waphz

I've recently acquired this bike off of CL for only $65. I have only cleaned it up, got new handlebar tape, new chain, and a new saddle. Soon I will be purchasing all new components for the bike. Also I would like to know if you could have a 8/9 rear derailleur, and use the style of shifters currently on the bike.

waphz

Doohickie

1. The bike wasn't worth $65.
2. The bike isn't worth putting that much effort into, except perhaps as a learning experience.
3. If you want to get better shifting, I would start with a new ramped freewheel. 5 speeds is all that will work easily. Existing shifters should work.
4. If you cold set the rear dropouts, you could get maybe a 7-speed freewheel in there; existing shifters may work. I would suggest getting a new wheelset rather than trying add spacers to the existing wheel.

This bike will never be worth the parts you put into it. If you just want it for knocking around, it's okay for that, but in terms of a performance bike or something you may want to sell down the road, you'll never get your money back.

ThermionicScott 

I'd agree. The good news is that the stock freewheel and chainrings appear to have plenty of life left in them, and have a wide enough range for most riding. More gears is overrated.

Doohickie

It might be worth it to put a ramped freewheel on there and take it from there.

Roll-Monroe-Co

Depends what you want. If you want performance, start with another bike. If you want that distinctly American vintage style, you've already shed some of it with the original bar tape and saddle. But you've still got some.

Rear shifting with the orignal Atom freewheel and Huret derailleur is going to be not very good no matter what you do. If you don't care about putting more money into the bike than you can get out of resale, replace the freewheel and the derailleur with something -- anything -- made by Sun Tour. If you have a local bike coop, this is a good source. Bike shops too, maybe, will have this kind of thing in a vintage parts bin.

If you want braking that works, you'll need new wheels with aluminum rims. Probably you can get by muchly upgraded new brake pads. Really anything better than the cheapo hard little black rubber block type will be better.

New stuff that would work:

Freewheel: https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#5

Brake pads: https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brake...ml#continental

A rear derailleur like this will look terrible, though it will go with your saddle, and probably work nicely: https://harriscyclery.net/product/shi...-claw-3189.htm

Very minimum: good quality brake pads so you don't die on your classic bike.

waphz

I was really thinking about putting in all new everything. The frame and handlebars would be the only original parts left on there. That would cost me around $230. I was thinking if I was spending that much money on parts. That it would be better just to buy a different bike. What do you guys think I should do?

wrk101

Save your coins, and start looking for a nice used bike that has the features you are looking for. For your budget, you should be able to get a bike that weighs about half as much, has better everything. Regardless of what upgrades you put into that bike, it has some serious limitations.

waphz

Do you have a bike that you would recommend? I'm starting to go on rides with my friends.

RubberLegs

There are SO many bikes that have more potential to put cash into than that one. I know, I built up a 79 Schwinn LeTour. So, I started with a better frame and better components. It is an OK ride for easy cruising, thinking of setting it up as my tourer. It now has 700 alloys, 14 gears, aero brakes. For under $150, you should be able to find a good Fuji, Univega, Gitane, or Raleigh that has MUCH more potential to put money into. Patiently stalking CL, can yield results.

peazweag

If he likes the bike it's worth it.

cycleheimer

Vintage? Mid to late '80s Schwinn (mid-level or better). You can just look for ones with Columbus Tenax frames. Fuji S-12-S, Fuji America, Fuji Touring Series. Just about any Trek road bike. Newer? Giant OCR3. Or, you can buy a new one online from Bikes Direct, or similar merchant. That's just a few of many I can think of. BTW, the Schwinn will last forever...no matter how much you ride it, as originally spec'd...without putting much $ into it.

Doohickie

+1 on the late 80s Schwinns.

The thing is, with an older Varsity, there are a lot of things that are non-standard and therefore difficult to upgrade. The seat post and handlebar stem are odd sizes. It has a one-piece crank. Heck, all the tubing sizes are off a bit so even things like clamp-on shifters, bottle holders or lights would be hard to find.

Roll-Monroe-Co

Doohickie is right. Varsities and Continentals have weirdo seatpost, headset, stem, and tubing sizes. Plus the one-piece bottom bracket demands a special adaptor to upgrade to a standard three-piece. They're cool bikes, but they weigh a ton, and they're just more trouble than it's worth to upgrade. My suggestion for a strategy is to replace the brake pads on that bike with good quality ones and ride it while you hunt for a better bike that's worthy of building up.

Doohickie

Mind you, I have a Varsity myself. I converted it to a grocery getter with upright bars and a mattress saddle. It trundles along fine, but it's not the best for too much more than trundling.