I picked up 2 things from Harris Cyclery in West Newton, MA for 2 bikes. So glad I live/work near them! And you know what? They have the good stuff! :-)

- stem extender
- long stem

OOooo, now I'm thinking I can make a smaller frame work for me! I picked up a very light World Sport - not sure if the '80s bike took the same stem diameter -- doesn't really matter - lots to play with now. Thanks for the suggestions!

Ooo - silver housings?

Arggh, I have Varsity envy. Been looking locally for a 22 or 24 inch Varsity, but hardly ever do see one, and when I do they seem to be priced higher than a tweaker on his third fix of the night. I tell myself patience, one will come along and then you can make an offer and see what happens.

I already have a friend ready to powdercoat a frame, if need be. Sunflower Yellow, of course! :)

Tom

Fixed this one up for a friend. A middle-aged non-biker since childhood, he couldn't deal with the drop bars. I ordered the saddle & Wald bars from bikepartsusa. I like the bars, but the saddle is considerably bigger & heavier than I expected.

This bike is one of two that I got for $35. The second was even more beat-up, and I finally tossed it after finding the freewheel in bad shape, cones wrecked in the front hub, headset in poor shape, frame bent & misaligned, and the chainring fastener bolts stripped. With decent examples available for this kind of money, just wasn't worth the effort to fix it. I did, however, transfer the Union generator set to my other Schwinn. I think I paid more than $35 for a Union generator set in the 1980s.

I like these bikes, had a Varsity when I was a teen. Sure, heavy as hell, but the riding position was very nice for me & I could move pretty well on it. Lately got another Continental that was my size and fixed it up for someone else. Despite its heavy steel wheels, etc., the bearings are efficient (is that it? the BB bearing? oh ya, grade 1-1/2 grease too) & the riding position made me want to pull hard & I made good time when I rode it.

One of these days I'm going to have to put this one back together, unless I can find someone interested in a 24" yellow Varsity frame and fork within driving distance of Tulsa. :D

duffer1960 - that picture seems to be of a "Continental"

Yes, it's a Continental. But they're almost the same. I beg forgiveness! I loved my Varsity that I got for my 13th birthday & might still have 'cept it was stolen when I was 17.

Oh... "Continental"... apparently, the former owner wiped out the "Schwinn" part of the decal. ??

aside from buying a Varsity this weekend, I also bought a Continental and a World Sport. I guess I went on a kind of a binge ...

I added a stem extension to my LeTour and a long stem on the Varsity. so they're not "stock" anymore, but I'll be more comfortable.

Continentals are a kissing cousin to the Varsity. In fact, that Conti is pretty close to my plans for my Varsity.

Hang in there. You'll find one cheap or free.

You might also look outside your immediate area. Last summer I really wanted a weekend project and wound up driving from MA to RI then to CT to look at bikes. I eventually got a LeTour for $20. the guy was asking $25. Yes, I know I probably spent $60 on gas that weekend, but so what, I got a bike! :-)

Is this my serial #? K803410

I couldn't find info on year, etc. It seems there should be a two letter prefix?

Thanks James!

Tulsa and back in 5 1/2 hours. I've been rooting around in the box of parts and wondering what to do :)

Would you believe that frame and fork with stem shifters weighed almost 13 pounds? Dang! No wonder they were bombproof!

The Cannnondale CAAD 9-7 frame (52cm size) and fork I have on layaway at the LBS weighs about 1350 grams per Bicycle magazine, or about 2.97 pounds (they referenced a 54cm, but I have to admit I'm a wee bit skeptical!)

For sure an amazing difference to say the least!

Tom

That bike may have been made on October 27, 1958....according to the Bunch O bikes.com Schwinn serial numbers. Only one slight hangup -- I don't believe Varsitys were offered that year. Could it be a Racer? They look pretty much identical to a Varsity...

Take it one day at a time! Think of it as a puzzle. And I told you that frame was heavy -- they don't call them the "gas pipe" Schwinns for nothing! :)

Thanks James,

I miss my varsity

I don't know. It looks pretty much to be a carbon copy of mine which dates to 1973. I'd be surprised if it was more than two years off from that.

Doohickie - You're right - I was reading the "S" but I have a "K" Doh!

I can't find it on any list ... :(

K803410

My '73 Varsity has serial number CJ526842. Yours has K803410. It's the J that makes mine a '73; my guess is that yours is a '74 by virtue of the K, and for whatever reason the month letter that should appear before the K didn't stamp properly. I would call it a '74 until you get some better information.

I'll look around on mine and see if there are any other date codes on components, etc., and let you know where to look.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...69/schwinn.png

this is worth seeing! and how do you put pictures on here? i cant figure out the code or whatever it is.

With Photobucket it can be done easily.

1.Select and then view your picture up on your PB page.
2.To the left of your image you should see a box titled "Share This Image".
3. Left click on the box to the right of IMG CODE. The text in the box should start with something like http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/....
4. Right click and paste that text into your post.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...69/schwinn.png

Nice graffiti.

If I am recalling this correctly, the 2 letter code started with "AA" in 1965. The first letter denotes the Month, the second denotes the Year. Prior to 1965 they used a single letter for the month, and the first digit was the last digit of the year.

So here's my theory... K803410 is a Varsity manufactured in October 1958, sold as a '59 Varsity. The first year of the Schwinn Varsity.

**edit**

I see jamesl came to the same conclusion as me 10 posts ago.

so yeah... +1 to that

You have a Merckx and miss your Varsity?

Tow a kiddie trailer with 100LBs in it, and put some steel wheels on the Merckx, and you'll be close.

Toss a worn chain and cassette on there, and you'll be closer still.

Gee, isn't that great? Still miss it?

What size are you, I'll sell you one for way too much $$$.


PS---Don't mind me, I am so sick of Varsinental threads, that I am thinking of going away from C&V for good.

They were POS's when made, they are still POS's.

The cockroach of bikes, I'll give them that. After Armageddon, they will still be here, if you can find tires.

OFG, don't be so hard on the Varsity bikes and their kin. Like them for what they are. Many riders had them in their youth and now are looking at them thru Campus Green glasses.

Jeebus!

I have to go make some popcorn!

Perfect!

I'll be right back.

I just spent two weeks with OFG. Somebody send me a Purple Heart.

b21

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7837283...in/photostream

Well, it's a 77 Sportabout...( Varsabout?) Varsities first cousin.

I just switched to the upright bars and added a little basket...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7837283...in/photostream

I know where there is a purple Varsity for sale...

You had better prepare the State, CB, he's coming back to MI soon.

b21

Wow, sold the year I was born! A brother from a different mother!