In the US, we call that style rear hub a "coaster brake." Many riders would have flipped that seatpost around so the offset faces forward. This is how they compensated for the extremely shallow seat tube angle that was common in that era. These shallow angles worked well on the kinds of road surfaces common when the bike was new. From looking at you riding the bike, you should have the saddle up a bit higher. We typically recommend starting with the saddle height set with the leg straight when the heel is on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, then making small adjustments from there. Be sure to give yourself plenty of miles before making each small adjustment. Congratulations on finding these old classics!
Yes I've heard that name before, to be honest the seat is perfectly comfortable and I can put my toes down when sat on it so it's close enough. Thanks for watching
Funny how things go through seasons, isn't it? The style of the under-slung handlebars reminds me quite a lot of the late 1970's Healing 10-speed bike I used to ride everywhere. The hub-centric braking system reminds me of the early 70's Triang Dragster I rode before I got the 10-speed. The Dragster was a superb bike for an 8-12 year old and I did many miles on it around the village I lived in. Finally got a speedo for it and racked up over 300 miles in the last 6 months I rode it - bearing in mind this wee beasty had a 14" front wheel and a 16" rear, that Howick in Auckland, NZ is not a pancake by even the wildest stretch of the imagination (so it was tough going for a while) and I had a Need For Speed and had that bike pulling 25mph downhill on a regular basis. I think I got it to 28 once or twice, but never got to 30....and all with just that hub-centric brake to stop me. ....And yes, if you press hard, it does lock up the rear - and I learned that in the wet, your rear wheel can start to overtake you if you lose traction going down a steep hill.....and if you've never drifted sideways through an intersection and then over a bank onto another road, letting off the brake and trying to bring the bike back into line as it kept fish-tailing, I'd certainly not recommend it - especially at 12 years old! Did it stop me riding fast in the wet? No....but it DID make me immediately go to the bike shop and invest in a clamp-style front brake! That rear hub brake was fantastic in its engineering though and I remember taking it apart to clean it out and regrease everything after the bike got drowned in a rather severe summer storm that turned our back yard (and out neighbours on two sides) into a very deep pool. Took two days for it to drain away sufficiently that I could again see my bike's handlebars and that it was still - somehow - propped up by it's stand. The 10-speed could do just over 40 down the same hill I had so much fun on with the Dragster and I once had a tail wind that pushed it to 44, but I'd no sooner hit that speed than I started braking for that nasty intersection. I used to go through a set of rubber brake pads every 400 miles or so on that thing and considering I clocked up around 13,000 miles in the four years I rode that beast full time, that's a fair few pad changes. I can't recall how many tyres I used either, but they never seemed to last long and it seemed the money I got from my paper round, lawn mowing rounds and chores around home was always disappearing to pay for one thing or another for it! Set me up well for the experience of owning a car when I started driving though! The handlebars on the 10-speed were more tightly slung around in the vertical than the Path Racer, but I believe they were used to similar effect - to get the rider to lean forward further to reduce drag / wind resistance. The 10-speed had auxiliary brake handles in line with the flat bar closer to the steering shaft, so you could cruise on it as well as full-out fly along, but you can guess which I preferred! I had two mirrors mounted on the bars too - low down underneath the bars so I could still use them in "race mode". The gearing was only good enough to get me up to 25-30 before it was impossible to pump the legs up and down any faster to gain speed and I was in discussions with the bloke in the bike shop about all manner of improvements that could be done to increase the top end, but in truth there were few, really. I might have been able to get an extra 5-10mph out of it with an 18- or 21-speed gear set, but that was a whole new cluster, new derailleurs, new shifters (although I figured that as the 10-speed's shifters were not stepped, I should have been able to get away with using the originals) new triple front cog and shaft assembly and possibly a replacement chain....and maybe going from a 26" to a 28" wheel....but the money I was going to have to save was around the cost (and a bit more) of a new 18-speed....and as it was, I put the money toward my first car instead. This trip down memory lane has been a fun one, actually. Makes me want to see if I can find a first-gen 10-speed - either Healing or Raleigh would be fine - and get back into riding.....but a more modern, lighter, close-ratio geared cruiser is probably a better bet! (haha) All the best
I'm pushing 70 and to a young person like yourself into the old bikes like I am made my day! I restore and restomod every Schwinn I can get my hands on. Finding a very, very old bikes with the frame mounted pump is very rare - - they are always missing. A little tip from an old timer - - store the bike with the Sturmey Acher hub in high gear so the cable is slack. And I have found nothing works better on a Brooks saddle than the leather dressing Brooks sells. Keep them going!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, I love the look of early Schwinns. Also since owning the 1952 CWS I have learnt to store them in top so I do that with this one as well, a good tip
I want to say you and your father have a good healthy relationship. I was scared of my father. He was alcoholic and abusive. It caused me alot of grief. Your dad is raising you in the correct way.
