Slackerprince

My brother had one, and I rode it after he went into the Air Force. My friend and I used to bomb down trails in Bend, Oregon, in the early 70's, before there were Mtn. bikes. I was on my brother's Varsity, and my friend was on his Collegiate. I can still hear the chain clanking up and down on the chain guard as we careened down the hills, those skinny tires skidding all over those Juniper-lined, dusty trails.
Hah, yea, those were the days.

Slackerprince

oilman_15106

Nope, but I had a Schwinn Racer.

ryan]

My mom still rides hers almost every day with me.

the beef

I almost bought one 2 years ago looking for a commuter bike. Then I realized they were like 40 lbs and not actually that cool.

I have a Schwinn Super Sport though.

sverrefehn

I had one back in the early 80's and I loved that bike. It was emerald green and I still remember going to the store and picking it out and putting it on layaway. I took that bike everywhere. It was my paper route bike and my entertainment. That bike went off road, down trails, and hopped curbs and I can't recall ever getting a flat. Good memories.

SwordMonkey

I had one throughout high school. It was a hand me down and was about 5 sizes too big for me, but it was a battleship and it was my first road bike. I loved that bike.

cccorlew

Rode my next door neighbors in the 60s.
I have a student with one now. It weighs. Really. 42 pounds. I can hardly pick it up.
It was a pig in the 60s, compared to French bikes, but Schwinn had the name for some reason.

Slackerprince

Since you're new, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and not consider you might be slamming me with your mom riding a Varsity.

JMT114

I had a red Schwinn Sprint. My neighbor had a green Schwinn Varsity.

RoccoNut16v

I think we've got one slowly rotting away in the garage, as horrible as that sounds.

cmh

I pined for a Schwinn Varsity, but had to settle for a Sears Free Spirit instead. I took that tank on trails all time.

patentcad

I can't get nostalgic about AMC Gremlins, Disco, or 1970's Schwinn bicycles, unless it's one of these:

Pharmr

I had one and rode it everywhere.

swan652

Bought mine new in 1973 and rode it until the late 80's when it was stolen.

Slackerprince

I also had a Schwinn Stingray, but not on of those "Hot" Orange Krates. I always dug that stick-shift, though. That was one badass bike back in the day.

S.

patentcad

Kind of boggles the mind to think that in 1988 or so there was a crack ho desperate enough to actually steal a 70's Schwinn Varsity.

AndyK 

I had a bright yellow Schwinn Sting Ray (I think that's what it was called) one-speed with banana seat. I can still remember the terrible touch up crayons that came with the bike! And how heavy that bike was!

Aikidoka

Had a varsity that if I remember correctly had survived numerous tree collisions at the hands of myself and other drunken friends back in the day.

My first real bike was a Schwinn Fastback, the skinny tired 5 speed Stingray (stick shift on the top tube) of the era of the Orange Crate, etc. It was the coolest bike on the block until someone got the Orange Crate but the Fastback stomped it in speed.

k

Creakyknees

I had a green one, did my first long rides with it, the old Saturday morning rides leaving from the first Richardson Bike Mart location, back in the day. Every Saturday, me, 14 years old, on my varsity, hanging with the old dudes and ladies on their tourista machines and Bata bikers. Eventually I worked up to an 80 miler on it before getting a Raleigh Super Gran Prix.

merlinextraligh

Had a 1971 Varsity. My first "ten speed". Bought it from money from my paper route. Cost $91

Paniolo

Yep, my first "10 speed" about 1970, cost around $90, used paper route $ too! I wanted a Contental, but IIRC they were more like $150. Rode it everywhere, finally took it to college in late 70's and it got stolen.

It was a tank. A buddy and I rode our bikes to summer camp about 73/74. 2 day ride over 150 miles. Good Times.

dgy

Hell yes! And I still ride it. A '75 day glo yellow one at least a few sizes too big for me.

It was my father's, and it was rotting in my parents' garage when I decided to pull it out and dust it off. This when I was 17, so it was a few years before I realized bikes weren't supposed to be that heavy. On that note, has anyone ever heard of training on one of these old tanks for strength? Pushing the highest gears on them is quite a workout.

Yeah, I registered for this thread.

patentcad

If Bikes Direct had been around they would have marketed a Motobecane Sophomore for $59.

rubic

I had a Schwinn Continental that I rode in college from 1969 through 1972. It was sturdy and heavy. I rode that thing everyplace. I miss that bike, friction shifters and all.

patentcad

I'll say those Schwinns were 'sturdy'. Lead pipes are also rather sturdy.