Thimbleanna

Banana Bikes

One week ago today I was blissfully sewing with the quilty peeps.  (In sharp contrast to the pantry and kitchen drawer cleaning I’m doing today {sigh}.)  One of the highlights of my day with the quilty peeps, was being able to see the banana bike collection that Junie and her fabulous hubby have started.

4 Bikes

Junie took the picture above — I was so busy taking pictures of all the bike parts, I didn’t get any good pictures of all four of the bikes together.  (Thanks Junie!)

Seats

JunieHubby is an amazing guy.  He rebuilds all kinds of really nifty old jukeboxes, coke machines, arcade games and probably lots more.  He’s rebuilt all of these banana bikes except one — was it the red one?  I think that one is a reproduction.  Don’t hold me to that though.  JunieHubby told me lots of really cool facts about these bikes (I remember gasping at the prices of some of the little parts) but I have a terrible memory, so I don’t trust myself to recount any of those facts.

Handlebars

Besides, I was too excited about being in the presence of  relics from my childhood.  Aren’t these the cutest bikes ever???  And LOOK at these fun colors.  The red bike doesn’t have speeds and I think the reason I didn’t take a picture of the red handlebar was because it doesn’t have handbrakes — it has a plain handle.  I liked the crossbar on the red bike though — without the shifter, there’s room for that pretty Schwinn logo.

4 Frames

My very favorite part of these bikes is the chain guards.  Feast your eyes:

4 Frames

I mean really.  How cool are those names?  Oh.  My.  Gosh!  I loved our pink banana bike when were were growing up, but I think I’d be in a real pickle to have to choose between pink and one of these adorable fruity bikes.

Chain Guards

Junie and I had lots of fun taking pictures of all the little bits and pieces of these bikes.  JunieHubby has spared no attention to detail — just look at those little racing flag valve stem covers on each of the tires.  They’re on the rear tires too and they’re color-coded to match the bikes.

4 Tires

I love the pretty speedometers too.  And the shiny brake drums.  Hmmm.  That’s not what you call it — the brakes are around the rim of the tire on a bike.  Help JunieHubby!  I love that pretty shiny part that’s in the middle of the bottom row of the picture below.  Whatever it is, it’s pretty slick.  Oh — and that fun coil-y part that’s under the speedometer.  Pretty, pretty, shiny, shiny!

Parts

You’d all be very proud of me — I didn’t get any drool on any of the bikes.  And when we were all done taking pictures, we grabbed Jewels and Gurney and took the bikes out for a spin.  A very short spin.  And we laughed a lot.  ‘Cause you should try to set the timer on the camera and then run and hop on a banana bike with a cross bar and then hold hands.  That’s why my tail light isn’t shining!

Happiness

Thank you, thank you, thank you Junie and JunieHubby for sharing your super exciting hobby!  {Smooches}!

XOXO,
Anna

56 thoughts on “Banana Bikes”

  1. Oh my, I just love this post! It brings back memories of my green Schwinn!! Yes, I used to have one. So much fun. All the photos are great and boy does her hubby do a great job. What fun you gals had. The quilty shot is just perfect… too fun!

  2. Wow! Great post and photos! Thanks for the memories. I never had a banana bike, but my best friend did. Hers was pink. That last photo is wonderful. I can only imagine how much fun it was to put that one together!

  3. oh, this brings back memories of my bike – purple with a rainbow banana seat! it was luscious! your last picture is a treasure! blow it up and frame it – it’s wonderful! ?

  4. Oh my heck !!!! One of the best posts ever! I LOVE LOVE LOVE those bikes! Wow Juniehubby! You are awesome. and that parting shot is SIMPLY FANTASTIC! I can see that as a print selling in Quilt Stores across America! Not even kidding. I’m forwarding this post to everyone I know! ;o)

  5. Oh Anna that is just the most fun post I have ever read…I love the bikes but you and the peeps with the quilts on the bikes is worth some kind of VERY SPECIAL award. Thank you for the happiness this morning.

  6. What a fun, darling, and clever post filled with memories of the past. Wow!!! I loved it and the pictures are so stunningly beautiful!!! WOW!!!

    I especially love the last picture of you and your quiltie peeps. You must enlarge it and frame it for each of your friends.

