Schwinn Varsity History

[cnighbor1]

Schwinn Varsity History

''We either had on or wanted one. But they were cool bikes back then....''

From a freind



http://www.cyclesportandfitness.com/the_varsity.htm

[fiamme red]

More here: https://bikehistory.org/bikes/varsity/.

I had a red, white, and blue 1976 Varsity. It was probably the bike that was most important in fostering my love of cycling.

[Ralph]

I had one. Continental also.

[rides2slow]

Bought my green Varsity in 1974. I think I paid $99.
Stolen Ann Arbor, MI 12/81.
Long time ago.......

[Buzz]

Bought my green Varsity in 1974. I think I paid $99.
Stolen Ann Arbor, MI 12/81.
Long time ago.......

I got my hand me down Schwinn Varsity in 1974 when my older brother went off to college. It was eventually replaced by a Peugeot then a Raleigh and finally by a nice English racing bike the name I can’t remember now as I only owned the bike a week when it fell victim to bike theft in Ann Arbor in Sept. 1981...

[mcteague]

Back in the early 70s, while in high school, I bought my first 10 speed. The main choices in my price range were the Varsity, the Raleigh Grand Prix and a similar Gitane. The Schwinn was much heavier and had cheaper parts. I wanted the Gitane but got the Raleigh as it was less money; $112 if I recall correctly. The only Schwinn I liked was the Paramount but that was WAY more than my saved allowance would stretch.

Tim

[Bentley]

I was in 9th grade, 1972 Lemon Yellow, upgrades to a Root Beer colored Super Sport. Loved that bike but it was a boat anchor...

[crankles]

I had one. Continental also.

Ditto. Blue Stingray(new) to Green Varsity(used) to Brown Continental (used)...

[Hellgate]

I bought a used one per Consumer Reports recommendations because my mom insisted. Akin to a toaster I suppose. It was stolen from the arcade at the mall. Thank God. I bought a Peugeot UO8 and the rest they say, is history.

[Hellgate]

Man, they had the marketing schtick down!

"Frame: Schwinn designed and manufactured diamond style durable steel frame with forged steel fork.
Frame Finish: Chestnut, lime green, yellow.
Wheels: Schwinn tubular steel rims on Schwinn-Approved hubs.
Tires: 27" x 1 1/4" gumwall Schwinn-Approved Puff.
Handlebar and Stem: Drop style steel handlebar, forged steel stem.
Crank Set: Doubl-plateu Schwinn chain wheel assembly... lightweight one-piece crank. 39-52 teeth.
Pedals: Rattrap-style with reflectors.
Derailleurs and Gears: Rear cog: 14-17-20-24-28 teeth. Schwinn-Approved front and rear derailleurs.
Brakes: Dual position levers, side pull.
Saddle: Racing style.
Weight: 38 to 41 lbs. depending on frame size."

[93KgBike]

Electro-forged bikes rode well and looked like pricier fillet brazed models.

None-the-less, I don't miss mine. It was heavier than hell.

[pinkshogun]

My 1967 Varsity Tourist

Varsity History: https://bikehistory.org/bikes/varsity/

[ctcyclistbob]

Mine was a couple years newer, but I had the same blue Varsity Tourist.

Lots of good memories ...

My 1967 Varsity Tourist

Varsity History: https://bikehistory.org/bikes/varsity/

[Jeff N.]

Schwinn Varsity History

''We either had on or wanted one. But they were cool bikes back then....''

From a freind



http://www.cyclesportandfitness.com/the_varsity.htm

I remember BEGGING my Dad to buy me one when I was about 12...he just couldn't afford it. Now I have a whole garage full of bikes, so I suppose I've compensated a bit since then.

[rides2slow]

I got my hand me down Schwinn Varsity in 1974 when my older brother went off to college. It was eventually replaced by a Peugeot then a Raleigh and finally by a nice English racing bike the name I can’t remember now as I only owned the bike a week when it fell victim to bike theft in Ann Arbor in Sept. 1981...

A trend

[DrSpoke]

I bought my Varsity in the Summer of '69 - >50 years ago. I had just graduated HS and was heading off to college at Michigan State. i took it all apart, painted the frame black and then couldn't put it back together. With a little help from the local Schwinn shop I was rolling. I took me through the first couple of years of school until the European bike boom hit and I bought a Follis. Quite a nice bike though in hindsight wish I'd went Italian. But that came in '76 with an Alan Super Record w/Campagnolo Record. The Varsity is long gone but still have the Alan :) And still on Campy for all my road bikes.

[Tandem Rider]

I had a brown one from 1971 or so, hay baling money paid for it. Sold it in 1974 to help finance a Raleigh International.

[Spinner]

Man, they had the marketing schtick down! "

In 1972, I had lust for a ten-speed Schwinn after spending countless hours looking through their catalogue featuring cute co-eds talking to cool guys who were straddling Continentals. I finally bought a robin-egg-blue Continental for $118 and started taking 20 to 50 mile rides.

I ultimately traded that bike in for a Nishiki International after literally wearing out all of the bearings.

Yes, the Continental was a tank, but it put me on the road for a hobby i have loved ever since.

[el cheapo]

Bought a 73 Varsity at Johnny's Cyclery in Fort Lauderdale when I was in the eighth grade. My first major purchase. Glad I bought a size too large because I rode that tank all the way through college. Longest ride...62 miles!

[dddd]

I was putting a build together for a very particular lady who wanted a mildly custom lime-green Varsity, and ended up with one leftover 1964 Varsity frame that I put together for myself using parts that I had laying around.
I used 700c wheels from an old Specialized Epic, and a mis-matched set of Ergolevers that were shop discards.
I got the original brakes working well using some long Kool-Stop "MTB" pads, and used a shiny-new SRAM 8s cassette with the 12t cog removed, fitted on the7s freehub. I had a 7700 rear derailer so used that and the Schwinn's original Huret front derailer.

These frames are quite short-reaching, so my only regret would be not using the 23" frame, but I've done all kind of club and training rides on this bike and it works better than it perhaps ought to! It's down to an even 32 pounds, still with the steel crankset and kickstand.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7046/6978564605_c795e62a4d_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/7059/6832436050_9ebc5b6e30_c.jpg


I later bought a 1975 model 23" Varsity in top condition at the Salvation Army store for $20, did some mild upgrading such as a 6s freewheel (with supporting mods to the original Schwinn/Huret rear derailer). I tried to keep the dozen little mods as subtle in appearance as possible and the bike still weighs an actual 39 pounds.:eek:

I kept the steel wheels to show off how heavy it is to other riders. I ask them to check out "how light" it is, and I'm left ROTFL when neither wheel clears the ground on their first tug!!!!! First words out of their mouth are usually expletives combined with "OMG" and "weighs a TON" testimonial to those around them.
It's actually a good-riding, durable bike.

https://live.staticflickr.com/3779/14100992917_8763610fbe_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/3734/14284364151_5a18540185_c.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/2926/14381521199_9f454c51e4_c.jpg

[OldCrank]

wow, how many of those did we put together... I think we could grease cables, true the wheels and wrap those bars in green stretchy tape in our sleep.

When the aluminum LeTours came out (`75?) they ate the Varsity and Conti's lunch, we sold a ton of those. Beginning of the end. I was surprised how long the steelies were in production.