cpatton45

I am looking for a cheap older road bike as a winter bike to just get around on my schools campus the budget for it is pretty tight I can only afford to spend around 100-150 on it I am just looking for any suggestions on what I should be looking out for on craigslist and what not?

canyoneagle

You mention a "winter bike", so I'm assuming you live in snow country?
If so, an '80s mountain bike with a rigid fork would work fine for that, and would offer the flexibility to switch to slick tires for other seasons.

Craigslist can be good, but there is also alot of absolute crap there too. Avoid Wal-mart bikes like "Next", "Murray" and "Huffy", etc. and the Chinese made Schwinns (not to be confused with the better quality Taiwanese-made bikes).
It will be a challenge to find something for your price range, but it is doable with a little patience.

I'd recommend popping a thread over at the commuting forum.

cpatton45

Thanks for the reply I know to avoid the wal-mart bikes and I have a road bike that I got around 3 months ago I was wondering what schwinn years are still the better quality I have been seeing a good amount a varsities for relatively cheap

sillygolem

I think production of the U.S.-made Varsity ended in '86 with Taiwanese bikes following for a few years after that. These bikes were made by Giant and are still quite good.

2nd the mountain bikes. Hybrids will also work. Being able to get your feet down easily on slick roads is definitely useful.

marley mission

in my area (NJ) schwinns are plentiful on craigs - i picked up a ready to ride 80s traveler 40$ that a joy to ride and tough as nails - be vigilant in your searching and go try some out - you'll have no prob in that price range finding something - i also have a schwinn varsity $20 and world sport $150 that i got off craigs

just realize that most any bike you buy you should at least put new tires - (so add another $50 to the equation) - but you dont need a dryrot sidewall explosion on the way to class

ArthurIhde

i would like to buy a new bike

NormanF

I suggest you get a Schwinn Super Sport. It has a straight gauge cro-moly frame and will handle nicer than the Varsity and Continentals. No one is likely to try to steal it because bike thieves won't unload a Varsity or Continental!

I mean the 1970s filet-brazed bike. It should be around $200 top if you find one on CL.

mickey85

If you go with a Schwinn, get an 80's era Taiwan built Schwinn. Also look at late 80's to early 90's hybrids, and three-speeds, if you're just wanting a winter hack. There's not much better than a 3 speed for winter travel, trust me.

randyjawa 

This is how I find bikes and I find lots of bicycles, each year. How to Find an Old Road Bicycle - Cheap. You are welcome to visit the rest of my website, MY "TEN SPEEDS", also, if you wish.

Hope this is a help.

sonatageek

Rather than looking for a Varsity or similar model, keep an eye out for the Japanese built Schwinn models -- Le Tour, Traveler etc. Of course the Varsity, Continental etc are about the easiest bike to work on and over haul. Where are you located and what is the local used market like there?

Esteban32696

Another underrated Schwinn was the hybrid type bikes, made in Taiwan. I had a Schwinn Frontier 12spd. that I rode for as a commuter bike for many years with absolutely no problems. Even put a motor on the front wheel & rode it like that for a couple of years. You can buy these for $50+ -

auchencrow

The first requisite for getting a good deal is to get educated (randyjawa's site is an excellent start).

Then be ready to pounce on a good deal when you see it. They're out there.

cpatton45

Thanks for all the help I am going to be checking craigslist often and I am sure any thing I find I will put on here to get some opinions on it might as well use all the resources available to me

septacycles

Where are you located and how much snow do you have to deal with? I tend to have two commuter bikes... one for dry roads and one for wet/snow/ice... The dry road commuter is usually a steel 10 speed... I like miyata, motobecane, nishiki, peugeot... I stay away from schwinns... most are too heavy.

For real bad weather... I ride a steel frame hardtail / rigid fork Mountain bike... look for an older trek 830, 930, multitrack or specialized hardrock, rockhopper... I put a studded tire in the front and an aggressive tread on the back

road 3.5 miles in the snow and slush today... but didn't have my bad weather commuter built yet... my 10 speed miyata did just fine but I took it slow

Good luck

cpatton45

i deal with a fair amount of snow i live in kentucky near lexington most of my commuting will be short and not a big deal I also want the bike just so i have something to ride during the winter when i want to keep my allez indoors

cpatton45

thankyou for the help it is a very helpful site

USAZorro

You do realize this is the Classic & Vintage Forum?

cycleheimer

The early Schwinn hybrids ("CX", "Fitness", etc.) were pretty good. I have a '91 CrossCut, and you can do alot with it. $50+ sounds about right, even less if you get lucky. They were not that inexpensive when new, and were pretty nicely made and spec'd.