A Nod to the Man Who Changed It All [History of the Schwinn Sting Ray (bicycle): 1963-]

“BTW, I happen to own and regularly ride a ‘66 Schwinn Stingray that I bought a little over a year ago.”
____________________________________________

Nice!

I’m still recovering from my bike being stolen very early this year. My beloved had it up on the wall in our carport. The bike was up about 7 feet (the bottom of the wheels!) and someone stole it.

How were they able to do so? My beloved didn’t have a lock on the bike because he figured it was high enough off the ground to be a problem for bike thieves. Sigh.

His bike was lower to the ground and was locked. Naturally, they left his and took mine. Still a touchy point of discussion in our household. LOL He’s still looking for a replacement bike for me. The bike I mean, not me. LOLOL

161 posted on 11/19/2018 9:51:25 AM PST by Notthereyet (NotThereYet)

Now that you mention it, I DO remember the Alamo.

162 posted on 11/19/2018 9:52:16 AM PST by Defiant (I may be deplorable, but I'm not getting in that basket.)

You people are all mocking my pain.

163 posted on 11/19/2018 9:53:12 AM PST by Defiant (I may be deplorable, but I'm not getting in that basket.)

That type of front-end is called a girder.

Maybe, but it's far more commonly known as a "Springer Fork".

164 posted on 11/19/2018 9:54:38 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)

165 posted on 11/19/2018 9:57:55 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)

This is a springer:

This is a girder:

166 posted on 11/19/2018 10:29:02 AM PST by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)

Thanks. I believe you. I'm just saying the type of fork on the Schwinn Krates is typically called a "Springer". Doesn't mean it's correct. That other fork you referred to I'm not too familiar with, though I've definitely seen it around, on eBay, etc.

167 posted on 11/19/2018 11:10:55 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)

My first was a 5 speed in 1972. That shift lever hurt like hell jumping ramps and landing wrong!!!

168 posted on 11/19/2018 11:19:25 AM PST by shotgun

The pix I posted were from the custom motorcycle world. The springer has all of the action down at the wheel. The girder causes the whole bike to flex at the neck area.

I almost got killed with one going airborn over a small hill way too fast. I remember how the entire bike flexed a few times at the neck when I landed. There is a God.

169 posted on 11/19/2018 11:26:22 AM PST by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)

170 posted on 11/19/2018 11:32:00 AM PST by Daffynition (Rudy: What are you up to today? :))

171 posted on 11/19/2018 11:32:53 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)

172 posted on 11/19/2018 11:34:09 AM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)

yes - that one is a springer ...

173 posted on 11/19/2018 11:35:03 AM PST by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)

Albert Fritz

Albert John Fritz (October 8, 1924 – May 7, 2013) was a vice president at the Schwinn Bicycle Company and is credited with creating the Schwinn Sting-Ray, which started the wheelie bike craze.[1][2]

Mr. Fritz was born in Chicago on October 8, 1924, and died on May 7, 2013, in Barrington, Illinois.

He graduated from the 8th grade and then studied stenography.

He joined the US Army and was on Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s staff when he was wounded in the Philippines.

He was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the first advance team to land in the Philippines.[citation needed]

He joined Schwinn in 1945 and worked initially as a grinder and a welder.

He was vice president for engineering, research and development in 1962 when he launched the Sting-Ray.

He retired from Schwinn in 1985 as head of Excelsior, Schwinn’s exercise division.

He was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame in 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Fritz
_______________________________________

From the usually slimey New York Times...

Al Fritz, Who Put Youngsters on Stylish, Colorful Bikes, Dies at 88

By Daniel E. Slotnik
May 10, 2013

Al Fritz created stylish roadsters that were yearned for by young hot-rodders in the 1960s and ’70s. But his rolled on two wheels, not four.

Mr. Fritz, who died on May 7 at 88 in Barrington, Ill., created the Sting-Ray, the rugged, compact bicycle that Schwinn sold in the millions beginning in the early 1960s. The model, instantly recognizable by its banana seat and handlebars as high and curved as longhorns, found its initial market in young baby boomers at a time when motorcycles and souped-up vehicles of all kinds were the postwar rage.

Mr. Fritz was Schwinn’s vice president for engineering, research and development in 1962 when he flew to Southern California to investigate a new fad: children were buying used 20-inch bicycle frames and refitting them with long handlebars and banana seats. Recognizing the design’s mass-market potential, he built a prototype and came up with the name Sting-Ray because the curved handlebars reminded him of the upswept pectoral fins of a swimming stingray. ...”