BMX bikes are used for dirt racing, jumps and tricks. Eventually, the Stingray evolved into the BMX bike with somewhat shorter handlebars, a single saddle, and beefy rims. The name played off muscle cars at the time and the bikes had a look of a chopper motorcycle.

In the early 1960s, however, Schwinn came out with the Stingray with small 20 inch diameter wheels, high handlebars and a banana seat. Kids bikes use to often have 24 inch diameter wheels. Even more than with adult bikes, sometimes the looks and style of kids bikes take a back seat to functional design. Many bike models cater especially to kids, however, or to the inner child of adults. Kids - kids can, of course, ride smaller adult bikes.With recumbent bikes, the rider sits lower and leans back in a more prone position resulting in less aerodynamic drag. Specialty - here I include recumbent, folding and stationary bikes.Racers were reasonably efficient, sturdy, utilitarian machines that were heavier than road bikes and were not really 'racers.' While the English company Raliegh (and related companies) made many of these bikes, not all 'English racers' are English. 'English Racer' - an older category of bikes usually designed for adults with three internal gears and an upright riding position.The modern mountain bike had its origins in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Most today have front shocks and sometimes rear shocks. Mountain - sturdy bikes which allow riding off road.Hybrid - allow a more upright riding position and riding over more rugged terrain at some lost of efficiency.Finally, no matter where a company is headquartered, the majority of bikes today are made in China. Univega was headquartered in the United States with bicycles made in Italy and then Japan. For example, Raliegh was historically an English company.

The country designations are somewhat arbitrary. companies (Schwinn, Trek, and Raleigh America), then Italian (Bianchi), French (Peugeot, Motobecane and Roold), Japanese (Nishiki, Fuji, Kuwahara, and Univega), and Taiwanese (Giant).

The road bicycles are the museum's largest category and are divided by manufacturer, with first U.S.

Road - lightweight bikes for traveling on streets.

The bikes here are grouped here into six, somewhat arbitrary, categories:

Indeed, many well-made used bikes are much better than some department store bikes today. Many older bikes are still quite useable and still satisfy the casual recreational user. Bike technology, of course, changes, but nowhere near as fast as computer technology. The rest have been acquired used, primarily at garage sales. A few of the bikes were purchased by me, or for me, new, including the brown 1971 Schwinn SuperSport, the Trek 750, the Univega 700FS, and the Trek 850 (for one of my sons). Bicycles are wonderfully simple, eloquent and efficient machines.

Nishiki serial number database bike