By 1957, the Paramount series, once a premier racing bicycle, had atrophied from a lack of attention and modernization. Aside from some new frame lug designs, the designs, methods and tooling were the same as had been used in the 1930s. The Paramount continued as a limited production model, built in small numbers in a small apportioned area of the old Chicago assembly factory. The new frame and component technology incorporated in the Paramount largely failed to reach Schwinn’s mass-market bicycle lines. W. Schwinn, grandson Frank Valentine Schwinn took over management of the company.
The other bicycle makers manufactured cheaper bikes, sold them through chain stores, and relied on the low price to sell the bike. The firm continues to make only bicycles and exercisers and maintains its longstanding image as the manufacturer of high quality bikes. Schwinn sells its bikes for roughly twice the price that mass retailers charge and sells only through 1,676 special Schwinn dealers.
The Captain himself was enlisted to regularly hawk Schwinn-brand bicycles to the show’s audience, typically six years old and under. As these children matured, it was believed they would ask for Schwinn bicycles from their parents. By 1971, United States government councils had objected to Schwinn’s marketing practices.
During this period, bicycle sales enjoyed relatively slow growth, with the bulk of sales going to youth models. In 1900, during the height of the first bicycle boom, annual United States sales by all bicycle manufacturers had briefly topped one million. Nevertheless, ‘s share of the market was increasing, and would reach in excess of 1 million bicycles per year by the end of the decade. Schwinn was soon sponsoring a bicycle racing team headed by Emil Wastyn, who designed the team bikes, and the company competed in six-day racing across the United States with riders such as Jerry Rodman and Russell Allen. Developed from experiences gained in racing, Schwinn established Paramount as their answer to high-end, professional competition bicycles. The Paramount used high-strength chrome-molybdenum steel alloy tubing and expensive brass lug-brazed construction.
At Schwinn, they make bikes that allow riders of all ages and abilities to experience the joy of riding. From “walk ‘n’ roll” kids bikes to the Le Tour Legacy, Schwinn offer a comprehensive line of bikes that suit the needs of riders across the United States and around the world. Schwinn bikes are built to the Schwinn Quality standard, with over 100 years of cycling heritage, passion and expertise. This standard is the foundation of their commitment to creating the best bikes available today, and they are confident that you will experience our devotion to cycling every time you ride a Schwinn.
Due to its streamlined build, Schwinn Sting-Ray is intuitive to use, so it’s perfect for kids to practice riding and to fall in love with bicycles. So if you want an affordable but powerful Schwinn electric bike to ride to work, to school, around the neighborhood, or on bike paths, the eVoyageur is all you really need. The eVoyageur is a more affordable hybrid Schwinn electric bike suitable for commuters and casual riders who need some assistance. Get one of the Schwinn eVantage bikes if you want a good-looking and even better-performing e-bike for city or gravel riding. The eVantage FXe models differ in that they have flat bars instead of drop bars, so they are more suitable for city riding.
The Collegiate seems to say, “slow down—it’s summer.” If the charm of this bike speaks to you, hurry up to order one when it goes on sale August 10—it’s a limited edition model. According to market research firm NPD Group, retail bike sales skyrocketed 75% in March and April as those family-friendly models got snapped up. The offices of the Madison, Wisconsin-based company closed on March 13, around the same time the entire country began shutting down. Then, almost as suddenly, millions of stuck-at-home Americans started riding bikes, many for the first time in years, or the first time ever. Sales of adult and kids’ bicycles surged, to the point where by mid-May two-wheelers under $1,000 were as scarce as toilet paper and hand sanitizers. Newcomers like Trek Inc. and Specialized Bicycle Components of Morgan Hill, Calif., rode the surge in demand for mountain bikes to rapid growth.
By 1905, bicycle annual sales had fallen to only 25% of that reached in 1900. Many smaller companies were absorbed by larger firms or went bankrupt; in Chicago, only twelve bicycle makers remained in business. Competition became intense, both for parts suppliers and for contracts from the major department stores, which retailed the majority of bicycles produced in those days.
Sears, the major retailer of bikes in this country fdr the last 50 years, decided that bicycles were a line of goods with little growth and depressed profits where they could gain little market share. 1963 saw the introduction of the iconic Sting-Ray model with ape-hanger handlebars and a banana seat. In a time when selling 10,000 of a particular bike was considered a success, the Sting-Ray sold 45,000 units in the first six months after its release. In 1972, schwinn bicycles was making 6,000 bicycles a day with 2,000 workers in their Chicago plant and in 1974 an impressive 1.55 million Schwinns left the factory.