Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Blademun

I've said it before and I'll say it a million times more. EBAY! Screw wal-mart. In 10 minutes I can look up 10 different bikes that are all under 300$ and easily beat the Yukon in quality.

But a even better bet is to wait and 'lurk' on Ebay, watching the individual auctions of bikes. Also, I would suggest spending around 400$. While yo ucan get a decent bike for 200-300$, I found that when I spent 400$ the quality level went up enormously. Heres a good example:

http://www.bicyclebuys.com/Items01....kemfg&M=64&T=45

Scroll down to the Marin Novato 03'. A New Old Stock(NOS) bike that weighs in around 22-23lbs, and is built with stunning quality. I think your looking for a big bike so this one won't work. :/ Thats ok though, theres many other deals out there on the web. Do a little research and you can save yourself big $$$.

__________________
Gameing, Anime and Bicycling...what more do you need from life?

renewkir

Thanks. That's kind of hard for me since I know so little about bikes, which is why it's just easier for me to get something from the w-place. But I guess I'm going to have to educate myself sooner or later... I'll look into some auctions.

-rick

e0richt

well, as far as the derailleur, were you shifting when it went into the spokes?
because there are limit screws to prevent it from doing that if it wasn't bent either during the ride or even maybe before and you didn't notice...

a guy on this forum "Tcar5" has a schwinn varsity, and also has taken a look at the Yukon... you might try to get some info from him about that...

as far as a bike recommendation, I have said in previous posts that I bought a Dawes Lighting sport that has a similar setup to the varsity (indexed stem shifters, 14 speed...) but I have had no problem with the bike and it cost about 250 which included shipping... it has a steel frame (some purists still prefer over the newer type of frame materials because of ride and if properly cared for will last a lifetime...). She sells the bikes in different sizes and she gives some sizing info on the ebay site where she sells them... (her name is "chicabike"). I have put about 400 miles on the bike with no problems except for one flat from some road debris...

oh and just so you know, I am 5' 9'' and ~300 lbs, and that is after I lost about 30 lbs riding. The bike has handled pretty well, I would say...

if you prefer the STI shifting like the Yukon, she sells a version that has that as well but it also costs a bit more...

as a final note, you can do a google on dawes lightning sport for more info, and you can also read the feedback given to her by other customers.

e0richt

oh and one other note, you can also find out some info on the "gmc" line (denali, envoy, and yukon) by going to amazon.com and doing a search on it.
it also has some review information by people that have purchased it...

renewkir

I wasn't shifting. I wasn't doing anything other than pedaling.

garage sale GT

Is it possible the wheel went into the derailleur instead of the derailleur going into the wheel?

renewkir

I guess it's possible, but this happened at the end of a short (5 mile) ride, and the bike ran smoothly until then. my guess is that the derailleur wasnt fastened tightly and drooped a little too close to the spokes, until it finally got entangled in them. But who knows. The bikes back at the store now, and I tihnk I' mgoing to get the Dawes lightning sport... it does look like a good buy.

oldbobcat

Sorry about your bad experience, Rick. During a period of deep employment doldrums, I used to assemble and sell bikes at Wal-Mart. Selling adult bikes there was always a personal conflict of interests for me. By my fiduciary responsibility I could not dissuade people from buying them, but if the customer ever suggested going to a bike shop, I always said that's probably a good idea. When I assembled, though, they always got the best setup I could do on such a bike--brakes, derailleurs, and even wheel truing. The managers even let me assemble Frankenstein bikes from salvaged parts--we used to sell them as used on the sidewalk, which made a lot of poor kids happy.

If it's any consolation, most managers are pretty open-minded about refunds on bikes.

SteelBisketts

Sorry about your bad experience....

As in my post I stated that I had spent about 3 - 4 hours going through the bike to make it right. I re-adjusted all my derailers etc, etc....

Right now I have 60 miles on the bike with no problems.

I guess this bike is not for the faint of heart. You do have to know how to work on bikes and set them up in order to give it a fair run. Since you are not purchasing it from a LBS, you are the one responsable for the final setup/tweeks.

It sounds like you got a bad bike from the start.

Good luck on your next bike.

Bizketts..............

ovalbackmarker

I thought you might enjoy this picture of my new Varsity. I converted it to a single speed, replaced the ugly seat post, and added a rear light. I have a couple of hundred miles on it now and it is a nice commuter bike. Even climbing hills with a 52 X 17 gear, there is minimal bottom bracket flex. I also like the way it looks.

Attached Thumbnails

 

brad g

I bought a varsity a little over a month ago. I toiled that decision for weeks, then decided that $200 wasn't too much to risk, plus since I work for Wally World, I get the big 10% off, and you can always return it if you don't like it. I have read all the pros, cons, opinions, etc. I've put about 200 miles on it so far, no problems yet. I find that the frame is a bit small for my 6'1" 225lb carcass, but that doesn't keep me off of it. When I first got the bike, the rear tire developed an egg, not bad enough to keep me from riding, but annoying none the less. One quick call to Pacific Cycles and a new tire arrived about a week later. I don't have any real complaints about this bike. I'm still using all the original components and have added a set of Profile Design Aeros, which helps keep my hands from going numb. I honestly prefer to ride the varisty over the Trek 7.2fx.

Ride hard!

SteelBisketts

NICE

Bizketts........

SteelBisketts

Right Now I have 140 miles on mine. I'm now riding 5 days a week. 4 days at 10miles and the 5th day 25miles. No problems to really speak of. I had to adjust the rear derailleur cable. But this happens with new cables. They will stretch and eventually you will have to tweek them a little. I'm 5
11" 220lbs, my inseam is 34" and I have no complaints about how the bike fits me.

Things I check before each ride:
Tire pressure (100psi).
Wheels are secure
Seat height (I mark my seat polls so I can tell if post is moving).

Bizketts.........

alfeng

Nicely done.