1981 Schwinn Town and Country Tri-Wheeler in Sky Blue
First of all, I think that most people would be surprised that you can put a Schwinn trike in the back of a Scion xB. All you have to do is lower the handlebars:
I know that the guy that I bought it from was surprised. In fact, he said, “No way”. Now, if I had a nickel for every time that I showed up to buy bike and someone said that, well, I’d have a butt-load of nickels. But I don’t. What I have instead are two Schwinn trikes. This lovely 1981 model is in a color that Schwinn called “Sky Blue”:
I wouldn’t call it “Sky Blue” myself, it seems more like a Royal Blue. But that is what Schwinn called it, despite the fact that they offered the Tri-Wheeler (in some years, not 1981) in a very pretty light blue. Look how nice the chain-gaurd is:
Secondly: can a guy really justify having two of these Schwinn Tri-Wheelers? The short answer here is, “Yes”. It’s simply a matter of displaying the technological advances made by Schwinn over a decade of manufacturing these trikes. My 1970 Schwinn Town and Country Tri-Wheeler in Campus Green had the earliest type of hub made by Schwinn on thse trikes:
The above photo isn’t the best, but it shows how simply the trike was driven. When you pedal it, the chain goes to that rear hub and turns it. There is another chain on the left side of the trike that drives only the left wheel. The right wheel is a free wheel and just follows the bike. The result is an odd ride, and a trike that essentially wants to go in circles. You get used to it, but it’s a very weird vehicle to ride. The upshot of all of this is that Schwinn ultimately introduced a rear differential, which is what my 1981 three-speed model has:
Basically, this one drives both wheels. I was praying that this trike would have the differential when I was driving to get it. The guy that I bought it from didn’t know anything about these vehicles, and I just wanted to pick it up before he changed his mind. He listed it on CL for $100, the exact same amount that I paid for my other one, and I think he got like 100 emails and calls about it. When I got to his warehouse where he worked to pick up the trike, he said, “Do you think that I’m selling it for too cheap?” I said, “Nah.”
The electrical tape is a nice touch.
I’ve already taken the tape off and it looks beautiful underneath. This pic shows the only decal that didn’t survive, the down-tube decal. The worst of the surface rust will come off with no problem:
Nice headbadge, July of 1981 model:
Here is a photo of the rear:
The rear reflectors are both gone, and one of the basket handles is broken. I’m on a mission to acquire these articles, so please contact me if you have them! This trike was as dirty as any bicycle that I have ever encountered when I got it. The basket, which should be white, looked as though it had been spray-painted black. However, as I started to wipe it down a bit, I realized that the paint on this trike is beautiful:
Wait until I get the whole thing cleaned up and waxed:
So, finally, do I need two of these things?
Heck no. Do I love these incredibly ungainly, dorky old-man rides? Yes. There is also the very slight possiblity that my wife might actually ride one of them with me. She thinks that bicycling is unsafe, and I would argue that these are about as safe as you can get, at least as far as just falling over goes.
Plus……how can you have a Schwinn Trike race if you don’t have two of them?
-Hubbard
I to have the Tri Wheeler syndrome, I have a 68 green 2spd and a 78 3spd, blue. Yes we race ours too. The 78 i got for 100. the 68 was 180.00. Love riding them the 3spd is much faster etc , i got rear reflectors 20.00 for the pair nice condition Brad
on the 1981 Schwinn model, how much are they worth brand new and if they have alot of rust on them.
email me at slimthuglife88@gmail.com
No idea but you can drop by the Schwinn Collectors Forum and they will tell you everything you want to know.
My husband and I recently purchased a Scwhinn Town & Country that is a pale yellow and a tri-wheeled for forty bucks Its in really fine shape, it could just use a paint job and decals. Where might we find the decals to replace the old ones as the ones that now exhist are quite faded along with the paint. There are the decal for the fender, and the pole under the seat as well as the bar that holds the handle bars. The aluminum one on the handle bar pole was removed and looks to be an easy fix. I would like online shopping places so I might shop around for these decals easily that would duplicate the old ones.
email at roselilacs@yahoo.com
Rhonda, Ebay.com is the best source I know for new old stock or reproduction bicycle decals. Good luck
Chris
Hey — cool trike. I know you’re in Dallas, but maybe you have some insight: do you think that one of these (the 1981 model, with differential) would work well on snow/ice? Does the 3-speed hub have a coaster brake?I’m considering a move to New England, and thinking that studded tires, plus maybe even a disc brake on the front, might be just the thing for a flat commute. But I’ve never actually ridden one. Thoughts?
