New to the forums

[NobylSpoon]

I just wanted to introduce myself since I am new around here. I am Matt, I live in Austin, TX. I recently finished 6 years in the military. I am 5' 11", when I left basic training I was about 180 lbs but 7 years later I am at 250 :/

For financial reasons I am getting a Walmart knock off of the Schwinn Varsity next week. I know its not the best choice but next season I will have about $2,000 to put into a better bike and I sure the Varsity will do fine for me until then.

When I get the bike I am going to start commuting to work. Its a flat 4 miles where the speeds don't exceed 40mph, low traffic and a bike lane most of the way.

I am glad I found this forum, I can already tell I am going to be spending alot of my time at work on here ;)

Cheers!

[WalterMitty]

Welcome to the thundering herd. :)

[rainycamp]

Welcome from a fellow Austinite!

[mkadam68]

Welcome.

[NobylSpoon]

Thanks :D

[c_m_shooter]

That bike isn't too bad, but do yourself a favor and get a set of cone wrenches from your LBS. The hubs probably won't have any grease in them, so take them apart imidiately and grease the bearings. You can find instructions on Park tool's website or Sheldon browns website. Then give everything else a good checking over. The one that I had, the shifters indexed great with a little bit of adjusting, and the brakes needed a slight adjustment. Have fun.

[zpl]

Hey Matt, glad to hear you're getting into cycling and commuting by bike. Sounds like a pretty ideal commuting route. The Varsity clone will also make a good errand/beater bike when you get your next bike.

[NobylSpoon]

That bike isn't too bad, but do yourself a favor and get a set of cone wrenches from your LBS. The hubs probably won't have any grease in them, so take them apart imidiately and grease the bearings. You can find instructions on Park tool's website or Sheldon browns website. Then give everything else a good checking over. The one that I had, the shifters indexed great with a little bit of adjusting, and the brakes needed a slight adjustment. Have fun.


Thanks for the tip, I will be sure to do that.

I planned to assemble it myself rathen then put my life in the hands of a disgruntled Walmart employee. :troll:

[onastrat]

Hey Matt, Welcome- my wife is from Round Rock so I'm familiar with your area. Great City/bike community down there. Enjoy the forums!

[CACycling]

I can't find a frame size listed but at 5' 11" you are a little above average in height and the Varsity is most likely aimed at "average" so it may be on the small side for you. Just make sure you don't raise the seat above the minimum insertion line (get a longer seat post if the one it comes with isn't long enough) and ride the heck out of it. When you have enough saved for your next bike, you will know what to look for.

And a side note, I was just above 250 at the beginning of the year when I got serious about riding and weighed in at 218 last Sunday. It comes off pretty quick once you get out and ride.

[NobylSpoon]

I can't find a frame size listed but at 5' 11" you are a little above average in height and the Varsity is most likely aimed at "average" so it may be on the small side for you. Just make sure you don't raise the seat above the minimum insertion line (get a longer seat post if the one it comes with isn't long enough) and ride the heck out of it. When you have enough saved for your next bike, you will know what to look for.

And a side note, I was just above 250 at the beginning of the year when I got serious about riding and weighed in at 218 last Sunday. It comes off pretty quick once you get out and ride.

Thanks for the tip on the seat post.

Real motivating to hear about your weight loss. I think this will be really good for me since I will be dropping weight doing something I enjoy. I am so bored of the treadmill. :(

[BCIpam]

Welcome!

Hey never dis your bike! Any bike is better than no bike and any exercise is better than none. You're smart to buy a lesser value bike and work up to what you want. Many folks buy an expensive bike off the bat and then have to get use to its style (some never do and the bike sits in the garage waiting to be a good deal for someone else). This way when you are ready - you'll know exactly what you want and need.

Post pics of the bike when you can so we can "oooh" and "aaah"! ;)

[c_m_shooter]

I am 5'8" and the frame was slightly too big for me, so I bet the sizing will be fairly close.

I can't find a frame size listed but at 5' 11" you are a little above average in height and the Varsity is most likely aimed at "average" so it may be on the small side for you. Just make sure you don't raise the seat above the minimum insertion line (get a longer seat post if the one it comes with isn't long enough) and ride the heck out of it. When you have enough saved for your next bike, you will know what to look for.

And a side note, I was just above 250 at the beginning of the year when I got serious about riding and weighed in at 218 last Sunday. It comes off pretty quick once you get out and ride.

[NobylSpoon]

Lucky me I got some Walmart giftcards for my birthday, unfortunatly Walmart doesn't except their online giftcards in store so I had to order the Varsity online so I will have it in about 7 days. One advantage about getting it online is I don't have to worry about it coming preassembled from the store though.

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Actually, for what it's worth, there was a poster over in Commuting trying to ride one of the new varsity's to death as a commuting bike. At a bit over a year, he quit posting on it and the bike was still going strong. He had some wheel issues and adjustment issues with it that were the only issues I remember off the bat.

