Stingray Creator Dies

[numbersix]

Sting-Ray bike creator, Al Fritz, died this past Tuesday at the age of 88.
For those of us of a certain generation, these bikes were the coolest thing with their banana seats, gear shifters, and sparkle paint jobs. My brother had a blue one (won it in a contest) which I was allowed to ride on occasion until I got a 10-speed (a Sears Free-Spirit)

http://schwinncruisers.com/bikes/stingray/

 

[jfox520]

Oh man does that take me back.

 

[brian64]

I recall the thrill of riding one of these at a very young age, shortly after learning to ride a bike...it belonged to my friend’s brother. I was really too small for it at the time, but rode it anyway.
Later when my friend & I had our own Stingrays, at some point we turned them into “choppers” by hammering on sawed-off front forks from old bikes onto the existing forks, thereby extending the front wheel way out. We thought that was the coolest thing in the world at the time lol.

 

[cigrmaster]

I didn't have a Stingray but had a Raleigh Chopper in blue like the one in the pic. I used to ride this thing all over the streets in Boston and it was a wonder I never got hit. I loved that bike.

 

[bigvan]

Harris, I think my brother had the same bike (even the same color!) The shifter on the cross bar... is that the "drag brake"? If so, this was my brother's bike!

 

[cigrmaster]

bigvan, that shifter was to change gears. I think I got mine either the first or second year they came out 1969 or 70 and I had the three speed, they also had a 5 speed. It was not the safest bike and was heavy, but it was great for wheelies and jumping.

 

[numbersix]

That's the souped up version Harris - way cool! Only the coolest kids on the block had that model. :clap: