Page 15 - Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

08-04.-2007, 12:15 PM	#211
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,196	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) I haven't tried any of these bikes but I like the Varsity's fork. Those others look like real boneshakers. So how about it everyone? How are those rear wheels on your varsitys, yukons, and other low end road bikes holding up? Last edited by garage sale GT : 08-04.-2007 at 12:22 PM.

08-04.-2007, 10:05 PM

#212

backtobiking

Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Wisconsin

Posts: 61

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by garage sale GT

I haven't tried any of these bikes but I like the Varsity's fork. Those others look like real boneshakers.

So how about it everyone? How are those rear wheels on your varsitys, yukons, and other low end road bikes holding up?

I had a varsity for a day and no the rear wheel didn't hold up. The axle bent in the first couple of miles. Then again I tip the scale at just over 300lbs. My friend has one and he can't be more than 180-200lbs and it seems ok for him. Anyone interested he'd like to sell it due to he bought a Specialized Epic road bike last fall and doesn't need the Varsity anymore.

08-04.-2007, 11:42 PM	#213
garage sale GT Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,196	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) I have a theory that the hub design used on varsitys, gmc's, cheap MTB's and older bikes is dependent on bearing adjustment to prevent axle bending. The spacer and cone on the RH side won't let the axle bend outboard of the hub. The axle bends inside the RH cone, inside the hub. If you keep the RH cone from twisting you keep the axle from bending. If the RH cone is snug against its bearings and cup then you can't twist it without also twisting the hub shell. There would have to be a bit of preload though, so the cone couldn't twist while it was taking up the slack. Jobst Brandt says you have to run cup & cone bearings with a bit of preload and he is the only degreed mechanical engineer I know of who writes on the subject, so it won't hurt and may help your bike whether I am right or not. I have used this method but the bike had 120mm spacing for a shorter stronger axle, and I rode it gently. You can adjust the bearings from the LH side because the axle is solid. Last edited by garage sale GT : 09-04.-2007 at 01:07 AM.

09-04.-2007, 12:36 AM

#214

backtobiking

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Join Date: Jul 2006

Location: Wisconsin

Posts: 61

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by garage sale GT

I have a theory that this design is dependent on bearing adjustment to prevent axle bending.

The spacer and cone on the RH side won't let the axle bend outboard of the hub. The axle bends inside the RH cone, inside the hub.

If you keep the RH cone from twisting you keep the axle from bending. If the RH cone is snug against its bearings and cup then you can't twist it without also twisting the hub shell. There would have to be a bit of preload though, so the cone couldn't twist while it was taking up the slack.

Jobst Brandt says you have to run cup & cone bearings with a bit of preload and he is the only degreed mechanical engineer I know of who writes on the subject, so it won't hurt and may help your bike whether I am right or not.

I have used this method but the bike had 120mm spacing for a shorter stronger axle, and I rode it gently. You can adjust the bearings from the LH side because the axle is solid.

I have a theory that it is lack luster at best. It isn't very good. The original varsity was superior. To me finding a nice older one your going to be money ahead than buying this model...

10-04.-2007, 01:35 AM

#215

e0richt

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Join Date: Jul 2006

Posts: 363

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by garage sale GT

haven't put much on the denali, but have gotten up to 600 miles on my dawes with no discernible bending

10-04.-2007, 04:19 AM

#216

garage sale GT

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Join Date: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,196

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by backtobiking

I believe the original was far better. Here in town before they redone the sidewalks they used to have a naste couple of steps down town. Not remotely close of being accessible for handicap people or able people in the winter for that matter. Nice for BMXers. It was a sudden 3' drop with crappy steps. I used to jump Off the sidewalk with the green meany varsity. Never did I wreck a rim, damage the frame or have the derailleurs not work! It is hard to get a brand new Varsity that isn't dinked up in some way brand new or will last a season without a problem, let alone BMXing it like I did mine as a kid. I vote hands down for the old school varsity.

Sheldon says the old Varsity came with some of the strongest bike rims ever made.

10-04.-2007, 05:08 AM

#217

garage sale GT

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Join Date: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,196

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by backtobiking

I have a theory that it is lack luster at best. It isn't very good. The original varsity was superior. To me finding a nice older one your going to be money ahead than buying this model...

Where the axle is concerned, the only real difference between old and new is that the old ones had 120mm rear spacing and five speed freewheels. Of course, that may have made all the difference to axle durability. Trust me, I've had old and new freewheel hubs apart; you could swap axles and freewheels between new and old at will although the rim would wind up off-center.

It would be nice to be able to pick up a new, utilitarian bike for not a lot of money, which you could use. Something just like a varsity or denali but with a 14mm rear axle instead of 9.5.

Last edited by garage sale GT : 10-04.-2007 at 05:46 AM.

