C y c l i s t Recumbent - Steve Briggs

RCN News
The ReBirth of Cool!(?)
Chopper Bicycles
I’ve been riding long wheelbase recumbents for nearly two decades
and trying to understand why a LWB recumbent is still a small
niche and the Schwinn Sting-Ray will be selling thousands and
thousands through your local Wal-Mart Store. I guess I answered this
ridiculous query with the word Wal-Mart. Cheap prices and Wal-Mart
go hand in hand. The Sting-Ray doesn’t sell for $4,000, no not $1,000,
not even $400. You can order one for $180. Giant’s better equipped
Stiletto is slated to sell for $400. So one reason they will be so popular
is that they are CHEAP. The next reason why they will be so popular is
that they don’t have the lawn chair style seat. They have chopper style
RCN Calendar
Michigan Recumbent Rally — West
September 11th 10am-3pm
Hastings (south of Grand Rapids), Michigan
Contact: 734-487-9058, www.wolverbents.org
Fall Recumbent Rendezvous
September 18th
North Detroit (Stoney Creek Metropark), Michigan
Contact: 734-487-9058, www.wolverbents.org
Planning an event?
Email: bob@recumbentcyclistnews.com.
• Bacchetta
• Easy Racers
• Burley
• Lightning
• RANS
• ICE
• Hediger
• Longbikes
The Giant Stiletto
20 Recumbents In
Stock Every Day
All ready to test ride
• Vision
• ATOC products
• Trikes
• Tandems
We ship anywhere in the USA!
82 Mill Street (Rt.62) · Columbus, Ohio 43230
Tel. 877-282-7663 • www.bicycleone.com
seats that look cool but probably aren’t that comfy.
While riding down the street the other day I came upon my first
Schwinn Sting-Ray chopper going down the road. The preteen was
cruising along at about 10 mpg “styl’in” down the road. I pulled up
along side of him and told him how cool his Sting-Ray was. I mentioned
that I had one of the originals back in 1969. He nodded approval
and I cruised past. I didn’t tell him that this one bike led to a lifelong
obsession with weird bicycles. Perhaps he’ll be so lucky.
While these bikes are pretty cool looking, and they have some recumbent
traits, they are really poser bikes — which is sad. Perhaps
when somebody builds a chopper recumbent based on a Sun, Cycle
Genius Easy Racer or Lightfoot long wheelbase recumbent — we’ll
really have something to talk about.
The Schwinn Sting-Ray is perhaps THE most popular bicycle in
American history. For 2004, the new Schwinn Bicycle Company has
unveiled its all-new Sting-Ray. This new bike is an exciting, chopperstyle
ride for boys ages 8 to 12. It features drag handlebars, a low-ride
studded saddle, and the signature Big Boa Tire — just like a motorcycle!
The new Sting-Ray takes its cues from the great American chopper.
The bike has a custom-stretched chopper frame with gas tank gusset, a
20” x 4” super wide rear slick tire, a 24” x 2” narrow front tire mounted
on an alloy rim, an adjustable cruising saddle with built-in sissy bar, a
dual crown, twin-barrel chrome forks with color-matching paint, chrome
steel chain guard and heavy-duty double-leg wishbone kickstand and
clear-coated Schwinn flame decals. The single speed bike has one alloy
linear pull brake and three-piece custom Sting-Ray cranks with
iron cross pedals. The weight is approximately 40 pounds.
The bike's design pays homage to the original banana seat Sting-
Ray, but this modern interpretation reflects the public's interest in customized
motorcycles. Add to that the Sting-Ray’s partnership with
America’s premier chop shop, Orange County Choppers, and you’ve
got the coolest bike around.
The new Sting-Ray cruises into Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us and other
The 2004 Schwinn Sting-Ray
Continued on page 29
The classic Sting-Ray (left) and 2004 model (right)
Sept./Oct. 2004 5