Brian,
These trikes are going to work best on a flat commute regardless of the weather. They are peculiar and a bit difficult to ride: a tad wobbly and rickety, but not bad for short disatnces. The more level the surface, the better. It’s sort of like the difference between a motorcycle and a motorcycle with a sidecar. It’s just an entirely different physical equation than riding a bicycle. It’s also a woman’s bike frame attached to a trike rear, so it isn’t for large people. I’m 5 10 and I don’t think that it would work very well for anyone much bigger than six feet or so. The 3 speeds do not have coaster brakes, although my Campus Green 1970 model has a bendix kick-back 2 speed that has a coaster brake. They also have parking brakes, which come in handy. These babies want to roll away. Good luck with your project, Brian, and thanks for contributing.
-H
I recently acquired an 1981 Blue Tri Wheeler and don’t know if all the rims are original. The back two are 24″ the front is 26″. Is this correct?
TOM no thats not right the blue trike has 26 all the way around
Hi, I’m looking at one of these and I think I’m dating it correctly as 1976 but how do you tell if it has the better “differential?” It has the three speeds so maybe that automatically means it has the differential that you’re saying is better?
I really like your blue tri-wheeler. Would you be willing to sell it?
Hi. I actually bought one of these about 4 months ago off CL. It’s also the “Sky Blue” color, but like you said, is more of a royal blue. It’s a 1977, which I tracked through the serial #. I paid $25, but it was in horrific condition. Rusted, missing everything, etc. I found a guy local that is restoring it for me and found a lot of the old parts. I wish I had the basket though, which is the key piece. I found them online for about $50. I read the post about tall people not being able to ride. I am 6’7″, but the seat goes way up, so I’m not worried about it. I can’t wait until it’s done as I’ve never rode it. Anyway, just wanted to say cool site and it’s nice to know there are other “dorks” (lol) just like me, who love these bikes. Will keep you posted and post pics if I can when it’s all done…!!
Adam welcome and you’re part of the crew now. Send a photo and I’ll post it.
Chris, thank you. Where can I send the picture or how do I post? Thanks…!!
Chris at bikingindallas.com
Chris, sent my pics! The 1977 Trike should be in my possession soon…:o)
Adam, I got the photos, thanks and I’ll add them here later this evening.
Ok, here is Adam’s excellent adventure in the form of his Schwinn Sky Blue trike, or three wheeler if you prefer. He’s going to send updated photos as the project progresses and I will add them to this post, this seems to be the most popular post for 3 wheeled Schwinns.
Chris, thanks for posting the pics. It’s a 1977 model (year after I was born). The first pic if the day I got it. (Paid $25, steal!) It was in horrific condition, but feel in love w/ it and imagined the bike restored. Had to have it. The second picture is it taken apart in my basement. The 3rd pic is half way through restoration. I was able to find a old school time period seat, which has been mounted. All the rust has been removed. Just working on finding “as close” to, or all original parts for her. Very small market for these things, but doing my best. I will keep you posted. She should be done by Christmas hopefully. Thanks…!! Adam…
The bike looks amazing! The latest from Adam:
Thanks again for posting the pics Chris. I put an ad on craiglist looking for someone to restore my T & C that was literally trashed. Sure enough, a gentleman named Jesse contacted me and offered to restore it. He found mostly original parts, new tires, and did all the labor for me. He even found the basket, which was bonus. He cleaned all the rust off, put gears and brakes on, added the old school Schwin seat, and made it spit shine !! He was incredible and did an amazing job as you can see. I have to give a big shout out to him. This bike is great becase I literally take my 4 year old daughter to the park everyday and she happily rides in the basket while my dog runs beside us. Just as I imagined. This is a head turner for sure. It’s been sooo much fine getting this bike back. People have even offered to buy it from me, but she’s not for sale. She’s w/ me for life. Enjoy the pics and I’ll send more as I take them. Thanks all…!!
Gorgeous three wheeler and the basket looks new. Those are great for riding around the neighborhood looking for garage sale finds, well and giving rides to your kids. Nice work!
Chris,
I just got a Schwinn town and country trike. It was in a rust bucket but I happen to get it pretty cleaned up I was wondering how I could find how old it is and maybe you know where I can get a few parts? I will post photos soon.
Thanks,
Scott
Scott, I got your note, I have no idea how to help you other than to suggest you ask this same question in the classic and vintage forum at Bike Forums http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php/181-Classic-amp-Vintage And there used to be a vintage Schwinn forum on the Schwinn site but it appears they closed that down. You might start Googling “Schwinn forum” and see where Schwinn owners are talking about vintage Schwinns these days. Good luck!