PatWoz

1973 Ted Williams Sears Free Spirit Racer Model 47445 Made in Austria

What this bike lacks in pedigree it more than makes up for it in nostalgia. I’ll bet anyone who was riding bikes seriously in the 1970’s either had one of these or knew someone who did. If you remember this bike, do you recall those riders who were frustrated to see this Free Spirit fly by their Fuji’s and Nishiki’s. This racing machine shows up in the 1973 fall and winter catalog and claims; Our new racer has a steel alloy frame….lighter than tempered steel for greater speed. This silver colored bike was available only in a 23″ frame, was made in Austria by Puch and the shipping weight was 39lbs. This isn’t the best bike in my collection but certainly one of my favorites. I wonder who the genius was that decided to put the side reflectors on the spokes after 1973.