Beginner Inquiries
 

Hi all! I did some searches on here and Google. I must not have been typing in the correct keywords, cause I did not find anything, and I know this has been answered before.

Well, I went out and got a 1969 Schwinn Varsity 10-speed (probably the most common bicycle ever?). Looks like all original components and what-not. No frame rust. Still shifts (I think). Tires in decent shape, tho the front needs a tiny bit more air, front brakes need aligned (how to?), and all pads need replaced. Pretty sure the derailleurs are good, but that pertains to one of my questions.

I am not 100% sure how to shift gears. There are two levers. I assume that one is to switch between HI and LO, and the other changes between gears 1-5. Problem is, I do not know which one, and when I ride it, it seems as though it is not switching gears most of the time. At one point, I was able to switch between three gears (I think), but was unable to do so again. So, this could either be my lack of knowledge, bad derailleurs, or the combination of the two.

If you have any beginner tips/advice, it would be much appreciated as well!

Also, beginner gear - I will not be riding this bicycle avidly until next spring, as I need to accumulate gear. I would like to know the bare essentials - I plan to do mostly DIY repairs/maintenance, if it does not take too many expensive tools.

Thanks all!

The left side lever shifts the front derailluer, the right shifts the rear. Sound like it needs a tune-up and adjustment at the very least. My old Varsity was never the easiest bike to shift.

My advice to beginners is to get a good quality tire pump with gauge. Many of the bikes I see around here are rolling around on under-inflated tires.

Tire pump is a no-brainer for me. Want one that attaches to the frame. But I also need patch kits, wrenches, and I don't know what else.

Here are the most recommended sites for DIY types:

http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
http://www.youtube.com/

Spare tube.

Gear shifting is sort of an art. Use the Gear Calculator to figure out which gear is what. To use gears to your advantage you have to shift back and forth between the front and the rear.

Aaron :)

Was tinkering with the gears a bit last night. For shifting the rear derailleur, it seems like quite the sensitive battle. I assume there are five positions with the right gear lever, that would correspond to the five rear gears? Not sure, but having it at the half-way mark (about a 45 degree angle) resulted in 4th gear. Haha.

Thank you for the links, 1nceptor.

And all-in-one kits of tools that I need that might be a good buy?

When you move the levers all the way forward, are the cables slack or tight? I think a basic tune up is in order, but the price you'd pay at a LBS will probably cost more than the bike. Is there a bike co-op near you?

The questions that you are asking are the same ones that ALL of us had when we began. Some of them can be answered by reading (if you are good at visualizing), others might need photos to help. But there's nothing like 1) trial & error and 2) having someone actually show you.

Here are a couple suggestions:

*Some bike shops or outdoor gear stores (like REI) offer classes. Check your area for offerings.
*The League of American Bicyclists has developed education courses (http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/e...on/courses.php), some of which include basic stuff. Many local bicycle clubs or shops offer these courses. Please consider taking one! It'll not only help you with the mechanical operation & maintenance of your bike, you learn some excellent handling skills that'll help you be a better and safer rider.

I concur with just about all the advice given above, I'll just add to the OP: great choice for a first C&V bike to learn how to wrench on!

No clue what you mean by 'C&V', but thank you! Haha. I figured it was worth getting a popular bicycle to begin with, as there would be plenty of people that have wrenched and ridden them before me, and there would be plenty of people familiar with them if I got into a tight spot. :)

The shifters feel tighter when in the lower position (horizontal).

I'll check out those links! Also, the guy who sold it to me said there was a not-for-profit bicycle shop that charges $5/hr if I needed anything done or wanted to learn anything. I will call him up again, as I cannot remember the name of the place. He said they gave it a tune-up, which I assume was simply aligning and lubing everything, and he also said they replaced the cable housing and re-taped the bars. All looks in order to me, and the lube smells fresh, so I trust that they did so. With that said, there is obviously things on my end needing done. :)

I'll get back to y'all when I know something. This will, however, be a slow process, as I am living on a tight budget (not paycheck to paycheck, but paying down debt). And I have till spring to get it ready. Anyways, if you guys think of anything else, let me know!

