Bicycling is a fun, relaxing pastime for children and adults alike. With the arrival of summer, more and more bicycles are hitting the road.
Bikes have been around for some time. Their designs and features have changed quite a bit over the years and continue to evolve even today. But those cool, older models are still around and available for purchase — if you know where to look.
For the cruiser aficionado, eBay is an expansive source of vintage bicycles from every era. Whether you’re looking to buy a functioning bike or you just want a vintage bicycle for show, there is a wide selection at every price range.
Take a look at our guide below to see some of the best vintage bicycles available for purchase today, as well as the history behind them. Get ready for a blast from the past.
Cruiser Bike
Thanks to its heavy weight and slower speed, a cruiser bike is best for the casual cyclist. This type of bicycle gained popularity in the 1930s, thanks in part to the efforts of Schwinn to revive bicycle sales during the Great Depression.
Tandem Bike
With two pairs of pedals and handlebars, plus seats for multiple riders, a tandem bike allows its riders to distribute the effort and thus makes for an easy (and fun) ride.
Patents for tandem bicycles date as far back as the late 1800s, and the two-person bicycle made a comeback in the 1960s for both couples and racers. Sometimes you just need a bicycle built for two.
Road Bike
Road bicycles are the ride of choice for professional cyclers. Their shape and weight are highly regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Road bikes didn't always look like they do today, though. In fact, one of the first road bicycles featured a front tire so big that it made the bike almost impossible to ride.
Kids' Bikes
In the 1950s and 1960s, kids' bikes were extravagant and imaginative, with long "banana" seats and cartoons plastered all over. Both fun and playful, these vintage-style bikes for kids make a real statement today.
Mountain Bike
As its name suggests, a mountain bike is built for off-road cycling on rough terrain. Mountain biking became a sport in the 1970s, when racer Joe Breeze helped create what is considered to be the first mountain bike.
For more vintage bicycles, click here.