  7. You should make that last photo into a notecard or postcard!!!! I used to have a purple banana bike – oh the fun times I had on that bike.

  8. OMGosh! How fun. It makes me wanna go out cruisin the town on my banana bike…oh wait, I’d have to buy one! Almost worth it though!!!

  9. How awesome is that!!!! I am taken back some years with these photos. I know for sure I would have left some drool on those bikes.
    I did manage to find a little bit of that “bike” fabric. I’m saving it tho, as I’m not sure what I want to do with it. I’m going to use it wisely :0

  10. I love this fun whimsical post on the banana bikes! What a great picture of you all on the bikes with your quilts on your backs. How clever! The quilts are darling as well! I loved your post so much that I had to show my husband who is also a collector of the banana bikes. He would love to talk with your friend’s husband, if he could get an e-mail address for him. Thanks for sharing! :)

  11. What cool bikes!! I love the way he’s got them painted up and nick-named and everything. I too had a much-beloved banana bike- purple with a white sparkly seat. (and I’m amazed you got that picture with a timer – good job!)

  12. my heart leaped (literally! – i think i’m gonna swoon) – i would spend actual money on that last picture – you oughta sell it to people like me!

  13. OMGosh!!! What a CUTE post! ? Thanks for making me smile! ? I l?ve the banana bike photos and that photo on the bottom there is frame-worthy! You are too cute!

  14. “Hapiness is…” Ha ha, is photo is wonderful!!!
    These Banana-bikes remind me of my childhood.
    With a bike like that you had been king and queen of the street.
    I never had one (sob)

  15. Oh Anna, thanks so much for taking the time to photo and write such an amazing post about hubby’s bikes. I can’t tell you how much he enjoyed it…(and I did too!) Now he’s asking why I don’t have a blog…hmmm…never thought I had anything to blog about but maybe I should pull out the rest of his toys and start blogging about them ;-) The day with you and the quilty peeps was the best….the last photo says it all! Thanks again! xoxoxo Junie

  16. Banana bikes? An American thing, I assume.

    While you’ve been doing all those lovely crafty things, I’ve been… doing lots of unpaid work. Got it wrong somewhere, I feel. Ah well, at least someone’s having fun and it couldn’t be anyone nicer than you!

  17. What awesome shots – you coud make a series of cards with those “bits of bikes” shots…they are delicious..

    I think I’d have to have an apple krate, or maybe a pea picker….

  18. All the posts kinda summed it up, but I had the best quilting day and that picture is so funny. I have no idea how you come up with this stuff. I’m glad you ave a great imagination. Love ya, Jewels

  19. What a great day we had! One of the best perks from one of your best friends having a blog is that we now have documentation of our get togethers! We no longer have to try and remember who, what, when and where! The why is obvious: we have so much fun! Love you guys!

  20. Hi Anna, it looks like this isn’t the first time you have made a quick get away on your banana bike LOL. The quilts go great with the bikes!

  21. So cute and funny. Love the quilt/bike pic. I never had the banana bike. I wanted one but I had an old Schwinn my dad bought at the police auction. Heavy thing, too. I wrecked on my friend’s banana bike and still have the scars to prove it. Those darn front brakes!

  22. Oh my gosh! I can’t belive you got that picture of the four of you! It’s wonderful. Seeing those banana bikes sure did bring back memories. I LOVED my bike when I was a kid and couldn’t wait to hop on it when I got home from school. I remember that McDonald’s used to give away these multi-colored plastic things that snapped on the spokes and were all the rage. Such fun.

  23. SWD!!! (squealing with delight!)
    My sister had a blue banana bike and we my brother and I had ten speeds. These are an amazing collection. And I LOVE the quilty peeps wrapped in quilts riding away on banana bikes. You MUST frame that one!

    Jody

  24. How fun! This brings back such fun memories. My Banana bike was purple with a purple sparkly seat. :) Hope all is well.

  25. That’s a pretty bizarre activity – riding banana bikes while wrapped in a quilt – but somehow it all works.

    I love the bike photos – I want the orange one. What an excellent hobby.

  26. Okay, I’m catching up with you today and I’m just amazed – at the beautifulness of the bikes, the attention to detail, and the amazing picture of four ladies, wrapped in quilts pedaling away! Love it!

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