![]() ![]() The launch of the legendary Schwalbe Marathon tire in 1983, with its unprecedented mileage, was met with great enthusiasm by keen cyclists, bicycle dealers and trade journalists. It was in this context that Schwalbe – established in 1973 – emerged as a standard-setter in the bicycle tire market. In the 1980s, cycling re-established itself as a popular trend as more and more people got back on the saddle. In the first decades after the Second World War, the bicycle tire was considered an interchangeable mass product that could practically not be improved on. From mass-produced product to innovation driver. At Schwalbe, we work to continually refine and improve this riding sensation – day in, day out. Sounds technical? The sum of these properties is tangible to every cyclist: as an optimum riding experience. Ideally, the tire combines such characteristics as maximum grip, high mileage, optimum rolling properties, low weight and reliable resistance to punctures. The choice of tire not only determines how well the wheel grips the ground but also influences how easily and comfortably the bike rolls. Whether you have a city bike, touring bike, road bike, gravel bike or MTB: The tires affect the riding experience like no other bike component. Tire technology for the optimum riding experience. I asked him directly, and he said he didn’t know.Schwalbe – the bike tire specialist. He woulda been involved in the scene during those times. He was also a member of the Southern California MC crowd around that time with the Galloping goose MC, Satan’s Slaves and the Question Marks. Even though George became a Patched member of the HA/MC 8 years after the Easy Rider bikes were stolen, I kinda wondered if discussions of the of the original bikes being stolen by the Angels could have crossed his path at some point. George is a natural born leader and quite honestly, a very intelligent and gracious guy. I actually hit up George Christie who was the President of the Ventura chapter of the Hells Angels for 35 years. It got real enough for the Stones, that they eventually settled with the Angels. When the HA felt they got screwed over at Altamont for the death of Meredith Hunter in 1969, The rumor was they put a hit out on Mick Jagger. We also know the Hells angels were not afraid of throwing their weight around in a big way when they needed to. I think he felt Peter Fonda tried to capitalize on the HA name when he made Hells Angels on wheels. He’s clearly not a fan of Peter Fonda or anyone flippantly using or disrespecting the name of the Hells Angels. I’ve read Sonny Bargers book several times. If you haven’t seen it, its a pretty campy flick about the late 60s 1%’er motorcycle culture, but worth watching. It was another Roger Corman funded film, and quite honestly set the stage for Easy Rider. Before Easy Rider, Peter Fonda made a movie a year before Easy Rider was even an Idea called the Wild Angels. The rumor was, is that the Hells Angels stole it to repay a “debt” in their eyes. Guns were involved and a recovery was unsuccessful. Tex Hall was the stuntman on the movie, and the story goes he went after the guys who stole the bikes to recover them. They completed the movie without the bikes. Then, before filming was completed the remaining three bikes were stolen. Turns out, he sold a lot of “original” Captain America’s, and I question his credibility. I love Grizzly Adams, but his stories are all over the place. The backup captain America bike was pretty much destroyed by the ending scene, and what was left of it was given to Dan Haggerty. Two were made for filming, and the other two were backups. 49 though 51 Police Panheads, Bought at auction and customized for the low budget movie Easy Rider by local LA bike builders Ben Hardy and Cliff Vaughs. We know this: There were four bikes made for Easy Rider. Who Stole them? I gotta think that someone out there, knows what happened. Before filming concluded, the remaining 3 bikes were stolen. The Billy bike, while less famous was also made. It produced the arguably most famous and iconic bike of all time, the Captain America chopper. Easy Rider was filmed Starting in late February of 1968. ![]()
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