<< 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 we know and love went broke and everything was sold off... the name (only) went to a Canadian company that specializes in big box bikes and has them all 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 recreational bikes and not racers in any real sense, although many fun tours and casual rides were made on them. The Paramount was the really only true racer early on, later came some other models that might squeeze by into the true "racer" designation...
This is all not to say that the basic models were not solid, dependable and strong bikes. Also amazingly heavy!? :)?
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-----Original Message----- From: Ron Danner <ron.danneur@gmail.com> 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 collegiate competiotions which were popularized by an unnamed american film. A certain prominent list member has also chimed in that it was possible that Merckx may have rode rebadged varsity's during some of his more competitive years.
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.
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Ron Danner
Hop Bottom Township
Susquehanna PA USA