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CLEAN!!

Forget it. I'll post this to be more PC.

Saw these in the 1985 Stephen King movie Silver Bullet!

DOPE!!

In Memoriam
It is with great sadness the we report that Al Fritz passed Tuesday night.

We here at BDM will remember Al, as the father of the Sting-Ray and Airdyne.

Starting on the welding line of Schwinn’s landmark Kostner Avenue plant in Chicago, Al Fritz worked his way up from the factory floor in 1945, to become the number-two man, and a member of the Board of Directors at Schwinn Bicycle Company.

In 1963 as Schwinn's designer Al Fritz heard about a new youth trend centered in California for retrofitting bicycles with the accoutrements of motorcycles customized in the "bobber" or "chopper" style, including high-rise, "ape hanger" handlebars and low-rider "banana seats". Inspired, he designed a mass-production bike for the youth market known as Project J-38. The result, a wheelie bike, was introduced to the public as the Schwinn Stingray in June 1963. It had ape hanger handlebars, banana seat, and 20-inch tires.

Sales were initially slow, as many parents desiring a bicycle for their children did not find the Sting-Ray appealing in the least. However, after a few appeared on America's streets and neighborhoods, many young riders would accept nothing else, and sales took off. By 1965, a host of American and foreign manufacturers were offering their own version of the Sting-Ray.

Al’s story is the stuff legends are made of, but sadly most of the people in the bicycle industry today don’t even know his name.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the Fritz family as we at BDM mourn his passing. The family will have a memorial service in the Chicago area in 4 to 6 weeks.

Remembrances can be posted at:
https://www.facebook...eDealerMagazine