Bike Forums - View Single Post - My finished Varsity project

01-29-07, 10:38 PM

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reverborama

Broom Wagon Fodder

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Minnesota

Posts: 1,384

Bikes: Fuji Supreme; Kona Wo; Nashbar road frame custom build; Schwinn Varsity; Nishiki International; Schwinn Premis, Falcon Merckx, American Flyer muscle bike, Motobecane Mulekick

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My finished Varsity project

Tonight I took my first ride on my completed Varsity. On the training stand. It's 6 degrees F. outside. As you may recall, the object was to build a light and nimble version of the most indestructable electro-forged steel to come out of Chicago.

Many of the parts are cast-offs from a coworker who races.
Crank: Shimano 600 (made possible with an American to Euro bottom bracket adaptor)
RD: Dura-Ace
Shifters:SIS bar-end
FD: Schwinn Approved (Have a 600 and I'm looking for a cable routing clamp)
Stem: Alloy from a World Traveller
Bars: Nitto B-105 45cm
Levers: Schwinn Approved Dia Compe w/ Suicide levers
Headset: Stock Varsity
Wheels: DA22 (700c)
Seatpost: Stock Steel (I'd LOVE to change this, but haven't found an alloy one yet)
Brakes: Dia Compe (Had some Dura-Ace but the reach was wrong!)
Hub: 8/9 Shimano freehub
Cassette: Shimano 7 speed
Pedals: Performance Bike Campus (SPD on one side, regular pedal on the other).
Seat: Specialized

I don't have a good scale to weigh this all on so I had to use a bathroom scale and take the difference between me and me holding the bike. That came out to 30.1 lbs. which I suspect is in the ballpark (I was hoping for 28, and wishing for 26). The weight represents no cheating whatsoever -- the largest Varsity frame, bar tape, pedals, etc. Ready to ride. I'll find a more accurate scale when I can and we'll see what it really weighs. I purposely left the frame scratched and some of the parts rusty. You don't want to attract too much attention to a bike like this

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