I have a soft spot in my heart for the Schwinn Varsity bicycle. It was my first 10-speed bike, purchased around 1968 for a mere $65. It’s one of the most famous bicycles ever made, and millions were sold in the United States.
It’s also remarkably heavy at 43 pounds. When I found a fixer-upper at a bike shop, I bought it and cleaned it up. Here’s the story.
It was red—with lots of scratches and dirt and solidified grease. The tires were flat. The brakes were bad.
This serial number (below) told me it was manufactured in 1979, making it one of the later models of the Chicago Schwinn line. Didn’t matter; they’re all the same. Heavy and clunky and almost indestructible.
The freewheel (gear-cog cluster) was thick with crud, as was the derailleur (gear changer). Look at this mess.
And here they are, along with some bearings and the chain, after a good cleaning.
Oh yeah. I installed a new freewheel with a new low gear. It’ll make the hills a bit easier to climb.
Next time: Deciding on a new color (See the clue above).
1 comment:
Reminds me of the Schwinn Scout of about the same vintage except made for women that I reconditioned for my neighbor. After a good rust scrub, it's back on the road. The old school Schwinns are hard to break. My vintage Stingray is a testament to that.
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