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Yellow 1973 Schwinn Varsity worth $200?

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Yellow 1973 Schwinn Varsity worth $200?

Old 08-22-08, 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by keiththesnake
Man, you can get that same bike for like 20 bucks. Don't let your impatience dictate your purchase. Best thing I've found is to tell everybody I know that I'm looking for a cheap bike. Likely somebody knows somebody who's giving one away that's like those Schwinns, or will sell it to you for a case of beer. Maybe try Goodwill.
You know here in Philly that used to be the case, but not only am I having a hard time finding nice used older bikes but so are the bike shops!
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Old 08-22-08, 08:37 PM
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Not the right bike for a beginner, if you have any hills or want to ride quickly. And far too much money. Keep shopping. And, you probably need a bigger bike. I'm 6'00" but with short legs and a 32-32" inseam, and I ride 57-59. Blind guess, but I bet you'd ride a 53-55.
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Old 08-22-08, 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by bibliobob
Not the right bike for a beginner, if you have any hills or want to ride quickly. And far too much money. Keep shopping. And, you probably need a bigger bike. I'm 6'00" but with short legs and a 32-32" inseam, and I ride 57-59. Blind guess, but I bet you'd ride a 53-55.
Im almost pos that he commited to buying the bike.
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Old 08-22-08, 08:45 PM
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I have to disagree, I think you have to thank all the *******s that created the high gas prices that MADE the people that could no longer afford the gas buy bicycles as a cheaper form of transportation. I will agree that a small minority of people started riding for health, fitness and family fun, but a majority of them ride because gas prices are to damn high!
Originally Posted by bab2000
No actually you can thank the many folk who have rediscovered biking for health, fitness and family fun. Vintage bikes gained in popularity just because the quality is still present in these older rides and there are bargains to be found.

The Chicago market turns the older steel Schwinns for double what they are here in Indiana, and the the fixie crowd love to convert these steel multi-speeds to single gear for the solid ride performance.

Yet, $200 is a bit much. I acquired two Schwinn Suburbans, (almost the same frame and components), upright riders, in near perfect condition, one with racks and lights in the prettiest chestnut color, for $60, (1980) and a 1974 Sierra Brown in good + shape for $50. Both were gifts, one to SnL, the other a friend.

I did not have to touch them except wipe the dust off. And I search for almost 3 months for these deals to appear.

A 88 Schwinn Sprint, (the newer version of the Varsity) sold in a remote area a week ago for $35, turned up in South Bend (near Notre Dame) for $75 todays listing. $200 is just to much for a Varsity.
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Old 08-22-08, 08:45 PM
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I actually think he backed out. Smart move.

I would go for this one....

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/772232502.html

Last edited by Johnny Alien; 08-22-08 at 08:57 PM.
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Old 08-22-08, 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Johnny Alien
I actually think he backed out. Smart move.

I would go for this one in....

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/772232502.html
Sweet! I hope he does!
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Old 08-22-08, 08:52 PM
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Yeah that's a better bike than the Varsity for a quarter of the price. It is listed pretty vague but will probably still go quick.
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Old 08-22-08, 10:34 PM
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Way too much! I'm dealing on a red one now that's been hanging in a garage for about 15 or more years. I offered her $20.00 for it. Her response was I gave $200 dollars for it back in the 70's. The decals are scraped up a little. It needs tires badly because they are dry rotted so bad. Other then that, the bike itself is in really good condition. I will not go any higher on it. I hope I get it but I have to draw the line some where. She has a yellow 60's Schwinn Breeze, I think, hanging in the back of the garage. I hate too see what she will want for that one.
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Old 08-22-08, 11:20 PM
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People want too much for their old stuff. You know, I paid almost three grand for an IBM Personal Computer, monitor and printer when I was in college. Whaddaya think it's worth now?

Sorry to hear the market will allow such abuses as the $200 Varsity. That's just terrible. Good luck.
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Old 08-23-08, 02:16 AM
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Actually, I backed out of the Varsity thanks to the advice you guys gave me.

I'm actually hoping to have this one delivered to me tomorrow. I'm quite excited about it considering I'm shaving off half the price and getting a lighter bike and (hopefully) overall better deal.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/807993701.html

I re-measured my inseam according to an FAQ I read on how to measure my "cycling inseam" and I believe it was about 32.5 inches. I rammed a book into my crotch as far as it could go and marked my wall, then I measured from that spot to the floor. I'm just hoping 57cm isn't too big for me.. though even if the bike does fit me, I've never ridden a road bike before so I'm not sure how it's supposed to feel.
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Old 08-23-08, 03:00 AM
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Originally Posted by OhNoItsCritical
Actually, I backed out of the Varsity thanks to the advice you guys gave me.

I'm actually hoping to have this one delivered to me tomorrow. I'm quite excited about it considering I'm shaving off half the price and getting a lighter bike and (hopefully) overall better deal.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/807993701.html

I re-measured my inseam according to an FAQ I read on how to measure my "cycling inseam" and I believe it was about 32.5 inches. I rammed a book into my crotch as far as it could go and marked my wall, then I measured from that spot to the floor. I'm just hoping 57cm isn't too big for me.. though even if the bike does fit me, I've never ridden a road bike before so I'm not sure how it's supposed to feel.
A much better deal, it's $120 less and at least 10 pounds lighter.
Varsitys are cool, but it's nice to go with a more modern.
Half of my bikes are 28 pounds (it's weird really, the scale weighs other bikes differently, except mine ) so that's what I judge bikes on.
Then again I have an xtracycle on a mountain bike, and I constant carry stuff around in it, it must weight 50 pounds most of the time, but it's still a nice ride.
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Old 08-23-08, 06:53 AM
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Originally Posted by keiththesnake
Sorry to hear the market will allow such abuses as the $200 Varsity. That's just terrible. Good luck.
Actually they are capitalizing on the name SCHWINN, just as Pacific Cycle and their new owners DOREL (IIRC) are doing.

The uneducated do not always know there is a difference between a Collegiate, Varsity, Continental, LeTour, Super Sport, or Paramount models. The ad is marketing a "Schwinn is a Schwinn", the same bike the kid down the road had when you were growing up, or if lucky as a kid the same bike from your youth.

As a buyer, being educated about the product you seek is basic, and if not able to locate new, and will rely on the recycle market, knowing the differences between model years, and what to examine, and to be comfortable with the product the seller is representing is all part of the game of auction sites and Craigs List, and other venues.

As a buyer, anytime you are not comfortable, you must be able to walk away, seek another deal, another time.

I've never ridden a road bike before so I'm not sure how it's supposed to feel.
OhNoItsCritical should really take the time to visit a LBS, test ride some current options and confirm a ROAD bike is what they really want. Otherwise, there is a good chance the Road bike selected could be the wrong bike, for the propose intended.
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