| I was just a little kid in the late 1960s, | | | | (hence the fat tires), or through the |
| when the TV show The Munsters was on the air | | | | neighborhood. The riders want to "see and be |
| in Prime Time TV, young enough to feel that | | | | seen in style." |
| Eddie Munster (the werewolf son) was my | | | | |
| favorite character on the show. I don't | | | | Lowriders are usually considered to be among |
| remember him riding the "converted Schwinn | | | | the most comfortable of bikes. The |
| Stingray" which was apparently the first | | | | "apehanger" handlebars extend up so high that |
| lowrider bike featured on TV, and which | | | | riders are perforce forced to sit up straight |
| started the craze for the lowriders during | | | | - reducing the stress on the back which is |
| the late 60s and 70s. | | | | one of the chief causes of biking discomfort. |
| | | | The tires are cushiony, the seat, whether |
| I do remember that I wanted to sleep in a | | | | banana or some other kind, are roomy and |
| bureau drawer as he did - I felt that would | | | | comfortable. Most of them have only one speed |
| be nice and snug! | | | | and a simple coaster break, so they don't |
| | | | break down that often. |
| What I most remember about the show, in the | | | | |
| technology department, was the car they drove | | | | With the new space age materials of which |
| - the converted hearse. Now that was a car! | | | | bikes are made, these bikes aren't as heavy |
| | | | as you might think, so if you're thinking of |
| Anyway, that's just a bit of historical | | | | getting a new bike, and like to indulge in |
| interest. Most kids today have never even | | | | your creativity, you might want to consider |
| heard of the Munsters - or if they have it's | | | | getting a low rider. (Even if you don't want |
| the remake done in the 1980s which had none | | | | to trick it out, or "pimp it" as the slang |
| of the charm of the original - give me Fred | | | | goes, it is still a classic "retro" design |
| Gwynne, Yvonne DeCarlo and Al Lewis any day | | | | and a fun ride.) |
| of the week! | | | | |
| | | | But if you do want to trick it out (a term I |
| It wasn't a TV show that brought the lowrider | | | | prefer to "pimp" frankly, as I would think |
| back into favor in the late 1980s, however, | | | | that word would have unpleasant connotations) |
| but merely the concerted creativity of people | | | | there are plenty of stores, both bricks and |
| in the Chicano neighborhoods of Los Angeles, | | | | mortar and online, where you can purchase |
| who began exercising their creativity by | | | | practically any accessory you can think of - |
| tricking out their bikes with chrome, paint, | | | | from gold and chrome mirrors, rims and |
| and all sorts of accessories. The hobby | | | | spokes, to hand-painted murals on the frame, |
| caught on and has spread through urban areas | | | | to rows of mirrors on each side, to a baby |
| throughout the United States. | | | | spare tire mounted on the back! |
| | | | |
| Lowrider bikes are not built for speed - they | | | | So check out your local store or surf the |
| are built for leisurely rides along the beach | | | | web, and have some fun! |