Bikes of America (and Canada!)

Whatever role the Schwinn Varsity played for you, it is probably the most important bicycle ever made in America.

Manufactured in vast quantities using Schwinn’s electro-forging process, the Varsity was the bicycle world’s VW Beetle. It was cheap, durable, and it got American adults riding. Made to a budget, there was little of any lightweight equipment or materials.

That’s a lot of steel.

This particular Varsity is sporting “Chestnut” paint (lime green and yellow being the other choices) and is outfitted with a host of “Schwinn Approved” components. Schwinn primarily approved of thick steel construction and chrome plating the hell out of everything in 1975, the end result being a bike that tips our scale at a robust 42 pounds.
 
1971 chrome plated Schwinn Paramount
 

Attachments

  • 1971-Schwinn-Paramount-P-13-1024x661.webp
    1971-Schwinn-Paramount-P-13-1024x661.webp
    145.3 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20250211_152403.webp
    IMG_20250211_152403.webp
    302.3 KB · Views: 0
In the ’60’s and early ’70’s it was a little tough to get your hands on a proper racing bike. Most of the real bike shops in this country were located in big cities. The internet wasn’t around, and mail order shopping took a lot of effort. Schwinn dealers, however, could be found in lots of smaller cities and towns, and Schwinn’s Paramount division offered some real high performance bikes. No need to try to import Italian or French racing frames and then scrounge for parts when you could simply pick a Paramount that suited your racing style and budget.
 
Ron Boi /RRB Frames
 

Attachments

  • 7-21-1.webp
    7-21-1.webp
    195.2 KB · Views: 2
  • 5-31-1.webp
    5-31-1.webp
    90.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 11-17-1.webp
    11-17-1.webp
    20.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 10-16-2.webp
    10-16-2.webp
    88.3 KB · Views: 1
  • 4-36-1.webp
    4-36-1.webp
    19.5 KB · Views: 1
  • 3-41-1.webp
    3-41-1.webp
    142.7 KB · Views: 1
  • 2-48-1.webp
    2-48-1.webp
    95.9 KB · Views: 2
  • 1-47-1.webp
    1-47-1.webp
    210.7 KB · Views: 2
One of Ron’s most famous frames was that ridden by Lon Haldeman. Lon was an ultramarathon rider, and winner of the 2,968 mile Great American Bicycle Race in 1982.
 
Jon Hollands
 

Attachments

  • 1-16-3.webp
    1-16-3.webp
    236.4 KB · Views: 0
  • 4-11-3.webp
    4-11-3.webp
    161.3 KB · Views: 0
  • 2-16-3.webp
    2-16-3.webp
    156.4 KB · Views: 1
  • 5-10-3.webp
    5-10-3.webp
    182.6 KB · Views: 1
  • 6-6-3.webp
    6-6-3.webp
    155.8 KB · Views: 1
  • 3-13-3.webp
    3-13-3.webp
    164.1 KB · Views: 0
John started as a machinist in the British Navy and focused on building bicycles as an answer to the needs of his son, who had become an avid & successful racer.

A few more examples and a touring bike.
 

Attachments

  • hollands_pursuit_s.webp
    hollands_pursuit_s.webp
    25.4 KB · Views: 1
  • HollseaL.webp
    HollseaL.webp
    15.9 KB · Views: 1
  • Holljohn.webp
    Holljohn.webp
    16.7 KB · Views: 1
  • hollan2.webp
    hollan2.webp
    112.3 KB · Views: 1
Bill Boston
 

Attachments

  • Boston8.webp
    Boston8.webp
    7.9 KB · Views: 0
  • Bostfrm.webp
    Bostfrm.webp
    18 KB · Views: 0
  • Bost_hed.webp
    Bost_hed.webp
    12.8 KB · Views: 0
Bill Boston correctly receives credit for being one of the first frame builders to rely on science to design and build custom frames. Boston also the first to build small front wheel/short top tube frames for women (or men) who had need for that particular frame geometry. He continues as an expert in custom bicycle fit in theory and practice.
 

Attachments

  • BostMG2L.webp
    BostMG2L.webp
    27 KB · Views: 1
  • BostMG1L.webp
    BostMG1L.webp
    31.7 KB · Views: 1
Micheal Celmins
 

Attachments

  • deeter_3.webp
    deeter_3.webp
    53.9 KB · Views: 0
  • deeter_2-1.webp
    deeter_2-1.webp
    77.6 KB · Views: 0
  • deeter_1-1.webp
    deeter_1-1.webp
    59.8 KB · Views: 0
Back
Top