Old timers - fake gas tank on bikes

08-05-2004, 09:16 AM

I was reading a blurb in Urban Cycling about the culture in the 50s being
so oriented to automobiles.

One of the things that got a laugh was the mention of how bikes in those
days had fake 'gas tanks' on the bikes.

It caused me to flash back on my red and white Sears&Robuck cruiser bike
(circa 1958), and the two part steel 'bubbles' that were connected by a big
nut and bolt to the top tube and support tube below it that looked just
like a gas tank on a motorcycle. Yep, that was funny to recall. I remember
taking them off and spraypainting the frame black when I started using it
for my paperroute. Bendix brakes, streamers - what a hoot.

-B