10-04.-2007, 11:18 PM

#218

e0richt

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Posts: 363

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mp96b

How about the Prelude at Target?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...asin=B000KZ1GHQ

I don't have a prelude, but the advertisement link you posted shows that it goes for 200.00. I saw one at my local target for 150.00...

in my opinion, if you can spend around 200, I would recommend the Dawes from ebay... it cost around 240 (including the shipping) and I have found it to be a great bike for the money.

in terms of the prelude or the denali (assuming you can get a prelude for the same price as the denali). If I was sweating about the cost and I just wanted something to ride now as opposed to finding something used that is in good condition and a good price... I would give the edge to the denali only because it has more reviews written about it... (go to www.amazon.com and do a search on "gmc road bike")

given that, I did prefer the components on the prelude over the denali (prelude uses stem shifters like my dawes, denali uses a "gripshift" mechanism). The tires looke a bit more normal on the prelude compared to the "aero" wheels that the denali has. I think the prelude was a 14 speed like my dawes and the denali is a 21 speed. I actually prefer the 14 speed setup because its easier to adjust...

whatever you get, please give us a review of the bike...

07-05.-2007, 12:31 PM	#219
jcrarela Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) I recently returned the GMC Denali bike -- http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...duct_id=3663046 -- since the rear tire blew out. Maybe I need a euphemism: I realized the tire went flat the day after a commute from home + work + home. I read up on what people's opinions were about the Denali prior to purchase, on its specifics mostly, and I guess there's a consensus about the poor quality of the tires and the difficulty trying to find one; according to most folks, the denali's 700c tire is not ubiquitously carried by most bike shops. Is that right? Anyhow, like I said, I returned the Denali (it was an awesome bike -- I put about 80+ miles on it before the rear tire went flat all of a sudden) and bought the Schwinn, which is the topic of discussion here. Walmart has a great return policy: 90 days. So I bought the Schwinn... I rode it earlier to where I was going to take the Denali the day I realized it had a flat, and I gotta say, the Varsity flies. Putting one of the pedal straps on your foot while you're riding can be a bit dangerous, but I hope I'll get used to it sooner than later. Anyhow, the derailleur/shifting is pretty simple and easy. My point here is, if you want to get around fast, "road bike" style -- I've never tried a fancy $1000+ road bike before, so I wouldn't know how they are, yet since I couldn't find one this weekend to replace the Denali, I was almost considering blowing a bunch of money on an expensive one since bike shops never carry cheap road bikes [right?] -- mode of transporting yourself, the Schwinn is worth the money. I do advise that you tinker with the bike, make sure the screws /allen aren't loose or something, before you ride out, which one should always do before a ride, nonetheless. The walmart I went to isn't very good at putting bikes together. They do their best though -- some clearly just want to get it done and make it look cohesive on the racks; you can get lucky when you get a good assembler, like I had with the Denali. So, to wrap this, the Varsity is a great, fast bike. The quality easily surpasses that of the Denali -- it's lighter = more speed. Hope that helps. I'm no bike connoisseur, but it's easy enough to discern whether or not a bike is in your control, or the other way around. As for the endless contention of expensive road bikes vs. cheap road bikes, well, if the cheaper end can get the job done, why harp on it? (Most of us don't compete at the Tour de France.) Yeah, yeah...quality, the long-run, etc. Expect to change your tires someday, that's expected, but otherwise, the quality on the Schwinn is worth more than its price -- and also the Denali...and so on. If anyone is kind enough to answer, can I easily buy the tires that the Varsity is sporting at any bike shop? I'm worried I wouldn't know where to turn to once the tires start giving up. Thanks.

07-05.-2007, 10:35 PM

#220

e0richt

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Join Date: Jul 2006

Posts: 363

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrarela

I recently returned the GMC Denali bike -- http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...duct_id=3663046 -- since the rear tire blew out. Maybe I need a euphemism: I realized the tire went flat the day after a commute from home + work + home.

I read up on what people's opinions were about the Denali prior to purchase, on its specifics mostly, and I guess there's a consensus about the poor quality of the tires and the difficulty trying to find one; according to most folks, the denali's 700c tire is not ubiquitously carried by most bike shops.

Is that right?

Anyhow, like I said, I returned the Denali (it was an awesome bike -- I put about 80+ miles on it before the rear tire went flat all of a sudden) and bought the Schwinn, which is the topic of discussion here. Walmart has a great return policy: 90 days.

So I bought the Schwinn...

I rode it earlier to where I was going to take the Denali the day I realized it had a flat, and I gotta say, the Varsity flies. Putting one of the pedal straps on your foot while you're riding can be a bit dangerous, but I hope I'll get used to it sooner than later.

Anyhow, the derailleur/shifting is pretty simple and easy.

My point here is, if you want to get around fast, "road bike" style -- I've never tried a fancy $1000+ road bike before, so I wouldn't know how they are, yet since I couldn't find one this weekend to replace the Denali, I was almost considering blowing a bunch of money on an expensive one since bike shops never carry cheap road bikes [right?] -- mode of transporting yourself, the Schwinn is worth the money.

I do advise that you tinker with the bike, make sure the screws /allen aren't loose or something, before you ride out, which one should always do before a ride, nonetheless.

