$400 Varsity? Is this an e-joke?
 

This listing on eBay is for a Varsity conversion with a mix of meh and bleh components (Bulletproof cranks, anyone?) currently at $400 but still somehow not yet up to the reserve price. I can't believe this is for real, but I just had to share.

hahahah. That bike looks HORRIBLE. It's like a limousine...look how far apart those wheels are. Geez...another overpriced conversion.

There are 25 hours left, do y'all think we can get it up over a grand?

doo eeeet

Is there any reason to ride a conversion other than lack of a track frame? I always think they look so impractical with their super long wheel-base.

What a joke! I'll bet that machine weighs about 25lbs. You gotta dig those groovy white tires and matching crank though.

To be fair, the toupe saddle is pretty nice. I wonder if it's the TI or CRO-MO version though.

Depending on what you're after, absolutely. For a fixed commuter, I much prefer the geometry, wide clearance, and rack/fender mounts on many old road frames. But there are plenty of frames that come in around half the weight of the Varsity. And this one is definitely tarck as ****, which makes even less sense.

That's what blows my mind. The saddle and wheels (my hate for deep v's aside) are just a crazy juxtaposition with the godawful frame and cranks. Shoulda left the Ashtabula cranks on there, it really would have completed the picture even better.

Member:since Sep-11-01 in United States
Guys, I think this bike supports terrorism.

that saddle/seatpost combo makes me cry.

I bet it is over 30 lbs. Varisty and Continentals are tanks. Stock they can be well over 40 lbs. I did a SS conversion with an aluminum rimmed wheelset and it dropped 8 lbs, but was still over 30lbs. He did ditch the heavy one piece cranks so that helps with weight. But, in the end you would have to ask yourself why did you waste the time fixing up a Varsity.

I love the "42 tooth chainstay" pretty sweet

I see this everyday on Craigslist, but eBay is a funny place.

It does look clean. Though the distance between the rear wheel and the "Seat Tube" is pretty far.

Personally I would convert something like that if I had the parts laying around just for "giggles" and then flip on Craig's for whatever it would get. But throwing it on eBay and trying to get what he wants? Really?

+1 If you are looking for a bike for long distance riding or commuting with racks and mudguards then the longer wheelbase is better.

Not everyone thinks a track bike is the ideal bike for the road and there was a time that 25 pounds was considered a fairly acceptable weight for a bicycle and a 70's lightweight was in the 20-21 pound range.

Slack frame angles and a longer wheelbase come together to make for a much better ride and this bike would look so much better with some old school box section wheels, some moustache bars, and a Brooks saddle as it will never be a lightweight.

Those Varsity frames are obscenely heavy... but very cool to look at with their electro-forged welds.

Dang! Bidding is over and reserve not met. Think this will be re-listed?

i sure do hope so...



srsly though, 485 bucks is a hell of a lot of money to spend on a varsity. seller needs to get his head way out of the clouds

edit: oh boy it has: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=180356131672

is it bad though that i think 86 bucks is still a bit much for this bike? i would pay 150 (so i guess 235 shipped) max if just for the set of deep v's and white zaffiro pros?

There's a fine line between "custom built" and "built it myself". Somewhere between those two is the explanation for the high reserve.

this is just an example of some guy who thought he would make big flipping fixies on ebay, and doesn't realize that the whole is less than the sum of the parts. he's probably buying all these parts individually and trying to sell the whole bike for more than he spent and it just isn't going to happen.

If you look at the high bidder, Bidder: 3***n( 0 ) New eBay Member (less than 30 days) Feedback: 0%Positive- it's obviously a made-up shill. There were 4 total bids, 2 by this bidder. I bet the other bidder was a made-up shill as well.

Stock weight of a mid-70s Varsity was 40 lb. Even with lighter wheels, no derailleur, etc., I bet it's still way over 30.

20 lb. was the high end stuff in the mid-70s. 25 was still less than average for a geared bike.

He is crazy though, selling that bike for 485$USD is a joke but he wants more? I would have taken the money and run...

good (or just decent) photography is an ebay sellers best friend.