1985 Schwinn High Sierra

[jpo]

Went out on the tow path with my girlfriend over the weekend, and she took some pictures of her bike that I wanted to share.

She picked it up a few years ago at a campus garage-sale type event. $10 bought it and since then all I have had to do is refill the tires regularly and get the derailleurs working properly and she has had no problems.

What research I have done shows that this is a 1985 model, and it was apparently one of Schwinn's first attempts at a mountain bike. Riding this bike back to back with any modern mountain bike is pretty shocking- the handle bars are outrageous, the geometry is cumbersome, and it just feels like a fat road bike. Probably because I am pretty sure that is what it is.

That said, my girlfriend has taken it on a few trail rides with me, including Mercer County Park and White Clay Creek in Delaware. And not just walking paths either, she has taken this on actual single track. Nothing too technical, mind you, but still pretty impressive.

The shots are hers, not mine, but there is still a good shot of the awesome pie plate, as well as the killer pedals (we both have a few shin scars from those things).

Looking at this thing again makes me wonder how anyone in the 80's kept mountain biking long enough to get the technology we have at our disposal now.

jim

 

[bruce.b]

My brother's girlfriend, now wife had a High Sierra of about that vintage for a couple of years. I still remember him saying many times what a piece of junk it was. We were both riding Fat City Cycles mountain bikes so we were used to something much nicer. I don't think the bars are original as flat bars came on the one my brother's wife had.
It's nothing like a fat road bike, it's the opposite of a road bike. The geo is really laid back and it rides like a tank.
Get her a real mountain bike if she's going offroad. The High Sierra is a good townie-beer bike. Put a basket on the rack and use it to buy beer.
bruce.b

 

[jpo]

Get her a real mountain bike if she's going offroad. The High Sierra is a good townie-beer bike. Put a basket on the rack and use it to buy beer.
bruce.b

Yeah, that is what she uses it for 95% of the time. While she is pretty good on the bike, she has absolutely zero interest in riding as she gets her outdoor fix from running. The trips to Mercer and White Clay were exceptions rather than the rule.

More then anything I just thought it was funny to see what "mountain bike" used to mean.

 

[L04121]

WOW! $10! I used to ride a schwinn probe, couldn't afford the sierra in 1988. It was $400 the probe was $250. Piece of junk? Don't think so.

 

[montclairbobbyb]

Schwinn Sierra

Sure it's heavy, sure it's klunky... but with a little tuning, a good leather saddle and maybe some better rubber it will make a KICKASS bike that will haul stuff, outlive both you and your girlfriend and provide excellent transportation. Ask your girlfriend if she wants to make a nice profit, I'll give her $75 for it. (But if I were you I'd stop complaining, and start appreciating that bike for what it is... the best $10 she's ever spent... period.)

Peace,
BB

 

[jpo]

... But if I were you I'd stop complaining, and start appreciating that bike for what it is...

Whose complaining?

I passed your offer on to the boss- she said no go. She loves that bike and is well aware that she got it for far less than it is worth.

Reminder here folks- this isn't a whine about the bike thread- just the opposite. I think it is a cool old bike and wanted to share.

 

[haro rider]

Thats is cool. Thanks for posting it. Nice to see a piece of history still rolling. I actually like the pedals. I still use platforms to this day and use to have bear traps.

 

[MST.ESQ]

Love the bike, thanks for sharing. I have been looking for a project like this to build a spare bike for the wife to take when riding with the kids. She has an old Giant women's (with the very low step over top tube) bike but I am not crazy about buying new parts for that type of frame.

Have you thought about putting a more traditional mountain bike threaded stem and bars on it - or does she like the more upright feel?

 

[jpo]

Thats is cool. Thanks for posting it. Nice to see a piece of history still rolling. I actually like the pedals. I still use platforms to this day and use to have bear traps.

As damaging as those pedals have been to shins, truck beds, and entire ecosystems, they are awesome. No matter how bad conditions get, they still hold your shoe.

Have you thought about putting a more traditional mountain bike threaded stem and bars on it - or does she like the more upright feel?

She isn't crazy about the bars, but she does like the heads-up feeling for biking around town. Maybe if she were trying to ride it seriously it would be worth swapping out, but at this point it is perfect as is.

 

[montclairbobbyb]

JPO, please don't get me wrong... First of all THANKS for sharing this; I love seeing bikes like this in such great shape, and sorry if you thought I was implying your were whining...I wasn't. It just sounded like you had more disdain for this bike than love... (and I happen to love bikes from the 80s, especialy since my first bike was VERY similar, and also because I collect them.)

In fact I just wrote a little blurb about vintage bikes in the latest JORBA Newsletter... check it out, pg 13 - http://www2.jorba.org/images/9/97/The_Dirt7.pdf

(Please thank your wife, and give her BIG kudos for riding that bike!... and if she ever changes her mind....)

Peace,
BB

 

[jpo]

It just sounded like you had more disdain for this bike than love...

Whatever gave you that idea!??!!!!

Riding this bike back to back with any modern mountain bike is pretty shocking- the handle bars are outrageous, the geometry is cumbersome, and it just feels like a fat road bike.

Oh . . . nevermind.

Yeah, looking back I can see where you got that. However the flaws and poor decisions (I mean LOOK at those handlebars!!!) that this bike has been submitted to are what I love about it.