There's a guy I see about once a week at the thrift store riding a good looking red bicycle called a Sentinel. The head badge is a soldier. I've admired it and even asked him if I could take some photos of it - then last week I came across one for sale at a very good price and now I have a Sentinel Whisper. I'm not making this up. This is a real bike, from a real bike company. They were sold here by bicycle shops in beautiful NE Ohio and were quite popular. My thrift store guy says he bought his new 30 years ago at the bike store just up the street. From the looks I assumed these bikes were part of the Japanese influx of steel lugged frames from the late 1970's and in through the 1980s, but I've learned that is not quite the whole story.
Sheldon Kasower, founder and owner of the Sentinel Bicycle Manufacturing Company says they were the first company to produce quality lugged frames in the USA, until finally they couldn't compete with the Taiwan producers, sold the company to Bendix and it faded. The frames were built in Chatsworth California and/or in Kobe Japan by Shikamura, depending on the model. Mine has, and I've heard this is original, Shimano Tourney brakes - center pull in front and side pull on the rear; quick release front wheel and solid axle rear. Rigida rims. It sold for $160.00 new. Photos to follow.
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- leslita williams
- Herbalist, traveler, poet, singer, cook, sailor, bicycle mechanic, friend to dogs, gardener, visionary, mystic.
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13 comments:
Hey I just bought a yellow 1977 sentinel. Its a lugged frame 10 speed, and the model name may be "Eugene". I would love to know more about these bicycle and swap pics.
seriously?
i've been looking for information on my sentinal gt whisper ever since i bought it. i've found nothing.
im a regular at a bike swap repair yard in reno NV. In their "graveyard" which is where "dead" bike can be dragged out of a pile of bike scraps and parts i came across my Sentinal.
This bike had most of it apparently original parts, i tuned it up. the price tag for this thing at the shop was about 80$ i haggled with a 20$ student discount, and a 20$ bike donation. This brought it down to $40 bucks!
This one is silver, with gold painted "sentinal" and "whisper" on the frame. It also has the little soldier emblem on the front.
im looking for information about when it was made if anything.
here's my e-mail: stoneyo@sbcglobal.net
I just purchased a Sentinel Californian, and having never heard of the brand, found this after googling. Seems like these are pretty rare bikes. Mine is in pretty good condition, having been stored indoors, and I bought it and a Schwinn Traveler for $75 total. The tires still have the nubs on them, and it appears that it's never even been ridden. Hope to find out some more about them.
Ive been sitting on one for a while, thanks for bringing it up. Id love to find the model, but the decals are long gone. I found it with all tourney components, both center pull calipers. Any info is appreciated.
I have a silver sentinel whisper GT that I got from CraigsList a couple of years ago, I really love the bike but haven't been able to find much info on the company.
if your worried about the decals, get into a print show with the design, and they'll print you a new decal on glossy, weather resistant sticker-stock. costs pennies.
i was getting tired of constantly repairing and tuning the derailers, and such almost daily. i took everything off, gave the beauty a deep cleaning, bought a set of track rims, and converted it to a fixed track bike. it was the best decision i have ever made. i have never had such an exhilarating time riding a bike. I have a very fast gear ratio, and i get an incredinle workout. and its so fun a hardly notice. i was worried hills would be difficult and, but its actually alot easier. i live in Reno Nv and rode it to the california border the other day. a 20 mile ride each direction. It took two hours to get up there. and on this bike 40minutes to ride back down into town. i am in love with my sentinal
^^ *print shop
I have a Sentinel Sophomore that was my Mom's - she just gave it to me this year (2013) and she's been riding it since she was 19 (which would mean she bought it in the early 1970s).
It's in amazing condition still and not a thing has been replaced on it (other than brake pads and the seat).
Absolutely love this bike. All original parts.
Just found a sentinel horizon in the dumpster and was stoked! I'm in the process of converting it to track/fixed but I've ran into some problems....the bottom bracket spindle is a bit small for a new crank, and the steerer tube for quill is quite small too. Does anybody know the dimensions that fit on this bike?
I've got a Sentinel Sophomore that my Father bought me in 1976 or 1977 at Rick Case Honda of all places. I lost track of it for a number of years and recently found it in my Mothers garage. I cleaned it up, repacked the bearings, and have converted it into a Hyrid style. Looks and rides great for a 38ish year old bike. I plan on riding it in next years 5 Borough tour in New York City...hope it makes it.
Can anyone tell me anything about the "Horizon FF Sentinel" woman bike? It has Shimano 400 brakes, Royce Union light, some type of brake pump that sits on the frame (I think it's some type of brakes pump) it also has a bike seat with a name tag on it that reads "Mossberg" and lastly rack that (for a lack of better words) that's said Made in Switzerland on it... Any help at alllllll would be greatly appreciated.. Thank you
I was fortunate to find a 1977 (?) Sentinel Horizon at a craft fair in Northern Michigan. It was in rough shape but I felt this rare Bike needed to be restored. I had the frame powder coated to a beautiful metallic orange (like the original) and found a guy on eBay that could remake the decals. I think it came out fantastic. If anyone is interested in buying, I would entertain a serious offer. Here is one pic...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gkQ5WNzS1tVvPRjg8
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