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Cant Believe I Bought A Schwinn Varsity

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Cant Believe I Bought A Schwinn Varsity

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Old 08-25-13, 07:25 AM
  #26  
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OldsCOOL, your best bet would be to peddle that in Ann Arbor; maybe there's a back-to-school bike swap meet coming up.
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Old 08-25-13, 07:40 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by old's'cool
OldsCOOL, your best bet would be to peddle that in Ann Arbor; maybe there's a back-to-school bike swap meet coming up.
Or a hipster wanting to convert to a fixie. Hmmmm. Maybe if I do the conversion it would triple the currently inflated values?
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Old 08-29-13, 06:10 PM
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So tonight I'm seeing an identical varsity on our local CL......going for 300.00!

I've reserved mine for a friend's bikeless nephew for the price of 45.00.
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Old 08-29-13, 07:09 PM
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Well lets see, on our local CrList...
Gray 20" Frame Schwinn Varsity Vintage Retro Roadbike $100
"the juiced schwinn" - vintage custom roadbike... $225 (Custom SS)
1968 Schwinn Varsity 10 speed $225
schwinn varsity $150
Vintage Ladies Road Bike $125
schwinn varsity racing bike $40
Cool Retro SCHWINN VARSITY Townie Single Speed $149
Schwin varsity males road bike downtown $100
Vintage Womens Purple Varsity Fixie $250

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Old 08-29-13, 07:21 PM
  #30  
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In the D, the low for Lemon Yellow is $40 and the high is $300.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/search...ity&srchType=A

A UM student is less likely to buy it than an East Lansing student because so many are from outside the midwest or are from one of those snobby wealthy families that OldsCOOL referred to above.

OldsCOOL, do you know Wes Swain, the GM at Boyne Resort? He's a classmate of mine.

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Old 08-30-13, 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by oddjob2
In the D, the low for Lemon Yellow is $40 and the high is $300.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/search...ity&srchType=A

A UM student is less likely to buy it than an East Lansing student because so many are from outside the midwest or are from one of those snobby wealthy families that OldsCOOL referred to above.

OldsCOOL, do you know Wes Swain, the GM at Boyne Resort? He's a classmate of mine.
I dont but I'm guessing he isnt far from where I live here out on the Lake Charlevoix peninsula.
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Old 08-30-13, 08:08 AM
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"Schwinn Varsity RACING bike".
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Old 08-30-13, 08:18 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by repechage
Varsitys have their own aesthetic. Visually they work, as a road bike they are very limited.
I knew a couple of cats who toured across country on Varsities on the Bikecentennial ride in 1976. The bikes gave fine service, unlike many of the inexpensive UJBs other folks used.
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Old 08-30-13, 08:19 AM
  #34  
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NOTE to newbies trying to sell old Schwinns on Craigslist...do NOT have a Bike Shop throw $100+ into a 40yr old Varsity, and then expect to sell it for $200+......NOT happening!!!!! (for the most part) As for racing, it WOULD be interesting to see a stage of the TdF run on them..... :-O The hill climbing could get "Interesting"! and downhill....I'm afraid the brakes would burst into flames!!
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Old 08-30-13, 08:22 AM
  #35  
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Varsities are, and were, GOOD, SOLID, entry level bikes. NOT complicated, VERY strong, and DO have a certain STYLE....but it does NOT say SPEED!
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Old 08-30-13, 08:23 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by tcs
I knew a couple of cats who toured across country on Varsities on the Bikecentennial ride in 1976. The bikes gave fine service, unlike many of the inexpensive UJBs other folks used.
Put a crank and pedals on an M4 Sherman tank and do the same exact thing.
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Old 08-30-13, 08:26 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by RubberLegs
Varsities are, and were, GOOD, SOLID, entry level bikes. NOT complicated, VERY strong, and DO have a certain STYLE....but it does NOT say SPEED!
Paperboy bikes where on occasion a 38lb "racing" bike can double as a weapon against agressive dogs.
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Old 08-30-13, 08:37 AM
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Well, I acquired a low end Schwinn too, though it wasn't a Varsity. Mind you, the rationale was cheap, theft discouraging, transporatation for my son at university.
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Old 08-30-13, 09:02 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
Well, I acquired a low end Schwinn too, though it wasn't a Varsity. Mind you, the rationale was cheap, theft discouraging, transporatation for my son at university.
"Theft discouraging"
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Old 08-30-13, 10:06 AM
  #40  
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The bike that got me back on a bike was a 1978 Varsity that I bought off of a guy on Facebook's Warrendale Detroit (my neighborhood) page... $10. Bought it, cleaned it, rode it to work (13 miles each way) for 6 months. Upgraded the wheel set, tires, seat and added a rear rack. Bought a Le Tour and was blown away... I ended up giving the Varsity to a neighbor kid who currently uses it to commute to work as it is so much more dependable than our laughingstock mass transit system...
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Old 08-30-13, 10:08 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by OldsCOOL
So I was out doing a random garage sale excursion while in town buying a spoke for my Centurion Elite and here was this 70's Schwinn Varsity in absolutely stock original owner excellent garage kept condition. I am not a flipper and I abhor Schwinns. It had 25.00 on the original seat. So I walked over and offered 15.00 and she took it.

