Schwinn Varsity
11-14-10, 11:21 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Schwinn Varsity
https://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2060145164.html
I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.
Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!
I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.
Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!
11-15-10, 07:53 AM
#2
Senior Member
Originally Posted by ppatricia
https://orlando.craigslist.org/bik/2060145164.html
I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.
Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!
I just found this bike on Craigslist, and I'm curious as to whether or not this is a decent deal. I admittedly am a newbie since my last bike was a mountain bike about a decade ago, but recently got into riding.
Any help as far as info on the bike, and well as what is notable form the post would be greatly appreciated thank you!
The varsity is never going to win any awards, except maybe for kinetic energy at speed, due to the high mass of the frame and its all-steel construction. Steel wheels brake poorly and not at all when wet.
If you're looking for a slice of American pie and don't care about performance or you need a bike that will still be ready to ride after they nuke your city, this is the bike for you. If you want even minimal nimbleness out on the road, you can probably do better.
11-15-10, 07:57 AM
#3
You gonna eat that?
I have a Varsity. It's a cool bike to ride but as Roll-M notes, it won't win any races. It has 1970s entry-level technology. Bulletproof but heavy.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-15-10, 09:04 AM
#5
You gonna eat that?
It's probably a 20" frame (22" at most). Note the weight in the catalog. This may not be the same year, but they didn't change much.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-15-10, 03:08 PM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thank you so much for the helpful comments, I'm definitely not looking to win any races, just something for leisurely rides and getting around town every now and then. I just wanted to get a heads up as far as the price in comparison to the bike posted, and I will definitely check it out in person as well as make sure the seat post as far as making sure I can adjust the bike to my height.
11-15-10, 04:46 PM
#7
Thrifty Bill
Worth the price. Varsities have a following. Expect to do some basics: bearings, grease, tubes and cables. If you do not have the time/tools/aptitude to do this relatively minor work, I would keep looking. Find one that is ready to go instead, expect to pay $100 to $150 for one in such condition, with new tires, tubes, cables, everything greased, new bar tape, chain cleaned and lubed. If you bought this bike for $95 and took it to a shop to have that list of work, it might cost you another $150 to have the work done. At that point, your total money into the bike far exceeds its value.
11-15-10, 07:56 PM
#8
You gonna eat that?
I didn't do anything to the Varsity I got. I changed the pedals, that was it. All the bearings are as I found them, and it came from the city dump!
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-15-10, 08:05 PM
#9
Allez means go.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Two Rivers, WI
Posts: 894
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I don't think that's a very good price, but maybe your market's different than mine. I solid expect to see that for ~$60 around here.
11-15-10, 09:10 PM
#10
You gonna eat that?
True, but it's not totally unreasonable.
Then again, I got mine for nuthin'.
Then again, I got mine for nuthin'.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-15-10, 11:42 PM
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
=) thank you for all your help, I actually ended up passing on the offer because I had my reservations about having to put too much time/work into a bike when I'm very much a noob. As far as price, it was actually in the cheaper range of ones I had previously checked out, which is what sparked my interest in it.
11-17-10, 03:24 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Grayslake, IL
Posts: 54
Bikes: '74 Ral SuperCourse II, '77? Ron Cooper, '82 Scapin Sprint?, '84 Ross Sig, '86 Voyageur, '86 Miy. 512, '87 Prologue, '87 Circuit, '91 MP21, '96? DeBernardi, '14 Dolan Mythos, Giordano Tandem, '18 Masi Alare.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good decision!
11-22-10, 12:21 AM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 20
Bikes: 2001 Trek 2000 Alpha Series; 2011 Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Doohickie
11-26-10, 03:04 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York Metro Area
Posts: 4,095
Bikes: '14 Insight 2, '95 Trek 720 Multi-Track, '94 Cannondale M600; '92 Raleigh Dash Max; '86 Panasonic DX 5000, '81 Fuji S12S, '81 Fuji Royale; '78 Bridgestone Diamond Touring, '78 Motobecane Grand Touring, plus many more!
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 146 Post(s)
Liked 75 Times
in
48 Posts
Originally Posted by Doohickie
True, but it's not totally unreasonable.
Then again, I got mine for nuthin'.
Then again, I got mine for nuthin'.
11-26-10, 03:08 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Issaquah, WA
Posts: 537
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Tarmac Expert, 1990 Specialized Allez Epic, Specialized RockCombo (winter), 70's Motobecane Team Champion,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
I paid $67 for mine in 1973..rode the crap out of it!
11-26-10, 04:45 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Issaquah, WA
Posts: 537
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Tarmac Expert, 1990 Specialized Allez Epic, Specialized RockCombo (winter), 70's Motobecane Team Champion,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Originally Posted by aseth
And look at that adorable couple out on an afternoon ride. God bless the sexy 70s.
They've given up golf to ride Schwinn Varsity's...no wardrobe change needed!
12-28-10, 03:09 AM
#18
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 7,845
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pederson racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 111 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1017 Post(s)
Liked 440 Times
in
314 Posts
Varsities/Continentals are quite easy to maintain, and survive outdoor storage way better than most other bikes. Oversize BB bearing hold up!
For serious riding, one must size-up, i.e. buy the biggest frame you can straddle or the reach to the bars will feel incredibly short and a longer stem makes the steering floppy plus the stem quill diameter is usually the odd .833" / 21.1mm i.e. 13/16" size.
One annoyance is the crown race often fits slopily on the steerer, needs to be LocTited in place.
A SuperSport is the more sporting choice, with modern geometry and resulting normal fit. Still quite heavy, scarcely lighter than a Continental!
For serious riding, one must size-up, i.e. buy the biggest frame you can straddle or the reach to the bars will feel incredibly short and a longer stem makes the steering floppy plus the stem quill diameter is usually the odd .833" / 21.1mm i.e. 13/16" size.
One annoyance is the crown race often fits slopily on the steerer, needs to be LocTited in place.
A SuperSport is the more sporting choice, with modern geometry and resulting normal fit. Still quite heavy, scarcely lighter than a Continental!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JohnsWorldSport
Classic & Vintage
30
07-13-18 03:53 PM
WillyWonkaCoaco
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
8
08-01-15 08:21 PM
zzz1986
General Cycling Discussion
5
02-28-11 03:58 PM
