Re: [CR] Varsity

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 17:26:20 -0800
To: "brian blum" <brianblum@hotmail.com>
From: "Joseph Bender-Zanoni" <jfbender@umich.edu>
Subject: Re: [CR] Varsity
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <LAW2-F164Xg5wlSe9F600007417@hotmail.com>


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/varsity.html and the other listings indexed 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