I will indeed spiff (so very little needed) and get this thing out of my shop. Or maybe I'll just keep it for doing reps in my powerlifting regimen this winter.

I'd have to say it's a good choice for that.. I have an inherited 67 racer deluxe, I used it for the same purpose quite a few times the last two winters and it worked like a charm, even if a bit awkward.
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Old 08-30-13, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by schwinnderella
For many years the way to show you were a serious cyclist was to bash Schwinns especially the varsity and continental. Looks like the attitude still exists. For what they are Schwinns are quality well built bikes. Yes they are heavy but they will last a long time with minimal maintenance. Although I have some lighter, more costly, fancier bikes I still enjoy riding varsitys and continentals.
X2
It is still the main transportation for many college kids.
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Old 08-30-13, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by OldsCOOL
"Theft discouraging"
A good angle grinder wheel may cost more than the bike itself
And you don't want to risk denting your $80 cable cutter, right?
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Old 09-07-13, 01:24 PM
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Schwinn varsities and their 5peed brethren are such a huge part of american cycling history in the 60s and 70s much like camaros,mustangs and firebirds
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Old 09-13-13, 05:49 PM
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I sold the Varsity to my cycling friend for 40$. His nephew rides a busted up BMX when they go for rides. While we met in a grocery store lot a local rider walked over in awe of the bike and asked if I knew how much it was actually worth (he sees them on CL, too). I grinned and looked at my friend with a little "See, I told ya".
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Old 09-13-13, 06:06 PM
  #46  
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Ive been looking for an old Varsity that I can keep at my place in Cheboygan,MI. I will be up there in the begining of October, meet me in mackinaw city with the bike and I will give you double what you paid!
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Old 09-13-13, 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by DEW21
Ive been looking for an old Varsity that I can keep at my place in Cheboygan,MI. I will be up there in the begining of October, meet me in mackinaw city with the bike and I will give you double what you paid!
Thanx, it was sold yesterday for 40. I bought it for 15.00.
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Old 09-14-13, 05:23 AM
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I picked up this Varsity last year at a bike auction for $5 just because it wasn't in the worst shape that I see around here normally. Earlier this spring I combined all the parts from a 74 Le Tour and some decent Suntour derailleurs with a 7spd HG freewheel and the Le Varsity was born.

The bike rides really nice and shifts as smooth as butter. I have it at our shop for $250, before you guys jump all over me about the price just last month a customer offered my boss $300 + his DB road bike for his Varsity that wasn't even a 1/4 as nice as this one. I already have a few people interested in this so it won't be long before it sells, as the old saying goes it's worth what someone is willing to pay.

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Old 09-14-13, 08:36 AM
  #49  
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There has been an aluminum frame Le Tour on our CL for 75.00 which sounds quite reasonable. Then there was that 350.00 Varsity. Just ridiculous. I bought this Varsity for 15.00 and flipped it (funny term for a 40Lb bike) for 40.00.

I refuse to take advantage of those that are suffering from such strange disorders.
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