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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Raleigh USA Supercourse?

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Old 05-28-11 | 04:38 PM
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Bikes: 2012 Fuji Gran fondo 2.0, 1997 Trek 9900 with XT/XTR, 1984 Cannondale touring bike, Bianchi SS/FG

Raleigh USA Supercourse?

Would a Raleigh USA supercourse make a good fixed gear bike? If anyone knows anything about that bike it would be helpful. Thank you
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Old 05-28-11 | 04:57 PM
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I googled it and assuming the picture I found is similar to what you have or what you're looking for it would make a good conversion. The dropouts are semi horizontal and you can adjust the chain tension via this. Depending on the cranks you may just be able to remove one of the chain rings and not have to buy a new crankset.
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Old 05-28-11 | 04:58 PM
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Yea I used to have one it worked just fine as a conversion...
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Old 05-28-11 | 05:24 PM
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Definitely an order of magnitude better than the Varsity. Do you have it in hand? Do you know the year or have pics? It should be Reynolds 531 which is saweet!
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Old 05-28-11 | 06:52 PM
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Bikes: 2012 Fuji Gran fondo 2.0, 1997 Trek 9900 with XT/XTR, 1984 Cannondale touring bike, Bianchi SS/FG

I was talking to this old guy in my neighborhood who used to restore old bikes and stuff and I was talking to him (I was riding my varsity) and he said the frame is really exspensive on it because of schwinns technology of how the frame was made and with what. What do you think about that cause Im not sure.
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Old 05-28-11 | 08:46 PM
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A Varsity frame is not worth much. Expensive to make? Maybe, I have no idea. But definitely not something that will bring high dollars. Simply because of the enormous weight.
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Old 05-28-11 | 09:17 PM
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Electro forging sure was different but no way in hell was it expensive.Maybe in his old age(as in senile) he's mistaking it for one of the filet brazed schwinns.
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Old 05-28-11 | 09:36 PM
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Idk I'll try to talk to him again maybe tomorrow.
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Old 05-28-11 | 09:42 PM
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Back in the 1970s bike boom era, Schwinn was the premium American brand and the Varsity was one of it's most popular models. In 1975 it retailed for $129.95, which in today's money would be about $521. It weighed between 38 and 41 lbs and was referred to in the Schwinn literature as a "lightweight style" entry level 10-speed. The frame was made by a machine welding process they called "electro-forged" and all the welds were fine finished and were very smooth. They were much stronger and better looking than department store bikes like Huffy. If you want to practice tricks on a conversion or play polo, this is the frame to use, but if you just want a nice FG to ride non-abusively, then look elsewhere.
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