I really love your new vintage bike, that’s a peach. I think your approach to preservation rather than refurbishment is definitely the right way to go. And your commentary exudes knowledge and enthusiasm, really wonderful video 👌
Well done 16 year-old 5' 9" oily rag man! I felt your pleasure in finding and fettling this new bike to increase your enjoyment and the satisfaction you have in old things ancient, which as an ancient I can appreciate! Well done you and hope it gives you some me-time in between the Pathfinder project work which vital to your continued success. Great vid! Rob
There’s al lot of interest in vintage cycles and rightly to It’s great to see someone of your age interested in them 😮😮😊 I wish you well Harley😮 Keep that oil can going😮 They will last forever😊😊
A beautiful bike, Harley. My first bike had a back pedal brakes and when I upgraded to the new two wheel grip brakes it was like changing from drum brakes to four wheel discs! Still there is something about older vehicles of all kinds that newer things just don’t have: Soul.
I sell white ball end grips for vintage bikes which would look lovely on this and match those bright white tires, and they would be a lot more comfortable too.
Grand old bicycle, incidentally hails from the same year as my twin sister and i. We both rode Phillips cycles, sports models, UK imports, in the mid sixties, costing 26 pounds a piece, back then. Both beauties to ride & look at!
Brilliant Harley. The new bike is gorgeous. 60 years ago, both my sisters had bikes with 'back pedal brakes'. Very easy to use once you get the hang of it. You have done well with your new acquisition - what will be next ????? Take care 🙂
Just a suggestion. With old leather saddles, treat the underside first to allow the oil/conditioner to soak into the rough surface. This will soak through the material to keep it soft. then treat the upper surface lightly and wipe the excess off.
I had a Lucas acetylene lamp (still have it) and used it on my 1960s Palm Beach. Got stopped by a policeman once and had to explain to him how it worked.
You caught me unawares Harley, Wednesday and a CT video. An interesting bike. I have a 78 year old friend who is a Type 1 diabetic and a 64 year old neighbour who both regularly cycle 80 miles plus nearly every other day, weather permitting, complete with all the correct gear. Me? I couldn't do 80 feet but I am inherently lazy. 2024 = bikes, 2025 = cars methinks.
It's interesting how these old bikes have a longer wheelbase than modern ones, as shown by the big gap between the seat tube and the rear wheel. The gap is already smaller on the 1952 bike, and on a modern road bike the rear tyre is hard up against the seat tube. I don't know why this shortening set in or what it is supposed to do, other than maybe save a couple of ounces in weight. Does it help the handling? My current bike is a Moulton AM22, which of course breaks all the nprmal rules, and this has the old long wheelbase for its little 17 inch wheels.
Yes it is a very long wheelbase (I think the newer Dutch wheels are larger than what this bike would have originally had, as they only just fit inbetween the forks), and I think the wheels have an extra 3" or so in diameter over the '52 CWS.
Hi 👋 Harley. My father was born in 1927. He's deceased now. So your bike is not far off from turning 100. Another 3 years to go. I like it very much , i think the white tyres look good. The handle bars are certainly different. It looks like a modern racing cycle in a way. Do you think so ? Well you are going to be occupied with theae new additions, its wonderful Harley. 😀
That is a great looking bike!
In the US, we call that style rear hub a "coaster brake." Many riders would have flipped that seatpost around so the offset faces forward. This is how they compensated for the extremely shallow seat tube angle that was common in that era. These shallow angles worked well on the kinds of road surfaces common when the bike was new. From looking at you riding the bike, you should have the saddle up a bit higher. We typically recommend starting with the saddle height set with the leg straight when the heel is on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, then making small adjustments from there. Be sure to give yourself plenty of miles before making each small adjustment. Congratulations on finding these old classics!
