If you love it so much why don’t you marry it?

Well somebody had to slip in a Pee Wee reference somewhere in this thread.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606684 Boundegar Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606684 Well weren't you just the little Ralph Nader? Well weren’t you just the little Ralph Nader?

]]> By: Editz http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606661 Editz Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606661 Even more bizarre were the Swing bikes that pivoted on the seat tube: http://youtu.be/R5P70XtI4zQ Even more bizarre were the Swing bikes that pivoted on the seat tube:

http://youtu.be/R5P70XtI4zQ

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606650 jimh Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606650 Yup, I had the standard stingray, and a kid down the block had the "console stick shift" arrangement shown here. I always thought they were so cool, and was pretty jealous. Until he ran into a curb and slid forward, breaking the shifters with his balls. Some pretty good photos here: (Of the bikes, not of the accident!) http://schwinnstingray.net/gallery/index.php?imgdir=68 Yup, I had the standard stingray, and a kid down the block had the “console stick shift” arrangement shown here. I always thought they were so cool, and was pretty jealous. Until he ran into a curb and slid forward, breaking the shifters with his balls.

Some pretty good photos here: (Of the bikes, not of the accident!)
http://schwinnstingray.net/gallery/index.php?imgdir=68

]]> By: drkptt http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606644 drkptt Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606644 I had the Sears knock-off when I was a kid.  The front suspension was different, with (iirc) a torsion spring located lower on the fork acting on a link that pivoted on the fork (a short trailing arm).  It looked cool, had almost zero movement.  I found that if I flipped the link over and changed the pivot points it stuck the tire out farther like a chopper and the suspension actually worked.  The problem was it changed the trail so it was very unstable, like trying to push a caster wheel in the wrong direction.  Fixed that with an bicycle inner tube looped around the forks and the seat post--a crude steering damper. I had the Sears knock-off when I was a kid.  The front suspension was different, with (iirc) a torsion spring located lower on the fork acting on a link that pivoted on the fork (a short trailing arm).  It looked cool, had almost zero movement.  I found that if I flipped the link over and changed the pivot points it stuck the tire out farther like a chopper and the suspension actually worked.  The problem was it changed the trail so it was very unstable, like trying to push a caster wheel in the wrong direction.  Fixed that with an bicycle inner tube looped around the forks and the seat post–a crude steering damper.

]]> By: Ambiguity http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606628 Ambiguity Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606628 Do an image search for "Schwinn Cherry Picker" Do an image search for “Schwinn Cherry Picker”

]]> By: Mike Joachim http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606618 Mike Joachim Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606618 I had the Sears knockoff as well - in metallic purple. I had the Sears knockoff as well – in metallic purple.

]]> By: squidfood http://boingboing.net/2012/12/13/dragster-bike-of-1969.html#comment-1606614 squidfood Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=200157#comment-1606614 The high point of my 8-12 year old life was finding a bright orange Raleigh Chopper at a garage sale and cruising the neighborhood ca. 1979...     The high point of my 8-12 year old life was finding a bright orange Raleigh Chopper at a garage sale and cruising the neighborhood ca. 1979…    

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