My 2 cents: I hope this dosen't offend anyone. I don't think in the 50s manufacturer's were to concerned with the weight of a bike, it seems like they went for styling to sell their bikes. The reason being back in the 50s it was mostly kids doing the bike riding and kids back then were WAY tougher then kids today. 50s kids actually wanted to go outside and climb trees, play kickball, do chores, carry heavy bookbags to school, build forts, run, chase girls with snakes,, ride bikes, etc. so peddling a ballooner wasn't that hard for a 50s kid. You older Cabers know what I'm saying. Some of today's kids could never peddle a ballooner around town. Now when I lift a ballooner I wonder how in the hell did I ride one of these in the 50s and 60s. Just my 2 cents.
Why should anyone be offended?
Nobody is arguing that the manufacturers should have been trying to make lightweight bikes during these eras, or that we care how heavy they are now.The average person didn’t know any better back then and probably wouldn’t have cared much anyway. Wretched excess was the draw.
Considering that in ages past, 14 was considered adulthood, and playtime was long over, especially since the average person lived less than 45 years old, I don’t think 50’s kids were all that tough either. Riding a heavy bike, for fun, at age 12 was nothing compared to working the farm and helping support the family unit. Hunting, farming, and sweatshop kids of yore were WAY tougher than any of us imagine we were.
Getting back to lead sled bikes;
The only manufacturer that should have been aware, and ashamed, of their ridiculously heavy bikes was Schwinn at the start of the bike boom of the early 70’s.
The public became aware of lightweight European bikes and dismissed the brand.
I believe I read in the book; No Hands, that many dealers in the early 70’s told visiting Schwinn management that their customers were asking for lighter bikes. At least one dealer said the rep told him,”Do they want to ride their bikes or carry them?”
What arrogance, what hubris, no wonder Schwinn failed.
I remember in 1973 seeing Varsities and wondering how many uninformed Schwinn snobs were left in this country. Those people were clueless.
Even when Schwinn, (I know, different owners and all), started trying to compete in the 80’s, making lightweight bikes racing bikes they still failed.
A similar Peugeot or Bianchi was a much better bike. Trek made subpar racing bikes at first too but they kept trying.
I love riding these old heavy bikes. Helps me understand how far we’ve come.
Actually, the weight and lack of gearing aren’t as bothersome to me as the drag sucking low pressure rubber on these things.
