An explanation to the undertensioned wheels as told by Dave Coombs, who taught service classes at Schwinn Sales West during the 1970's: This was intentional to protect the bikes during shipping. Remember, the Chicago made bikes were "long-pack;" shipped with both wheels in. They were shipped by rail and handled by guys who were used to throwing sides of beef and large car parts around. The undertensioning of wheels built with those stone-crusher Schwinn rims was an attempt to build some shock absorption into the boxed bike to prevent permanent damage when mishandled in shipping!
David Feldman
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>From: Joseph Bender-Zanoni <jfbender@umich.edu>
>To: "brian blum" <brianblum@hotmail.com>
>Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: {ClassicRend]Varsity
>Date: Thu, Nov 30, 2000, 5:26 PM
>
>I believe Brian is poking fun at my defense of the quality of the Varsity
>(among other Schwinns). What I meant by quality is the consistency and
>integrity of the product. Schwinn always had the answer if you wanted
>quality in terms of the best (or nearly): a Paramount.
>
>See http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
>there for some explanations of why Varsitys and other Schwinns were special.
>
>Boy - I just remembered one thing that wasn't quality on the Varsitys from
>the mechanics viewpoint. Schwinn would cheat on the wheelbuilding and from
>time to time provide wheels that were merely laced and not even tensioned.
>Tensioning and dishing the wheels when you got $3 for the build was a chore.
>
>Joe Bender-Zanoni
>Too busy to ride- GRRR
>
>At 08:39 PM 11/30/00, brian blum wrote:
>>Quality Schwinn Varsity for sale, never ridden 1984 vintage, small womens
>>frame. Price $1 plus $25 for professional packing and UPS for 55 lbs
>>including packing. Has lollipop shifters, Schwinn approved hubs, Schwinn
>>approved derailleurs, Schwinn Approved brakes, Schwinn approved saddle,
>>Schwinn approved tires, Cranks of indeterminate origin(MAYBE OHIO) with
>>beautiful chrome finish. Please respond quickly. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK, NO
>>WARRENTEE IMPLIED