Yes I've heard that name before, to be honest the seat is perfectly comfortable and I can put my toes down when sat on it so it's close enough. Thanks for watching
Funny how things go through seasons, isn't it? The style of the under-slung handlebars reminds me quite a lot of the late 1970's Healing 10-speed bike I used to ride everywhere. The hub-centric braking system reminds me of the early 70's Triang Dragster I rode before I got the 10-speed. The Dragster was a superb bike for an 8-12 year old and I did many miles on it around the village I lived in. Finally got a speedo for it and racked up over 300 miles in the last 6 months I rode it - bearing in mind this wee beasty had a 14" front wheel and a 16" rear, that Howick in Auckland, NZ is not a pancake by even the wildest stretch of the imagination (so it was tough going for a while) and I had a Need For Speed and had that bike pulling 25mph downhill on a regular basis. I think I got it to 28 once or twice, but never got to 30....and all with just that hub-centric brake to stop me.
....And yes, if you press hard, it does lock up the rear - and I learned that in the wet, your rear wheel can start to overtake you if you lose traction going down a steep hill.....and if you've never drifted sideways through an intersection and then over a bank onto another road, letting off the brake and trying to bring the bike back into line as it kept fish-tailing, I'd certainly not recommend it - especially at 12 years old! Did it stop me riding fast in the wet? No....but it DID make me immediately go to the bike shop and invest in a clamp-style front brake! That rear hub brake was fantastic in its engineering though and I remember taking it apart to clean it out and regrease everything after the bike got drowned in a rather severe summer storm that turned our back yard (and out neighbours on two sides) into a very deep pool. Took two days for it to drain away sufficiently that I could again see my bike's handlebars and that it was still - somehow - propped up by it's stand.
The 10-speed could do just over 40 down the same hill I had so much fun on with the Dragster and I once had a tail wind that pushed it to 44, but I'd no sooner hit that speed than I started braking for that nasty intersection. I used to go through a set of rubber brake pads every 400 miles or so on that thing and considering I clocked up around 13,000 miles in the four years I rode that beast full time, that's a fair few pad changes. I can't recall how many tyres I used either, but they never seemed to last long and it seemed the money I got from my paper round, lawn mowing rounds and chores around home was always disappearing to pay for one thing or another for it! Set me up well for the experience of owning a car when I started driving though!
The handlebars on the 10-speed were more tightly slung around in the vertical than the Path Racer, but I believe they were used to similar effect - to get the rider to lean forward further to reduce drag / wind resistance. The 10-speed had auxiliary brake handles in line with the flat bar closer to the steering shaft, so you could cruise on it as well as full-out fly along, but you can guess which I preferred! I had two mirrors mounted on the bars too - low down underneath the bars so I could still use them in "race mode". The gearing was only good enough to get me up to 25-30 before it was impossible to pump the legs up and down any faster to gain speed and I was in discussions with the bloke in the bike shop about all manner of improvements that could be done to increase the top end, but in truth there were few, really.
I might have been able to get an extra 5-10mph out of it with an 18- or 21-speed gear set, but that was a whole new cluster, new derailleurs, new shifters (although I figured that as the 10-speed's shifters were not stepped, I should have been able to get away with using the originals) new triple front cog and shaft assembly and possibly a replacement chain....and maybe going from a 26" to a 28" wheel....but the money I was going to have to save was around the cost (and a bit more) of a new 18-speed....and as it was, I put the money toward my first car instead. This trip down memory lane has been a fun one, actually. Makes me want to see if I can find a first-gen 10-speed - either Healing or Raleigh would be fine - and get back into riding.....but a more modern, lighter, close-ratio geared cruiser is probably a better bet! (haha) All the best
I'm pushing 70 and to a young person like yourself into the old bikes like I am made my day! I restore and restomod every Schwinn I can get my hands on. Finding a very, very old bikes with the frame mounted pump is very rare - - they are always missing. A little tip from an old timer - - store the bike with the Sturmey Acher hub in high gear so the cable is slack. And I have found nothing works better on a Brooks saddle than the leather dressing Brooks sells. Keep them going!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, I love the look of early Schwinns. Also since owning the 1952 CWS I have learnt to store them in top so I do that with this one as well, a good tip
Hi harley enjoy your new bike keep up the good work your channel and your videos on youtube
I want to say you and your father have a good healthy relationship. I was scared of my father. He was alcoholic and abusive. It caused me alot of grief. Your dad is raising you in the correct way.
