Bluetrane2028

If you really want pics, I'll get around to taking a few a bit later, but here's the story.

Got a Varsity off CL today for $30.

The frame has a ton of nicks each with their requisite surface rust, the seatpost binder has an even coating of the red stuff, there's rust on the cranks, and all the shifty bits had been removed in an effort to make it a single speed. Oh, and it was missing the rear wheel (I already had one with a 5 speed freewheel ready for such an occasion).

So, I have a "complete" 10 speed Varsity with none of the shifty bits installed, a 5 speed freewheel, and a chain that's already been shortened for SS. Oh yeah, the chain is crap too.

So, what would y'all do with it? The rust I mentioned is really only surface level, nothing is structurally messed up... it's just not a looker in the slightest way possible. On the upside, it came with a really nice shape (as far as my cursory examination could tell in dying daylight) Araya 27" front wheel, a definite upgrade from the steel crap it would've had stock. At worst, I have a decent wheel out of it.

I CAN ride it as is, er it needs new brake pads and an adjustment, but still, I can leave it mostly alone, but I don't necessarily feel like I should.

I know the Varsity is the red-headed stepchild of the C+V world, but negative "melt it down for scrap" type comments need not apply. It's going to be my "ride to the rough parts of town and/or leave to rust at the beach house" bike. That's bad enough of a fate without suggesting it be put out with the recycling.

Maddox

Take it out back and shoot it.

bigbossman 

If you have a boat, they make a handy anchor. If you live near the shore, you could make a crab trap out of it. If your roof has a leak, put a tarp on it and place the Varsity on top of the tarp. Or, you could make a bass/crappie/sunfish habitat out of it at the local fishing hole. Out in the yard, they make dandy spider condos.

Varsities are very, very versatile bicycles.

thenomad

balloon tires on flat black rims with coaster brake, low mustache bars or flipped north roads. Leave the patina and add inner tube grips and chainstay protector.

Total bomber.

choteau

Make it safe to ride, and ride it when you can. Don't listen to those who bad-mouth em, their just jealous you have one..... Tim

bikemore 

This didn't stop a couple of comments about the dump. Personally, I've been riding a Grand Sport with butted 531 when I run errands around town.
On the otherhand I sell stuff that I say has low theft possibility.
Is single speed going to work for you? Then replace the brakes and ride it. And be glad it gets stolen maybe

Bluetrane2028

At the very least I'll tear down and lube everything. I'll probably swap the wheelset with my 70's French 10 speed that is in overall much nicer condition except for the wheels.

Then... I'll either put a SS freewheel on the back (don't want to look at a 5 speed if no derailleur) or get the derailleurs back onto it. If I get a compatible set of 26" wheels with a coaster rear, I might do what thenomad suggested, that sounds awesome. Rat rod coaster brake beer getter. I like that idea the most actually, but I don't want to spend too much (more) out of pocket for it.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

YES!!! IMO nothing looks better on a Varsity than big balloon tires.

personally I'd hate to ride my Varsity as a Single speed...its just too damn heavy for that IMO.

A Varsity would make a great Beach Cruiser beater bike that you never have to worry about.

I'd bet you can find a cheap (or Junked) 26" coaster brake bike as a donor for the wheels...

michael k

How about a rattle can paint job, throwing a ton of money and spare parts into it ,turning it into something unrecognisable and having people just shake their heads?

Just say'n...

Bluetrane2028

Ok, you guys are talking me into it. (balloon tire beach cruiser) If it happens I'll post pics. Would that make it an "alt?"

Doohickie

Here's what I did:



to this

Bluetrane2028

That is a mighty nice Continental, but my goal is to be cheap about it. Although, I do have an old STX rear derailleur I could use for a cost effective upgrade... What wheels do you have on your Conti? 27" or 700C. The brake shoes look low in their slots, I'm guessing it's a 700C. Any issues with that?

sailorbenjamin

I like the Sunset Orange ones best, followed by Kool Lemon.

michael k

Yes,700s and no issues as I still have room for adjustments and it stops on a dime.A little spooky at times when i get a little careless.