[NobylSpoon]

Actually, for what it's worth, there was a poster over in Commuting trying to ride one of the new varsity's to death as a commuting bike. At a bit over a year, he quit posting on it and the bike was still going strong. He had some wheel issues and adjustment issues with it that were the only issues I remember off the bat.

Awesome, I will have to look that up.

Every morning when I go to work or leave home all I can think about is how much I would love to be riding instead of driving. I can't wait for it to arrive!

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Yep, hey, look up the member Ravenmore...he lives in Austin and can help you hook up in the local scene for cycling.

By the way, you'll know you're a hard man on a bike when you can climb Jester. :D

[The Historian]

Welcome!

[NobylSpoon]

Yep, hey, look up the member Ravenmore...he lives in Austin and can help you hook up in the local scene for cycling.

By the way, you'll know you're a hard man on a bike when you can climb Jester. :D


Jester is going to take me some time and I don't think I trust the Varsity for the downhill return lol. I am considering a Trek XO1 next season, its right in the price range I was looking for. When I get that I will make it a personal goal to climb it :D

[txvintage]

Welcome!

You are in a great area to ride. I wish the Dallas area had half the cyclist consideration that your town does.

Another initeresting thing about Austin is it's ability to support what has to be one of the heaviest per capita bike shop saturations in the country. It's amazing.

The good thing about all those bike shops are the group rides you can hoolk up with and the riding partners you can find.

Was Navy for 10 years, didn't start my weight gain until a couple of years after I got out. Welcome back to the world, so to say, and enjoy the ride.

BTW, there is a thread in the Roadie forum about shops in Austin. You will be amazed at the choices. I don't think you can live anywhere in Austin and be more than 20 minutes from a well established shop.

[v1k1ng1001]

Welcome! :beer: I'm right next door to you in College Station.

Before you pull the trigger on the Walmart bike, I'd suggest spending some time on Craigslist. I've noticed that Austin has a really good used bike market.

[txvintage]

Welcome! :beer: I'm right next door to you in College Station.

Before you pull the trigger on the Walmart bike, I'd suggest spending some time on Craigslist. I've noticed that Austin has a really good used bike market.


I knew there was something about you I liked, lol.

Gig'em!:thumb:

[Bone Head]

Welcome and +1 to all the above

Also, you should consider retensioning the spokes after a couple hundred miles. This will usually prevent broken spokes and some other wheel issues.

USN (Ret) here. I Thank You for your service!

[NobylSpoon]

Well my bike is now on its last leg of the delivery so it looks like I will be riding by the weekend :D

I also have a copy of Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance heading my way.

[bautieri]

Awesome, can't wait for the bike porn:thumb:

[homebody146]

don't forget the helmet! it's one item that's not an option and you can use it on any bike you ride. ;)

[NobylSpoon]

don't forget the helmet! it's one item that's not an option and you can use it on any bike you ride. ;)

I picked one up before I even ordered the bike :thumb:

[NobylSpoon]

The wait continues. The status has said "intransit to store" from the delivery facility (30min away) for 2 days now...

[txvintage]

The wait continues. The status has said "intransit to store" from the delivery facility (30min away) for 2 days now...

Ugh, that's gotta be driving you nuts.

You're a better man than me though, I'd be bugging someone somewhee so often they would find it and deliver it just to get rid of me, lol.

BTW, if you make it downtown, you should stop in to Mellow Johnny's. Some guy named Lance owns it, and rumor has it he won some race in France a few times. Probably not for the budget minded cyclist, but some serious serious daydream/drool worthy schwag.

[NobylSpoon]

Well I picked it up today and just took it for a ride around the block when I heard that wonderful sound of escaping air...

[txvintage]

Well I picked it up today and just took it for a ride around the block when I heard that wonderful sound of escaping air...

Well, it just wants some attention after being trapped in a box for so long.......

Good news is, for about $20, or less, you can get a seat bag, patch kit, levers and a pump at your local Wally World, but I have no idea of the viablity of teh Bell pump they sell. I have one on my MTB but haven't needed it yet, knock on wood.:cheers: If you have a Performance shop near you, they are having a pretty big summer sale on accessories and have all the seat bag stuff on sale too.

[jaxgtr]

Welcome, also 10 years ex Navy vet, thanks for your service. The sound of escaping sucks. For what it's worth, invest $25 in a Topeak Road Morph frame pump. I am a recent convert to the frame pump after having a rash of flats. Nothing wrong with the CO2, but when they run out, the frame pump keeps on pumping. Also carry a couple of extra tubes with you. Most bags have the straps on the bottom that you can put them in to hold them.

[NobylSpoon]

It looks like the flat was caused by a spoke so I put some rim tape in and also switched out the cheap walmart tubes with some thicker thorn resistant ones and it seems to be doing the trick.