The walmart I went to isn't very good at putting bikes together. They do their best though -- some clearly just want to get it done and make it look cohesive on the racks; you can get lucky when you get a good assembler, like I had with the Denali.

So, to wrap this, the Varsity is a great, fast bike. The quality easily surpasses that of the Denali -- it's lighter = more speed.

Hope that helps. I'm no bike connoisseur, but it's easy enough to discern whether or not a bike is in your control, or the other way around.

As for the endless contention of expensive road bikes vs. cheap road bikes, well, if the cheaper end can get the job done, why harp on it? (Most of us don't compete at the Tour de France.)

Yeah, yeah...quality, the long-run, etc. Expect to change your tires someday, that's expected, but otherwise, the quality on the Schwinn is worth more than its price -- and also the Denali...and so on.

If anyone is kind enough to answer, can I easily buy the tires that the Varsity is sporting at any bike shop? I'm worried I wouldn't know where to turn to once the tires start giving up.

Thanks.

sounds like the rear inner tube blew out (which is common for these bikes) but the tire is still ok? you could have gotten a 700x25c inner tube (with a presta valve). That works with the tire / rim and you would have solved your original problem. Actually you would also probably have had to replace the front one too. They use barely adequate tubes on the cheaper end of bikes...

the tires on the schwinn, I would guess they are probably 700x25c which bike shops carry...

07-05.-2007, 11:34 PM

#221

garage sale GT

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Join Date: Jun 2006

Posts: 1,196

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcrarela

If anyone is kind enough to answer, can I easily buy the tires that the Varsity is sporting at any bike shop? I'm worried I wouldn't know where to turn to once the tires start giving up.

700c is the most common road size though I have never seen tires or tubes at a wal-mart or target, even ones which carried the road models. You have to go to a bike shop or online. You may not find an identical tire but you will easily find an interchangeable one. Of course, 700cX25 is quite common but you can go bigger or smaller (X23, X28, etc), limited only by the need to have the tires fit in the frame and avoid snakebite flats. Which brings me to:

If the bike went flat after sitting a while, you need to make sure the tires are at proper pressure.

I had clips and straps. I never got used to them except with certain pointy, smooth soled shoes (dress shoes) which you don't really want to be seen riding in for fear of looking odd. I got SPD-style mountain bike pedals and shoes.

I looked into the varsity but went with an old, used Schwinn which is actually simpler and lower tech than the new varsity, but added SPD pedals. They are a great, easy to use addition.

08-05.-2007, 01:46 AM

#222

mikeyeager

Registered User

Join Date: May 2007

Posts: 1

Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!)

If I was interested in making the same modifications to my Varsity;
would I buy a 1 1/8" fork and a threadless AHead?
would I buy a 27mm seat post?
More specific details, PLEASE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar5

Here is just one breakdown of the cost of upgrading the Schwinn Varsity Walmart Road Bike:
Fresh start Schwinn Varsity Stock ($199 new)
Vincolo 700c Carbon Fiber fork (ebay $59 new)
Carbon Seat post (ebay $25 new)
Vincolo alloy 100mm AHead (ebay $15 new)
Better Seat (Sella Itialia) (ebay $30 used but in perfect shape)
Giro helmet (ebay $5 new)
Shamino on/off road bike shoes (local shop on sale $39 new)
Clipless pedals (shamino ebay $30 w/cleats new)
Everything else stock......$0

Total for everything.....$402.00
What you get is a very good bike with all the necessities. Factor in the retail value of it all and here is what you have:

Fresh start Schwinn Varsity Stock ($199 new)
Vincolo 700c Carbon Fiber fork ( $98 new)
Carbon Seat post ( $75 new)
Vincolo alloy 100mm AHead ( $75 new)
Better Seat (Sella Itialia) ( $130 new)
Giro helmet ( $75 new)
Shamino on/off road bike shoes (local shop $65 new)
Clipless pedals (shamino $89 w/cleats new)
Everything else stock......$0

Total for everything.....$806

Last edited by mikeyeager : 08-05.-2007 at 01:48 AM. Reason: grammer

08-05.-2007, 03:55 PM	#223
jcrarela Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 6	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) Thanks for all the help! Very invaluable. As always, ride safely.

10-05.-2007, 09:59 PM	#224
kahres05 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 9	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) Please excuse the double post here...Schwinn Varsity and Schwinn Prelude are the same bike..... I made and upgrade to the SIS derailleur on the Prelude. I went out and bought a Shimano Sora...$27 bucks, very cheap but leaps in quality compared to the one that came on the bike. I bought the short cage and works perfectly didnt need to shorten the chain; seems to be a lot less flex in over all shifting. Not only that, the bike looks like I spent 2 1/2 times the original price for it.

15-05.-2007, 04:25 AM	#225
Seamusmcseoin Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 9	Re: Schwinn Varsity back from the dead (at Walmart!) Can anyone tell me what the avg. size of the Vasity is... in cm? 55,56,57???

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