It’s been a while since our last Street Seen, so thanks to Bob H. in Madison, WI, for treating us to some primo Huffy step-through greatness.

This here Huffy starts our Themeorific May Madness.  I have assembled all my submissions according to a theme.  This weekend is Good Ol’ American Plumbing-Pipe-Turned-Bicycle, followed by England Week, Japan Week and so on.  This should be fun.

A vanishing breed photographed in its natural habitat – an off-campus bike rack. This bike meets all OCTS criteria. It’s definitely old, (bike boom era), definitely crappy (i.e. a Huffy) and definitely a ten speed. Or on this case, an “Omni-10,” for riders who like their prefixes!

I spotted this just a block from my office near the UW Madison campus. It’s a vanishing breed because more and more students are ditching the trusty OCTS in favor of not as old, but far crappier, “mountain bikes,” usually department store purchases that weigh a ton, and with knobby tires are not the greatest on pavement. I know because even a middle aged desk jockey such as myself can zip past kids laboring to push these POS up the slightest hills . . .

But I digress. Back to the great features of this OCTS. It’s got it all: step through frame, welded on kickstand, three piece crank, ultra-comfy mattress saddle, those unique perforated grips and of course the “marque de crap,” the Huffy headbadge! Would it surprise you to know this bike was not locked?

Thanks again Bob