The first bike that I really owned was a gift from Mister. On my birthday of the first year we were living together I came home to find the apartment canopied in streamers, and in the middle of the rustling, rainbow scene sat a frosty blue cruiser.
“Happy birthday!! Is it okay?”
We tested it out, made sure it fit- and it was okay. More than okay. She was a cruiser style mountain bike and she rocked- I rode her to work, on the weekends, to the movies. The only problem was she was heavy. If I rode her home from work at my usual pace, I was tired when I got home and would nearly fall down the stairs hauling her up to the apartment. So we made room in our storage locker, but I would nearly fall over trying to rock it up onto it’s back wheel so it could fit into the tiny space we’d cleared for her to hang.
At every apartment and now at our house I got my hopes up that the arrangement would make it easier to use my bike, and everywhere we’ve lived in the past four and a half years? It never got easier. I loved the bike dearly but eventually stopped riding. It was just such an ordeal to haul the great thing outdoors!
With the wedding and moving house twice last year I didn’t ride my bike much, if at all, but I got a nagging thought stuck in my mind – that a lighter and prettier bike would be a vintage cruiser. I’ve “casually” stalked the Antiques malls and classifieds since the Spring, but haven’t found anything under $300 – way out of budget. I figured I could sell the old heavy bike for $200, so that was my new bike budget. Straight exchange, or no deal.
This weekend I made another run around to my favourite vintage haunts, hoping for a new sundress and maybe to see the glint of bargain basement priced fenders. No luck. I pulled the car up at home to find Mister on the front steps.
“I think I saw a bike at Lune Vintage a few mintues ago. It might have been the owner’s, but it would be worth checking.”
I hopped back in the car. This was my favourite little shop/craft studio. The owner (one of them?) is so young and beautiful, and watches the shop with a little girl some of the time I’ve been in. She’s my hero. I would love to give her my money.
I turned the corner and there she was- a vintage 1977 Schwinn cruiser, for under $200. I called Mister in a happy panic, he ran to the bank and over to the car at top speed, and I fended off the scores of brunettes with blunt bangs and slight hangovers lurking behind their vintage sunglasses as they gravitated off the main drag and towards the baby blue fenders.
Before they could flip their hair and swing a leg over her, I hit them with an “Oh, excuse me – I’m sorry, I just bought it!”
Like you wouldn’t lie for this beauty too. I can lift her with one arm, and as of Sunday morning I sold my old bike for the required $200.
It’s official, I’m totally smitten.
brandy
Jealous!! What a great bike, I love the color and it sounds like it was absolutely meant for you. I hope you have the time of your life riding around in it this summer!
mandy
Shes’ beautiful! I think its awesome that you can ride everywhere. It reminds me of spending part of my summers at the lake growing up. I wish I rode my bike more places now, but lugging it up the hill isnt as fun as it was when I was a kid. Have a fabulous time together!
Erin
Oh she’s so pretty!
Renee
I’ve been DYING to upgrade my mom’s old mountain bike that I ride from 1975 that weight 70 bajillion pounds to something EXACTLY like that. Send me good luck??
Amy
So freaking adorable! I love it!
erin
i love it! it is a true beauty…
Just Fine and Dandy
So cute!
Reminds me of my grandma’s bike that’s in storage at my parents house. I seriously need to break it out and have it tuned up!
Have fun cycling around town on your new bike!
steph anne
I’m jealous!! I’ve always wanted a beach cruiser and hope to buy 1 some day soon.
Love the color on your bike!
Elly
Oh cuteness! The bike looks brilliant, I love that it’s not a super fancy high-tech bike. It’s gorgeous in its vintage simplicity
Phil
WOW!! I love the new wheels! I love riding around, too, but sadly my current routine (plus the sweltering heat) limit how much I can ride.
Elizabeth
I LOVE her! I have a blue bike too, but it never sees the light of day around here with the hills and heat…and maybe some laziness on my part…
Anyway! Enjoy her!
Rachie
Oh my gosh I love it!!!
andhari
Oooh I haven’t rode a bike in a while too. Which is quite sad because we always have that sunny weather over here, only I don’t like much sun haha such a cute bike though, what a find. Have fun cycling
Andy
Incredibly gorgeous!!
Megan
The bike is lovely. I’m so glad you found it!
shannon
This is such a cute story, and I especially love how supportive Mister is and excited he was for you!