Classic & Vintage i.e. here!

Ha! Wow, I am DULL! Haha.

So, Boise Bicycle Project (.org for the website) is open Wed-Fri and is a non-profit org. I sent an email off to them as there is no one there currently to answer the phones.

Question - I am looking for a way to store my bicycle in my condo (okay, apartment), and know of the wall mounts, vertical stands, etc. However, I was wondering - is there a stand that can double as a storage rack? I would prefer to mount the bicycle on the wall, as I have a 3x5 (there abouts) space that can be used. Edit: would rather be able to create one myself - just having trouble coming up with a concept.

Just got an email back from BBP - $10/hr + parts. Or, $50 yearly membership includes unlimited shop time (I bet they're busy), classes, and 10% off parts!

I was looking at this last night, you'd have to shorten it to maybe a 3 bike rack though but I think it'd get the job done.
http://www.instructables.com/id/simp...es-in-small-a/

That is precisely what I need to do. Thank you much!
Edit: Seems there are ones on Amazon that do the same thing for about $15. Though I should keep in mind that I will be storing two bicycles once I get my wife her cruiser.

Now, I got to thinking - a 2-in-1 rack and repair stand just would not do... So I need to devise a way to build a stand. There has GOT to be a way to do so, rather than spending $100 on one.
Edit: of course - http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-...-Repair-Stand/

I just picked up a '64 Varsity. Mine will be rolling on 26" coaster rims. You have to love these bikes for what they are. Varsitys were the most common bike in the racks during my school years of the 70s. When I got mine, it was way too big for me, when I killed it through over modification, it was too small.

Buy a cheap open-end wrench set and pick out the sizes you need. They used a lot of hexes instead of Allens.

I had an idea a while back but didn't have the time or inclination for it (since my brother in law let's me borrow his nice repair stand. All you really need is a mountable clamp with a rubber grip, and something sturdy to mount on. I had what almost looked like a tv dinner table on wheels, but it was supported by a telescoping set of metal tubes on only one side of the narrow end, would have been a perfect candidate, even had locking casters for wheels. ADDED THOUGHT: Truth be told, I may just buy those hooks since my work area already has 2x6 mounted across most of the exposed framework inside (for storage not workstand).

Sounds like the article I linked on instructables.com. :) Can't wait to build this stuff. Should be fun. It may be a few weeks, however. "/

So, I have been searching for my serial number series. The series is FH0, but I cannot find ANYTHING with FH...

(Old post irrelevant found the info) It's not a 69 it's June 1972 if it begins with FH http://johnsvintagebikes.com/dating/...date_codes.pdf

Sweet! Thank you so much, RaleighSport! Time to change the sig! Too bad it is not 69 - such an awesome year in the world, or so I have heard.

I'm too cheap to buy a rack, I just hoist my bikes with a cargo tiedown strap over the garage door rail or tree limb.

That sounds very raw, old's'cool. Haha. The only things wrong with that are 1) no garage, 2) only pine trees, 3) it would not stay steady.

I love the look of the piping that makes up the repair stand on instructables.com. Unfortunately, that will not fit in my apartment, I have concluded.

I may have to do everything without a stand! >.< It may be possible to set up a rack (by way of a j-hook like in the instructables.com article on making a rack) that would also be half of the repair stand. If used in a corner, I could store the bicycle with both tires against the wall. Then, when time comes to do some work, swing up the rear end and clamp it with a piece that will be on the other wall.

Hmm...

You know could always run a carriage bolt into the wall space it out on the outside and mount a clamp there, turn your wall into a work station that could also store a single bike.

Hmm. Having trouble picturing that.

Also, is there a basics toolkit I could find? I plan on checking my local co-op as well, but want to compare. I know that Park Tool has a few, but the least expensive one seems to missing some things, and the next one up seems to have too much. Ha.