Ever since learning to ride a bicycle, I’ve wanted a Schwinn of my very own. The pinnacle of quality in my childhood, the Schwinn bicycle promised autonomy, adventure, and freedom. At least to me it did. I didn’t have a bicycle of my own until college, when I bought a used ten-speed and fixed it up. Sure, I had access to wheels. My sister and I shared a bike. It was a really nice used English bike that I just didn’t appreciate. It didn’t look like the ones my friends rode, and it wasn’t a Schwinn.
I had a friend in junior high school. Her name was Merry. She was funny, playful, creative, and unsensored. She had the coolest bike I’d ever seen.
It was a Schwinn Twinn - blue frame, two seats, a hand brake, and our avenue to freedom and adventure. We clocked hours on that bicycle riding all over town, past the houses of the boys on whom we had crushes, to the swimming pool, baseball parks, and anywhere else we chose to go.
Unbridled freedom!
Years later, I visited Madison, Wisconsin, and stayed with my brother. One day, we went out for a walk, and there was a garage sale in his neighborhood. Someone was selling a classic blue Schwinn. It was divine! It was priced at a steal, and I wanted it. I wanted it bad! I had the money in my pocket and was ready to pay. My family members quickly pointed out how irrational I was. How in the world was I going to get this bicycle all the way back to Texas? Shipping would certainly cost more than the bicycle itself! They had a point. I left it behind.
While living in Texas, I purchased a really sweet little Texas Rangerette bicycle. It was a small bike and just as cute as ever! I parked it in our entryway. I decorated it for the holidays and just enjoyed having this reminder of the freer days of my childhood. Unfortunately, when we moved from Texas, I sold it.
The other day I was putzing around on Facebook Marketplace, and I thought I’d do a quick search for a vintage Schwinn. I found several, but one caught my eye primarily because it was being sold very nearby and for a very reasonable price. I reached out to the seller; we arranged a meetup, and I bought it! The vintage Schwinn Hollywood was all mine.
The bicycle needed a new inner tube and a good cleaning. I loaded it onto a work table, removed the front tire, and began cleaning the rust spots off the chrome.
Periodically, I take her out for a spin. There is no elixir of unbridled youth, but perhaps one can recapture the feeling of youth on the seat of a classic vintage Schwinn. I certainly do.
All photos taken by Paulette Rodriguez.
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