Thanks for following what we do
@CarTractionvids I enjoy you and your dad's videos. I'm looking forward to seeing your progress with the trolley.
I really love your new vintage bike, that’s a peach. I think your approach to preservation rather than refurbishment is definitely the right way to go. And your commentary exudes knowledge and enthusiasm, really wonderful video 👌
That's the plan, thanks!
Well done 16 year-old 5' 9" oily rag man! I felt your pleasure in finding and fettling this new bike to increase your enjoyment and the satisfaction you have in old things ancient, which as an ancient I can appreciate! Well done you and hope it gives you some me-time in between the Pathfinder project work which vital to your continued success. Great vid! Rob
The new bike is great good on you , you better start building the 4 car garage now for when the cars start coming, Cheers
Haha, thanks!
There’s al lot of interest in vintage cycles and rightly to
It’s great to see someone of your age interested in them 😮😮😊
I wish you well Harley😮
Keep that oil can going😮
They will last forever😊😊
A beautiful bike, Harley. My first bike had a back pedal brakes and when I upgraded to the new two wheel grip brakes it was like changing from drum brakes to four wheel discs! Still there is something about older vehicles of all kinds that newer things just don’t have: Soul.
You'll be needing another shed soon Harley, for all the bikes.Great vid! 🙂👍
I sell white ball end grips for vintage bikes which would look lovely on this and match those bright white tires, and they would be a lot more comfortable too.
Love the shape of the handlebars. A nice looking bike you've got there Harley.
Thanks 👍
Grand old bicycle, incidentally hails from the same year as my twin sister and i. We both rode Phillips cycles, sports models, UK imports, in the mid sixties, costing 26 pounds a piece, back then. Both beauties to ride & look at!
Congratulations on your new purchase. 😊
Hi Squire, I found your comment rather interesting.Have you purchased anything yourself recently?
Brilliant Harley. The new bike is gorgeous. 60 years ago, both my sisters had bikes with 'back pedal brakes'. Very easy to use once you get the hang of it. You have done well with your new acquisition - what will be next ????? Take care 🙂
Not sure what will be next, I'll be occupied with the Pathfinder for a while!
Just a suggestion. With old leather saddles, treat the underside first to allow the oil/conditioner to soak into the rough surface. This will soak through the material to keep it soft. then treat the upper surface lightly and wipe the excess off.
Cool bike! 😎
I had a Lucas acetylene lamp (still have it) and used it on my 1960s Palm Beach. Got stopped by a policeman once and had to explain to him how it worked.
You caught me unawares Harley, Wednesday and a CT video. An interesting bike. I have a 78 year old friend who is a Type 1 diabetic and a 64 year old neighbour who both regularly cycle 80 miles plus nearly every other day, weather permitting, complete with all the correct gear. Me? I couldn't do 80 feet but I am inherently lazy. 2024 = bikes, 2025 = cars methinks.
That's fantastic, thanks for the comment!
Harley, you need to buy shares in the WD-40 company, great looking bicycle
I think I deserve a sponsorship, thanks for watching
Nice one.
What engine does the old grey frgie have?
Thanks, the Fergy is a petrol 4 cylinder
It's interesting how these old bikes have a longer wheelbase than modern ones, as shown by the big gap between the seat tube and the rear wheel. The gap is already smaller on the 1952 bike, and on a modern road bike the rear tyre is hard up against the seat tube. I don't know why this shortening set in or what it is supposed to do, other than maybe save a couple of ounces in weight. Does it help the handling? My current bike is a Moulton AM22, which of course breaks all the nprmal rules, and this has the old long wheelbase for its little 17 inch wheels.
Yes it is a very long wheelbase (I think the newer Dutch wheels are larger than what this bike would have originally had, as they only just fit inbetween the forks), and I think the wheels have an extra 3" or so in diameter over the '52 CWS.
🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Is CWS the co-operative wholesale society ?
Yep
Hi 👋 Harley. My father was born in 1927. He's deceased now. So your bike is not far off from turning 100. Another 3 years to go. I like it very much , i think the white tyres look good. The handle bars are certainly different. It looks like a modern racing cycle in a way. Do you think so ? Well you are going to be occupied with theae new additions, its wonderful Harley. 😀