1966 Schwinn Hollywood

This is Mrs. Communist’s ride. I got it for her back in about July 1999, when this picture was taken. Miles was about 7 months old then.

The first bike I got for her was a 1975 Fair Lady, which she said she wouldn’t be caught dead riding, so I got her a more respectable Hollywood. Which I figured was appropriate, given her love of People magazine and “Entertainment Tonight.”

As I waited for the bike to be delivered, I’d managed to find a pair of new old-stock Schwinn whitewall tires on eBay, so I got those, too. Whitewalls are so much more fancy-looking.

Unfortunately, though, the next accessory sent the Hollywood’s fancy quotient through the floor (Schwinn nerds, please avert your eyes):

I had no choice, really. I wasn’t about to put that ghastly monstrosity on my mountain bike. That, and the wife told me to do it, so I, you know… did it. Turns out that bike rides are a great way to get kids to fall asleep. I guess the joke’s on me.

Anyway, this bike is further proof that while girls’ bikes aren’t as “collectible” as boys’ bikes, they tend to be in better shape. Even more than 40 years after its manufacture, the chrome on this bitch still shines like crazy, especially on the rims. And the paint, aside from a few nicks here and there, is in good shape, save for some pants-leg wear on the chainguard:

This bike is positively radiant when compared to my Sting-Ray, which is more than a decade younger than the Hollywood. Thanks, ladies, for taking good care of your stuff.

As always, see Flickr for more photos.