Wanted to show-off my current build.

I didn't really get to document the whole process but here are some pictures of it. It's 90% done. All that's left is to add a chain and tighten everything up.

This bike actually belonged to my friend. She wanted a single speed/fixed so she asked me to help her convert it. It started off as a light blue Schwinn Varsity (circa 1972 I think). I stripped it clean, sanded it down, repainted it and put her back together. The wheels are Mavic CXP22 with Formula Track Hubs. Other than the wheels (and the chain), all the parts are original. This is suppose to be a cheap build so there aren't a lot of fancy parts. haha

But in any case, I thought I share this bike with my second hobby, photography. Just having fun.

Enjoy!



https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2925004561_128c6583c9_b.jpg



https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2925001667_e825e6566d_b.jpg



https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2925000315_d70feddc8c_b.jpg

That is a beautiful color

i don't see why people waste money on those POS

make sure u get some foot retention

reminds me of my first conversion. the frame has been sitting in my shed since 3 months after i built it

either way, that's a very clean job.

I recently picked up a Varsity as well. I am going to convert it to a single speed. This is my first time rebuilding a bike. What kind of freewheel tool did you use? Also, what kind of free wheel/cog did you use in the back?

reminds me of my bike-





It looks like those are 700c wheels on the varsity, which is the only thing I would do differently-

I have cr18 sunrims 27inch with track hubs- something like that would fit the varsity frame better for its era.

What good is foot retention when there's no chain?

Because when it's done, it's no longer a POS?

Finger waggers and å∑∑holes. Combine with bikeforums, and you get Singlespeed & Fixed Gear's bread and butter.

Very nice, now I know how my varsity would look!

Thanks for all the comments. As most of you know, this bike is just suppose to be simple and pleasant to ride. Just a fun project that I got into. After it's all said and done, the bike will serve as primary transportation to and from school.

I also forgot to mention that the fork on the bike now is actually not the original. We ditched the original because of the weight and because my friend didn't like the chrome "lugs." We managed to find a lighter used fork at the Bike Oven, sawed off some excesss and rethreaded it. I'm glad that the fork still fits the overall look of the bike.




This is a hobby. It doesn't have to be the an awesome bike in order for me to enjoy building it or for someone to enjoy ride it.

Get over yourself.


Yeah, I've told my friend already about foot retention. But she thinks they're more of a nuisance. I know for sure that she's going to add a brake to this though.



Yeah, after I installed the wheels, I realized that it looks very "stretched." And you're right in that it doesn't go too well with the frame. I guess this is a lesson to learn for the next build. haha

bar tape?

If you are installing a freewheel, you're not going to need any tools. Just be sure you use a lot of grease before you screw it on. When you remove it however, you're probably going to need a chainwhip and a freewheel remover tool.

The wheelset was purchased and shipped with a 15T cog with a Formula lockring on a Formula hub. It's a flip flop hub but I'm not sure if my friend wants to go single speed right now, or play with the fixed.

The bar tape is sitting on my desk right now. Although after seeing the bike with chrome handle bars, I have a hard time settling with the black bar tape.

Agreed.

That bike is screaming for white bar tape.

If she doesn't want foot retention then she needs a freewheel and brakes on both wheels.

It's a bike. Bikes are fun to build. Bikes are fun to ride. I feel sorry for you.

Great colour. I like how long this bike looks; similar to an old board-track racer.

Yeah it's going to have to be white. I can't think of any color that would really compliment the cream.

When I was a broke as **** college student I rode a single speed varsity that I cobbled together for $30. It was a pos, and was not fun to ride. The fork is made out of solid steel. The 1 piece crank weighs as much as the frame I ride now, and is threaded for 1" pedals so you can only really use cruiser or bmx pedals. It handled like a barge because of the slack angles and huge wheelbase. It takes a weird sized seatpost and stem. This is why I don't understand why people spend money custom painting their varsity and putting $150 wheelsets on them.

If you spend just a little more time looking, you can find a far more suitable frame to convert. My miyata frame was $10 at a yard sale and is made from double butted lugged 4130 and has geometry that is comfortable but is fairly responsive. and it came with decent 80's parts: sr stem and bars, shimano bb, sakae cranks and a tange headset. But hey, if you want to burn money on a frame thats ugly, heavy, sluggish and incompatible with most modern cranksets, go for it.

blue or brown tape would be classy too

Stock fork?

I've had fun on lots of pos bikes. Maybe that's just me.

Tan/Brown leather bar tap would look pretty classy IMO. Nice build

I like the stretched look; it looks "chopped"...leave it....... put a chain on it and ride.....

Well to each his own. Sorry you had a poor experience with your Varsity. But your comments have little to no effect on my working on this bike. It's a bike. I enjoyed putting it together. My friend will enjoy riding it. I have no regrets.

Oh, and I don't think it's that ugly. But like I said: "To each his own."