I don't mean to speak poorly of anyone's old favorite bikes.... I've seen allot of Raleigh bashing so I don't want to evoke those Sprits...
But... Schwinn Varsity(s) were the heaviest slowest clumsiest 10 speeds I ever rode...
I guess if a Masi was a Ferrari or a Condor was an Aston Martin\u2026 A Varsity was a Jeep, or a tractor\u2026
Or a Cadillac maybe? I recall them being in the plus side of 40 lbs.
Stout? Big boned?
Don (270lbs) Williams Woodinville Washington USA
On 6/12/08, Dale Brown <oroboyz@aol.com> wrote:
> The biggest issue with the Varsity had a lot to do with those solid brick
forks! I think those things were forged ! Maybe even made by the Ashtabula
Co that made the one piece cranks.. In any case the forks were strong but
ride like poop.
>
>
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>
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> Dale Brown
> cycles de ORO Bike Shop
> 1410 Mill Street
> Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 USA
> 336-274-5959
> http://cyclesdeoro.com
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com
> http://www.carolinacup.com
> http://www.greensborovelo.com
> http://www.bikegso.org
> http://nbda.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
> To: haxixe@gmail.com; Dale Brown <oroboyz@aol.com>
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 9:55 pm
> Subject: Re: [CR] Classic Schwinn
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> Probably true in the case of the Varsity, although I confess I never owne
d one.? I did start my lightweight bicycle experience with a UO-8 like many
others did and thought it magical at the time - but I was comparing to 3-s
peed "English Racers".? I must say I think my Schwinn Superior is a better
bike than that UO-8, though probably no lighter.? But I can't do a direct c
omparison, as I sold the UO-8 about 35 years ago.
>
> ?
>
> Regards,
>
> ?
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
>
> Kurt Sperry <haxixe@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I remember making the leap from a Varsity to a Peugeot UO-8. The
> difference- even though both were pretty low end "10 speeds" in their
> time- was night and day. The Peugeot was exponentially more fun to
> ride. Once you'd ridden even a low-end Euro
> "10 speed" there was no
> going back to a Varsity.
>
> Kurt Sperry
> Bellingham, Washington
> USA
>
> On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 5:54 PM, Dale Brown wrote:
> >
> > << I think with where are country is headed and all that we should all
support schwinn. just one man's opinion.
> >
> > I'll throw it out there.......i'd like to hear more about people's race
experiences on the varsity or continental I know when i rode my first one
in the late 60's as a 12 year old I was so fast. >>
> >
> > Ron, you ARE joking I hope? Just in case you're not, FYI, the Schwinn w
e know and love went broke and everything was sold off... the name (only) w
ent to a Canadian company that specializes in big box bikes and has them al
l made in China. Hence their availability in Costco, Target and other fine
retailers (!) No real Schwinn left to support in my opinion.
> >
> > Schwinn of old were fine if somewhat clunky bikes and are viewed
> nostalgically by fans.
> >
> > Also cruel reality was that the Varsity and Continental were sport recr
eational bikes and not racers in any real sense, although many fun tours an
d casual rides were made on them. The Paramount was the really only true ra
cer early on, later came some other models that might squeeze by into the t
rue "racer" designation...
> >
> > This is all not to say that the basic models were not solid, dependable
and strong bikes. Also amazingly heavy!? :)?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dale Brown
> > cycles de ORO Bike Shop
> > 1410 Mill Street
> > Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 USA
> > 336-274-5959
> > http://cyclesdeoro.com
> > http://www.classicrendezvous.com
> > http://www.carolinacup.com
> > http://www.greensborovelo.com
> > http://www.bikegso.org
> > http://nbda.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original
> Message-----
> > From: Ron Danner
> > To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > Sent: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 7:36 pm
> > Subject: [CR]Classic Schwinn
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks to all the members who have greeted me so enthusiastically. With
> > y'alls collective will I can lick this condition!
> >
> > I have searched the archives and don't see much on the racing career of
the
> > venerable Schwinn Varsity or Continental. My understanding was that the
> > Varsity took its name after its riders placed high in certain collegiat
e
> > competiotions which were popularized by an unnamed american film. A cer
tain
> > prominent list member has also chimed in that it was possible that Merc
kx
> > may have rode rebadged varsity's during some of his more competitive ye
ars.
> >
> > I think with where are country is headed and all that we should all
> support
> > schwinn. just one man's opinion.
> >
> > I'll throw it out there.......i'd like to hear more about people's race
> > experiences on the varsity or continental I know when i rode my first o
ne
> > in the late 60's as a 12 year old I was so fast.
> >
> > --
> > Ron Danner
> > Hop Bottom Township
> > Susquehanna PA USA
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________