Shop Girl*
I have the SAME problem with my big cruiser… I can’t even lift it. I never thought about a trade in though!! Very smart!
Marie
I love it! Congrats on the new purchase! And yay for selling your old bike!
SoMi's Nilsa
That bike screams Kyla. Love it!
Dana
It’s very shiny! I’m a big fan single-speed bikes for riding around town, especially in Winnipeg where we don’t have any hills to speak of.
How are the tires? They look a little worn from the photo.
Lauren
What a cute bike!
Elle Bee
She’s beautiful! Congrats!
Lys
oh my gosh kyla, that bike is SO you!! it’s lovely! i can’t wait to hear some stories about your adventures with her (him?)
Rachel
oh my gosh! it’s so pretty!! so you miss kyla.
andrea
Way to go babyface! Fight the hipster tsunami!
hillary
cute! that bike actually looks exactly like my mom’s old bike (my dad had a matching orange one.)
Erin
She’s so pretty! Ted and I are getting bikes this weekend, and I’m so excited. I desperately want a lovely basket for my bike so I can carry around bread and cheese…
Allie
Oh wow! It’s beautiful!!!
Jill Pilgrim
She’s gorgeous.
bFlat
So very jealous. I have been scouring Craigslist for something very very similar to that. Congrats on the gorgeous new (to you) bike!
Stephanie
Oh my gosh. I am beyond jealous. I soooo soooo sooooo want a vintage bike. Once I move to Durham, NC, I’m going to have to start scouring places as well. Hopefully I’ll hit a gold mind like you!
Kendall
You’re a bad Kyla. And by bad, I really mean awesome.
AuburnKat
I LOVE the bike!
That reminds me, I really need to get out my bike and go for a ride this wknd!
Jessica
OMG that bike is adorable! It totally fits you. Everyone is getting bikes this summer. Makes me want to go get mine all tuned up.
Susan
That bike is adorable!
Meghan
She’s gorgeous. Any name yet? I hope you have tons of fun together!
Andrea
Super pretty bike! I love it.
Alexis
AAAHHH!!! It’s JUST LIKE MINE! Only mine is a super cool plummy purple color. Ah, dude, I need to get to Canada and bring her and we can ride around together, ha! I may have gotten way to excited over our sister bikes…
E.P.
I love it! It’s gorgeous! Is it a lot lighter?
I hope that whenever I live in a city, I can get a bike again. I rode SO MUCH as a child, and I haven’t done it in years.
san
LOVE the bike and the color! So pretty (I wish I had a bike, too).
Mermanda
She’s gorgeous! Enjoy!
Rebekah
FUN! I miss cycling but I’m such a baby – I fell off a few years ago and screwed up my knee, had to have surgery, etc. Now I just don’t want to try again. Maybe I need a cute blue bike to motivate me!
Have fun!
Russ
I love your taste and your lovely cute blog posts
your bike is adorable and I love vintagey things <3
I can see you riding along on your bike
with your cute 1950's hairstyle and vintagey clothes
looking like a cute girl from the past
on her time travelling bicycle!
xoxo
Pam
My mom had a bike just like that when I was 7 or 8. Same color and everything. WOW! I wonder what happened to it? I loved that bike.
Andrea
This is such a dream come true for me. I’ve been searching for months for a perfect red or yellow vintage Schwinn Varsity. I don’t honestly know how much I’d ride it, but it would really make my day to find the perfect fit. I’m so happy for you!
MinD
Beautiful color.
I broke my arm when I was a kid while riding my bicylce and have barely been on one since. Lately I’ve had that urge again though, and this post makes me want to buy a new bike pretty badly!
Abby
Oh I am so jealous!! I want something similar but hopefully pink with a white wicker basket in front where I can stash books.
It’s adorable.
Jill @ Lune Vintage
What a heart breaker you are! Such pretty pictures. Did you know that little beauty came from Minneapolis? I know you’ll treat her well. I can see a big basket in it’s future!
Sara
I love the bike and the blue is gorgeous! great find. I have been looking for a vintage cruiser all summer (in my price range) and have yet to find anything but maybe I will have more luck in the fall and then I will all be set for next summer.
sarah marie p
Um, how did I not comment on this already!? I feel like I already did! I guess just in my silly mind! Anyway, congrats on your new bike! It’s so adorable! I love the color! Makes me want to paint my cruiser!
jimaiemarie
omg i LOVEEEEEE this!!
congrats on such a stellar find, she really is a beauty!!!!!!