Have fun and keep us posted.

noglider 

It's actually a versatile bike. You just have to understand its limitations. You can improve it with alloy rims and an aluminum crank, but it would still be tremendously heavy and slow. You're better off keeping it as a slow bike, either with the current wheels or other wheels. Leave the crank, I say. It's bombproof. I agree with Zaphod; it's heavy enough that you'll want gears. Or at least, if it's going to be single speed, gear it very, very low. Don't forget the internally geared hub (IGH) option.

You can also fix it up and resell it to someone who wants something reliable and useful but not fast. I did that, and I'll do it again, as I still have about three here, lying around and waiting for repairs. As stated above, you can paint it, but it may not bring back your investment if people just want basic transportation. There is a certain appeal to a beat-up looking bike.

I sold mine by restoring it to nearly original condition. The paint wasn't bad but was far from perfect. I shined the rust off. I replaced the chain and freewheel in order to get it working right. I was surprised at how well the brakes worked. The front had Kool Stop shoes, which helped. The rear had some other after-market shoes, probably good ones. It's a comfortable ride, but we all have to stress that it's a very slow bike, even when you set it up with an aggressive riding position.

Consider also setting it up with an upright position, with North Road type bars (or similar) and a wide-ish saddle. That goes well when you're riding slowly, and you don't sacrifice much in "performance" when you set out to ride slowly.

If you take it apart, you'll be astonished at how heavy everything is, except for the brakes, which are the only aluminum pieces. The crank is amazing. Even the handlebars are absurdly heavy, but of course bombproof. And it wasn't stupid at the time. Teenagers really do crash their bikes. Handlebars and stems really do bend in crashes, except for these.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

So True. The Cranks are truly amazingly heavy...the Kickstand might be made of lead.

I show mine off too often as it is, but here she is again for posterity


Front and Rear Drum Brakes, 26" rims, 2.125" Balloon Tires....14 speed indexed Deore Drivetrain...its my around-town/grocery getter and it can hold more groceries than I can afford

(and it probably weighs 45 pounds empty)

bikerosity57

I had a Collegiate which is basically the same thing. It worked fine. I don't recommend them for fast riding, but for transportation they're OK.

BigPolishJimmy

Beautiful bike! What's up with the shifters? Are they stem shifters moved to the top tube? I think that would make me very nervous. I have a bronze Varsity that's too small for me, but maybe if I put some northroad handle bars on it.... hmmmmmmm

SJX426 

I bought one many years ago thinking I would resotre it to working order and ride it as a weight training tool. Chucked it but forgot to keep the fork to use as a truing stand! They are solid and you can drill and tap them. Shove the steerer in a block of wood for a base.

noglider 

Yeah, the flat blades of a Varsity fork make it more versatile as a truing stand than other forks. Easy to change width.

BigPolishJimmy, my commuter/errand bike is a Raleigh Super Course, also too small for me. North Road bars and a gel saddle (not all that wide) make it extremely comfortable.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Thanks! The shifters are actually downtube shifters moved to the top tube. They're no harder to operate than Stem Shifters IMO....My main reasoning was that I wanted to keep the handlebars clean and I thought Downtube shifters would be too much of a reach on an upright bike designed to be ridden slowly and loaded with 40+ pounds of Groceries.

The Shifters work really well but I always forget to tell people (and often forget myself) that the levers are completely reversed from what you'd normally have due to cable routing issues.... The left lever controls the Rear cogs, Right controls the Front; All the way forward is the big cog, all the way back is the small. Doesn't take more than a second to get used to but it will make ya go "Hunh?!" the first time you get on it.

...Tom knows...I think i forgot to mention it to Him when he tried it out

Bluetrane2028

So, I guess more people keep their Varsities than throw 'em into the bay, huh...

Glad I'm not the only one.

Now that I have a few great ideas, I'll start looking for some parts.

When something starts to come together I'll let you all know, with pics of course. It's going to be a rat build one way or another. Nothing new, nothing pretty, but everything in good working order.

Rabid Koala

I like it!

Grand Bois

That one helped inspire me to build a fat tired grocery getter, but mine will have a Reynolds 531 frame and 5 speed SA hub. It's waiting for paint now.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

That sounds very cool, will be keeping y eyes peeled for that one!