jrjwoodsman

Hi Folks, new to the forum, glad to be here. I just aquired a Huffy Open Road and was wondering if anyone knows the history on this bike? I can't seem to find much about it on the internet. Any info would be great.

Mos6502

Well it is a Huffy that was sold by Wards. Looks like the late 70s, maybe early 80s. Open Road was a brand name that Wards used (like Sears "Free Spirit"). I'm not really sure there is much more to say about it than that.

mickey85

Cool bike! My dad has a sears from 1961 that looks fairly similar. Weird front fender though...

oldroads

The "Open Road" name was used on a lot of bikes in the 1970s.
You'll find a lot about them in our archives.

mkeller234

I'm no Huffy expert but I believe that bike would have been built in the Dayton / Cincinnati Ohio area. It looks like it's in great shape, do you know if the bearings have been serviced?

jrjwoodsman

I paid $25 for it on our local craigslist, and paid $50 at the LBS to have them service the bottom bracket, rear hub, and put a new chain on it. It rides pretty nice for what it is. I am planning on riding it in the Seattle to Portland (204 miles) race this year with 8 other guys on cruisers. They do the ride in one day (16 hours of riding). I'm gonna put a Brooks B17 on it and get to breaking it in.

i-timy

204mi on cruiser?! Ga ga ga goin!

mkeller234

You did good at that price. The LBS service charge is not bad at all, especially since that includes a chain.

Brenbaker

My in laws had this same bike (minus the front basket) in there garage. We picked it up today. Put air in the tires and I rode it to make sure it fits me. Have you found out any info? I cant even seem to find the serial number on mine.

tricky 

Hi @benbraker. You can call out a specific user by using @ in front of their username, like this: @jrjwoodsman It will notify them that they have been mentioned.

That said, this thread is 7 years old and you may not get a response. I would, though, like to know how the cruiser one day Seatte to Portland went!

Brenbaker

I called Huffy and they will help identify these old bikes. I just sent and email with a picture and the info I do know. I was able to find what I think is the serial number.

tricky 

Nice! That's actually pretty cool of them. I wouldn't expect that seeing as how they are just big box store fodder.

Brenbaker

Me either. We will see if they really will in 24 hours or so. They said that is their turn around time.

tricky 

24 hours? Even better. Definitely update us here with what you find.

Brenbaker

The first set of numbers I emailed to Huffy was incorrect. They told me where to look. I did and emailed back.I am beyond thrilled they took the time to tell me some info on the bike. Here is the info i received from them: C==Celina, Ohio where made



7___9==1979 when bike was made

ZHO_____==serial number for the bicycle –for Consumers use only



The picture looked to be a 26” wheel on the bike – you maybe able to still read tire size on the sidewall

Open Road was a brand made for Montgomery Wards

rumrunn6

used to work in a fashion studio in NYC. Montgomery Ward was one of our biggest clients. nothing fancy but as a catalog house, we did a ton of work. never photo's bikes, just ppl in clothing. other depts did other things but don't recall seeing any bikes. miss that work, it was fun

samuelpartee

Where did you find the cereal number?

Dirt Farmer

It came with a toy, right in the Fruit Loops box!

samuelpartee

Serial* my apologies, I'm french and not good with English yet

Schrock07

Open Road bikes were sold at Montgomery Wards. They were decent and more affordable than Schwinn but they were heavy and components were just average.

plumberroy

Yes I know it is an old thread summer of 78 I actually test road for Huffy they paid local high school kids to ride the bikes little bit of money usually rode to x restaurant,10-15 miles away they bought lunch and rode back . I am sure that I know people who made that bike.