I got my Varsity in '71 when I was 14, my parents bought it for me for my paper route. Yes Heavy, but built like a TANK. Rode it on a 100 mile charity ride at 16, rode it down staircases, rode it off jumps, etc.... broke rear axles, bent seat post, but the frame was good for more. I replaced it in '73 with a Volkscycle mark 100. Tim