Old bicycle shops, pre-HHH

Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 1410 Location: Morgantown, WV

What were some of the old bicycle shops in town, back before the HHH, when people weren't trying to look like Tour de France racers? The one I remember was A&B Lock and Key, possibly on Brook. I was given a couple of Christmas bikes from there as a kid, and also my first "ten speed" Raleigh, which was promptly stolen from my college campus. That was back when Raleighs were actually British made and not a part of Huffy.

Joined: 15 Aug 2009 Posts: 90

There was one ran by the Getzendaner (sp?) family on Featherston. Got my first Schwin there. It was stolen from Ben Milam later the same year......

Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 204

The only new bike I ever got was from the Green Stamp store in Denton. It took a long, long time to collect enough, and then, it seemed like a lifetime licking and sticking those stamps to those little books so I could go claim my Stingray. I was so proud when I got it!

Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1251

My first bicycle was a used one, about an 18 inch bicycle I believe. My grand parents got it for me when I was 6 yrs old. Had Hard Rubber tires on it which I wore out a couple of times. hehehe

My first NEW bicycle was from the Firestone Tire Store in Oklahoma. It was a Firestone brand, called Firestone Chief if I remember corectly and was a 26inch. It had an electric horn! Wooo-Hooooooo! I could barely get on the thing. I was 8yrs. old Razz

The next new bicycle was a 20 inch with a banana seat and "ape hangar" handlebars. I was 13 yes old. Needless to say, I was pretty "hot stuff"! Mr. Green

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

First one was a Western Flyer with training wheels. Grandpa bought it when I was five. I still have the Western Flyer sled he bought that same year.

I outgrew that bike pretty quick. #2 was a used one from the kid next door. She gave it to me and I gave mine to the little kid around the corner.

#3 was a 20" White's Auto RED spyder bike with a metallic silver banana seat, sissy bar and drag slick on the back.

#4 was a Huffy 10 speed. Dad gave that to the firemen while was at college.

The bike I have now cost more than all of those combined. Specialized Rockhopper with a Rock Shox Judy and lots of bells and whistles. I keep it in the living room.

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Leeds WY

# 1 Gresham Flyer, three wheeler with a trunk. Red with blow up tyres
#2 A 12 inch wheeled bike that saw me through till I was age 10. Cannot remember the make. No stabilisers and was second hand. This was the bike I used to learn to ride on.
#3 New Raleigh Bluebird with 26 inch wheels and twist grip gearing. When I got it (for my birthday), I remember that my feet could hardly touch the pedals even with the seat right down. This was quite an expensive bike with speedometer, water bottles, panniers, plus a host of other features.

All the above were given away by my parents before I was 17. When I was married, I bought a couple of folding bikes which basically gathered dust in the garage until I threw them out. Whenever I needed a bike, I would just borrow one of my kid's mountain bikes.

There are still quite a few specialist bike dealers around, and some models can cost $000's. No wonder some of you keep them in your living rooms.

Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 1410 Location: Morgantown, WV

After going through several true racing bikes, I now have a ten-year-old Trek crossover with less than 100 miles on the still-working Cateye computer sitting in the living room. It makes a great hanger for the dog's leash.

Sting-Ray bikes were cool all right. Remember the ones with the "shifter" lever on the top tube, perfectly positioned to deliver pain to a young man if you slid off the slippery banana seat?

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

The first bike I can really remember was this one:

I loved that bike! I thought it was the most awesome bike ever created. I think I bought it with birthday money or something. I checked the dates and it was made 1971-1973.

I am sure I had one before that but I don't remember it.

Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 643 Location: Kaufman County

The old A&B was where I got the Black Phantom. Only problem was the chain guard was missing. First 3-speed came from there. Some of my friends did not know about the hand brakes. OH! the pain when they flew over the handle bars. One instance is in my book - his manhood damaged.

MrMobeedy

Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 2449

Several years ago there was a bike at the HHH trade show that was VERY expensive. I can't remember the brand, Italian I think. Anyway, the price was about $5000. It had a sign on it that said "Price includes marriage counciling."
Chair Fall