Comments on: Schwinn Pea Picker

By: Adam Leddin

Adam Leddin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:13:00 +0000

Wow, thanks John. Awesome insight.

By: John Brain

John Brain — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:59:00 +0000

The 1963 Schwinn StingRay had specifications that were virtually identical to an earlier bicycle called the Huffy Penguin. The Schwinn StingRay brought nothing new to the market place – either design wise or stylistically – that the Penguin bike did not already exhibit. Schwinn marketed the already pre-exsiting bike style in the form of its Sting-Ray - through its national dealership network. The Sting-Ray was the first commercially made banana seat bike to be sold on a nationwide basis, but it was not the first ”high-rise” style bike sold commercially in America. This distinction goes to the Huffy Penguin, brainchild of Pete Mole of California, who set down the specifications by which all other banana seat bikes were built to. The Schwinn Sting-Ray was still in its prototype stage when the Huffy Penguin was being sold in California bike stores. This is the true history of the high rise bikes introduction to the American market place.

By: BaldheadedEDUfreak

BaldheadedEDUfreak — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:50:00 +0000

No, I outlawed the darn shifter personally.

I “racked” myself so much on it that I traded in my Pea-Picker (pretty much identical to the one shown here) in 1972 or 3 for a Continental. Any guy who owned a “Krate” as a kid could tell you similar tales of sore…pride.

I recall the Schwinn dealer giving me something like $50 credit toward a new bike…even then, this type of Stingray was in some demand. Mine was in great shape, too.

Funny how it’s the bike I least miss. I wish you guys luck in getting one.

I am fixing up my old Schwinn Cruiser, purchased used about the same time as the Picker, as a pleasure ride. It languished in a friend’s shed for nearly 40 years. It’s badass black, like my current ride, a Specialized Hard Rock I use for fun and commuting.

By: truth & beauty

truth & beauty — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:58:00 +0000

lovely. too bad schwinn is now chinese.

By: Malcolm Brooks

Malcolm Brooks — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:36:00 +0000

Fond memories of those bikes although never had one, but always wanted one. A friend up the street had the Orange Krate. I had a Columbia that I eventually turned into one of the coolest choppers in the neighborhood. I wish I had photos of it.

By: Dontcoast

Dontcoast — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:29:00 +0000

wasnt al gore involved in getting that shifter made illegal?

By: Harry Farquhar

Harry Farquhar — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:36:00 +0000

Your choices are: Apple Krate, Grey Ghost, Orange Krate, Lemon Peeler, Cotton Picker or Pea Picker

By: Hornickdn

Hornickdn — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 05:22:00 +0000

I had the Yellow version …….I think it as called the Banana Peeler. It was the first bike I bought with my paper money. It was considered the bad ass bikes for that time period.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:15:00 +0000

Full suspension, 5 speed, banana seat. Yes please.

By: TeeBee

TeeBee — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:56:00 +0000

My mom wouldn’t let me have one of these – claimed the shifter would hit me right in the, er, “shifter” if I crashed. I do remember it as being the height of bicycle bad-ass back in the day.

By: Alan LaRue

Alan LaRue — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 03:49:00 +0000

I remember that bike, but I don’t remember it having shocks in the rear! That looks like it has more suspension travel the latest crop of Sportsters (Iron, Super Low, et. al.)

Never had a Sting Ray — I had the imitation version from Sears.

By: Tony Pereira

Tony Pereira — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:36:00 +0000

That’s the real deal right there! I love these old bikes. My second bike was a sting ray that was this same color. The bike I learned to wheelie on!