Originally Posted by
frommfromm
The reason I am hesitant of trying to convert the Schwinn is because after reading a few different threads on the topic of converting a Schwinn varsity into a single speed I got the idea that it was not worth it. I got the impression that the varsity was harder to convert than other bikes of the same era/style. However after some more researching (seeing some people that have actually done it) I am now thinking about it. The bike is very heavy though. It has a one piece steel crank so idk if that's good or bad. Just started riding the bike a month ago and to the best of my knowledge it is in pretty good condition. I probably should have done a lot more research before I posted this thread because I have know idea what I am talking about and I don't even know the names for most of the parts on the bike. My bad for sounding like an idiot.
You don't sound like an idiot, man.
There are a lot of folks who'll tell you not to bother with the Schwinn because it's heavy and has a one-piece crank and steel wheels. They definitely are tanks. Personally, I dig 'em. You can lose a bunch of weight by switching to some lighter rims, and improve the ride significantly. You could even switch to a 700 wheel set, but then you may need to buy brakes, too. There are plenty of tire options out there for the 27" wheel. The one-piece crank (Ashtabula) is heavy, but it's also bullet-proof and extremely easy/inexpensive to maintain - no special ($) tools required. Old-school BMX sprockets are made for Ashtabula cranks, so a gearing change is easy and cheap.
I have a '75 Sprint that is about to be stripped and converted to SS. Yeah, it's heavy and cheap, compared to what some folks have. But I dig old Schwinns, so I don't really care. Here's an opinion: forget about cams in your car when the speed limit is 65 max around Philly (and gas is four bucks), and spend a few more bucks on the bike. Just sayin'.
Hope you figure it out and go ride.
furyus