6th. Grade. Schwinn Typhoon, Black. 85 customer route on a hilly area. No dogs bothered me once I gave 'em the boot. Used a sled a couple of times due to the snow and nobody going to work but me. Had to go to Florida to stay with grandparents for a month, and trained a kid to do the route. Asked if he wanted to keep it when I got back. Yes! We were going to move anyway.
Started with a Penyysaver route when I was twelve. Graduated to a "real" paper route when I was thirteen. I had to use the sled in winter as well, and had to "collect" every week. Didn't you hate the ones who were NEVER home? The bike; a Frankenbike kluged together from junk parts after my Ross Barracuda was stolen. I think it was a Columbia "Leave-it-to-Beaver," with a 26" wheel on the back, and a 20" on the front. It had ape-hanger handlebars, a spring-loaded banana seat, and a six-foot sissy bar! DAMN! That thing was UGLY!
These days, a kid can't even GET a paper route. My paper is delivered by some Section Eight dolittle in a crappy pickup, who does a digout on the berm that separates my driveway from the road every damned day. You know; the same berm that keeps the rainwater off my property. Complaining about that only resulted in the numbnut digging out even harder. Of course, most kids wouldn't want a paper route these days. Heck; they're only getting out of their "child safety seats" at around twelve these days, and Mommy is still chauffeuring them the half-mile between home and school...
Didn't have a paper route but helped a friend with his. Still remember helping him with the special edition that came out the evening of Kennedy's assassination. A woman driving was crazy, crying ... yelling at us to get home.
My brother and i had a news route in rural panhandle Florida back in the early 60's till we moved away. Worked out good, paid for new tires for the bike and a lot of candy. Tried pushing the Grit newspaper along with the regular paper but that didn't work out so well.
Well I'm not much on commenting these days but this did it. I was born in late '62. My grandfather won a contest in my name in 1963 for one of the very first Stingrays and he - I ? - won. Pissed my older sisters off to no end. AMAZING! And yes, I did the paper route on that bike but in territory with hills - not so good. Had a slick back tire and the banana seat that got recovered eight million times. Best worst bike ever.
Hell yeah! except I had a paper rolling machine.Get on that front brake just as you made the throw and man you could get the distance
ReplyDelete6th. Grade. Schwinn Typhoon, Black. 85 customer route on a hilly area. No dogs bothered me once I gave 'em the boot. Used a sled a couple of times due to the snow and nobody going to work but me. Had to go to Florida to stay with grandparents for a month, and trained a kid to do the route. Asked if he wanted to keep it when I got back. Yes! We were going to move anyway.
ReplyDeleteStarted with a Penyysaver route when I was twelve. Graduated to a "real" paper route when I was thirteen. I had to use the sled in winter as well, and had to "collect" every week. Didn't you hate the ones who were NEVER home? The bike; a Frankenbike kluged together from junk parts after my Ross Barracuda was stolen. I think it was a Columbia "Leave-it-to-Beaver," with a 26" wheel on the back, and a 20" on the front. It had ape-hanger handlebars, a spring-loaded banana seat, and a six-foot sissy bar! DAMN! That thing was UGLY!
ReplyDeleteThese days, a kid can't even GET a paper route. My paper is delivered by some Section Eight dolittle in a crappy pickup, who does a digout on the berm that separates my driveway from the road every damned day. You know; the same berm that keeps the rainwater off my property. Complaining about that only resulted in the numbnut digging out even harder. Of course, most kids wouldn't want a paper route these days. Heck; they're only getting out of their "child safety seats" at around twelve these days, and Mommy is still chauffeuring them the half-mile between home and school...
Didn't have a paper route but helped a friend with his. Still remember helping him with the special edition that came out the evening of Kennedy's assassination. A woman driving was crazy, crying ... yelling at us to get home.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and i had a news route in rural panhandle Florida back in the early 60's till we moved away. Worked out good, paid for new tires for the bike and a lot of candy. Tried pushing the Grit newspaper along with the regular paper but that didn't work out so well.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Stingray with a sissy bar. Cool.
ReplyDeleteDaily Oklahoman, 65 daily, 80 Sunday, Schwinn Stingray with front handbrake and two speed kickback. Made about $40 a month. X
ReplyDeleteWell I'm not much on commenting these days but this did it.
ReplyDeleteI was born in late '62.
My grandfather won a contest in my name in 1963 for one of the very first Stingrays and he - I ? - won.
Pissed my older sisters off to no end.
AMAZING!
And yes, I did the paper route on that bike but in territory with hills - not so good.
Had a slick back tire and the banana seat that got recovered eight million times.
Best worst bike ever.