70s Schwinn cruiser races

[Sturges1881]

I was digging through digital archives looking for 19th century bike stuff, and this caught my attention...

Ball State University, in Muncie IN held these "Bike-A-Thons" in the late 60s and 70s... and they're all riding Schwinn cantilever frames with tall seatposts and drop bars. Why they chose these specifically I have no idea.

Just thought others might find them as cool as I did... almost want to find another cantilever frame to make one of these now!

 

[bobcycles]

...now we just need a new term for these creations

 

[GTs58]

...now we just need a new term for these creations

Road bike crossovers, RBC's?

 

[strateaxel]

...now we just need a new term for these creations

they were known as Marathons and they are collectable around Indiana

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

I doubt they were going fast enough for drop bars to make any difference. wonder how far the race was?

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

...now we just need a new term for these creations

I got one, we can call them dumb bikes.

 

[sworley]

Meanwhile at Indiana University in Bloomington they have the Little 500: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_500