schwinn urban bike build
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: oregon
Posts: 100
Bikes: 97 specialized rockhopper,91 trek 800 commuter bike, 72 schwinn varsity
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
schwinn urban bike build
building my schwinn varsity as a urban bike.....too many hills where I live to do a single speed.....drop bars were bent, so I put on some riser bars on it... it has been fully rebuilt....ditched stuff that was just extra weight... both pie plates( one was missing already) kickstand and a few small items also cut off some of the seat post( not too much though)..... still a heavy bike, but they are built like a tank
#2
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,646
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
935 Posts
There's usually only one pie plate on the bike- it's a spoke protector, so it's only going to go around the freewheel to keep the derailleur from going into the spokes.
Although Varsities and Continentals are heavy to begin with, a few things you can do to get the weight down is to replace the crankset with a 3 piece - but you need an adapter because the bottom bracket shell is a different size. You could also lose some weight off the wheels- aluminum rims would be a huge plus in any case.
I'm interested what you got the weight down to.
As much as people would judge a kickstand to be dead weight- I think they're useful- and on a Varsity/Continental/Super Sport etc... they're already built on to the frame- the amount of weight you're saving by taking off the leg is limiting where you can easily stand the bike up- and you've still got 3 pounds of kickstand mount brazed/welded onto the frame.
Although Varsities and Continentals are heavy to begin with, a few things you can do to get the weight down is to replace the crankset with a 3 piece - but you need an adapter because the bottom bracket shell is a different size. You could also lose some weight off the wheels- aluminum rims would be a huge plus in any case.
I'm interested what you got the weight down to.
As much as people would judge a kickstand to be dead weight- I think they're useful- and on a Varsity/Continental/Super Sport etc... they're already built on to the frame- the amount of weight you're saving by taking off the leg is limiting where you can easily stand the bike up- and you've still got 3 pounds of kickstand mount brazed/welded onto the frame.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#3
Senior Member
As much as people would judge a kickstand to be dead weight- I think they're useful- and on a Varsity/Continental/Super Sport etc... they're already built on to the frame- the amount of weight you're saving by taking off the leg is limiting where you can easily stand the bike up-...
...and you've still got 3 pounds of kickstand mount brazed/welded onto the frame.
#4
Fork and spoon operator
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota
Posts: 577
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
I've been thinking of doing something similar. What I'd like to do ideally is replace the derailleurs with something current, the bottom bracket and crankset with something modern, the brakes with modern calipers, and the wheels with 700c. Any advice on which of those are possible, and what work arounds I'd need? Like, would a current shimano rear derailleur bolt right in? Is there anything I could do so I could use a sealed bearing square taper bottom bracket? With the wheels, how hard is it to get 700c wheels with a short enough axle? My interest is more nostalgia-based than pure utility, so I'd be willing to spend a little money (within reason!). Thanks in advance for any help!
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 91
Bikes: bikes I like
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I removed the pie plate, chainguard (often mistakenly referred to as a pie plate) and kickstand from my Varsity and I had a hard time going less than 100 miles an hour even when riding the brakes. My plan is to go on a diet before I hit the salt lakes. I hope I don't burn up in the lower atmosphere, wind friction don't you know.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: oregon
Posts: 100
Bikes: 97 specialized rockhopper,91 trek 800 commuter bike, 72 schwinn varsity
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
update: I stripped it down and painted it... also polished up the chrome and bare finish parts.... pretty much done at this point
#7
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,646
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
935 Posts
So you did decide to single speed it- or is it fixed?
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#9
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,193
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,295 Times
in
865 Posts
Looks good, freshly un-cluttered with the singlespeed conversion.
The Varsity is one "road" frame that won't handle poorly from installing a flat or riser handlebar, in fact the design of this frame's geometry was developed with "upright" handlebars in mind.
Stripping off the derailers and shifters definitely shaved significant weight!
Thanks for the follow-up on your project.
The Varsity is one "road" frame that won't handle poorly from installing a flat or riser handlebar, in fact the design of this frame's geometry was developed with "upright" handlebars in mind.
Stripping off the derailers and shifters definitely shaved significant weight!
Thanks for the follow-up on your project.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: oregon
Posts: 100
Bikes: 97 specialized rockhopper,91 trek 800 commuter bike, 72 schwinn varsity
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yes it handles great... I love it, its my fave of my fleet
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
snuboy360
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
1
09-10-12 07:15 PM
chrnobyl
Classic & Vintage
20
03-30-11 03:07 PM