Originally Posted by
Hondo Gravel
Yup 1973 was my first bike with that crazy banana seat, one speed and the brakes you use the pedals to engage. I forgot what you call them. Then the tires that resemble a car tire. I live in the Cleveland Ohio suburb of Lakewood and that was freedom. My friends on the block did all kind of crazy things on our bikes. Jumping ramps and having contests on you could brake the longest skid. I went through many rear tires lol. Get off my yard guy getting angry for marking up the sidewalk. Anyways had a lot of fun and good clean mischief that was harmless.
They're called coaster brakes. The rear tire on those Sting Ray type bikes was supposed to look like a drag racing slick. My friends who had them did jump stuff with them. I had an English 3 speed which I jumped until the frame broke. That was probably 1967ish.
A few years ago a local bike shop ran a race called "The Coaster Brake Challenge". It was a 5 race series on dirt with some steep ups and downs and you could bring any bike as long as the only brake was the rear coaster brake. A friend did it and he said it was a blast. It was even featured in one of the magazines. Guys reliving their childhood.