Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Unloved Varsity

Few vintage bikes get more scorn heaped upon them than the lowly Schwinn Varsity. Disparaging the Varsity is a popular pastime for many bicycle enthusiasts of a certain generation -- that is, any generation old enough to have been riding between about 1960 and 1986. On the Classic Rendezvous Google group, the mere mention of the Varsity in a recent thread on important/significant bikes of the past was enough to get a major back-and-forth argument going on for a couple of weeks.

For my part, I don't think anyone can argue that the Schwinn Varsity was a great bike -- not while maintaining a straight face, anyhow -- but I would argue that it was at least an important bike. There is a difference.

Having recently taken a close look at the classy and under-appreciated hand-built Schwinn models, like the Super Sport, Sports Tourer, and Superior, it might be a good time to examine the bottom-level, budget priced Varsity.

Tom Shaddox, on the late Sheldon Brown's website, said of the Varsity, it has the "oxymoronic distinction of being one of the heaviest lightweight bicycles ever built." It is a bit of irony, to be sure, but for the target market, weight was not as important as durability -- and durability was something the bike had in spades. Schwinns in general were built to last, and that is one of the things the company's customers expected and valued.

What makes the Varsity an important bike is its impact on the American cycling public in the 60s and 70s. Yes, it continued to be made, virtually unchanged, well into the 1980s, far longer than it ever should have been, which is another story. But to understand the significance of the Varsity, I think it's important to understand the American bicycle market throughout the first half of the 20th century and right up through the 1950s. Hardly anybody old enough to have a driver's license at that time rode a bicycle, yet in 1960, Schwinn made the decision to offer an entry level "10-speed" derailleur-equipped bike (actually, I should note that the first Varsity was an 8-speed -- it would be upgraded to 10 speeds a year or two later). Somebody at Schwinn must have believed it was worthwhile, and I'm sure that it wasn't because they saw dollar signs. They could not have seen adult bicycles as a money maker. For much of America, the Varsity turned out to be the introduction to drop-bar, derailleur-equipped "10-speed" bikes -- solidly built, and from a name they recognized and knew they could trust.

The Varsity was one of Schwinn's "Electro-forged" bicycles -- mass produced in a way that was unduplicated by anyone else. Huge coiled rolls of steel strip were rolled and welded into tubing. Pieces of flat steel were stamped, rolled, and welded into frame fittings such as head-tubes and bottom brackets. The tubes and fittings were flash welded into complete bikes, built up with a combination of Schwinn-made components (like the steel "Schwinn Tubular Rims") and "Schwinn Approved" components that were made elsewhere to the company's strict specifications (including Normandy hubs, Huret Allvit derailleurs, and Weinmann brakes -- all re-labeled "Schwinn Approved").

From the introduction of the Varsity and through the 60s and 70s, Schwinn continued to expand its offerings of "10-speed" and derailleur-equipped bicycles. It should be noted that the Varsity and the Continental were basically the same bike but the Continental came equipped with tubular-steel fork blades as opposed to the Varsity's flat forged fork (and it sold for about $15 more). In fact, many people refer to the Varsity and Continental together as the "Varsinental." The more upscale hand-built Superior/Super Sport/Sports Tourer models were added to the middle level of the lineup. In 1974, there was a "Sprint" model added (below the hand-built models), which was basically a Continental, but with a shorter wheelbase and a curved seat tube, modeled after the "Sprint" framed Paramounts. And of course, the Paramounts were always there at the top of the heap.

Spotted on eBay recently. Try to find a picture of a Varsity
that doesn't have a garage door in the background. Go on. Try.
Sales of the Varsity, and its closely related sibling, the Continental, grew through the 60s, and went through the roof during the bike boom of the early 70s. During those years, Schwinn cranked out more Varsities than all other "10-speeds" combined, and given the long quarter-century production run, the Varsity has the distinction of being the single biggest selling "10-speed" model ever. Millions were built and sold, and because of their near-legendary durability, there are tons of them still out there. At any given moment on eBay, one can find dozens (many dozens, really) of complete examples for sale, ranging from battered and barely functional to pristine and like new -- with prices varying accordingly. Frames, forks, and all kinds of original components are plentiful, too. More are available through Craigslist postings and classified ads, and countless examples can be found routinely at garage and yard sales -- or even on the curb on trash day (a sorry fate, but there's no better bargain than "free"). Though they are far too plentiful to be considered "collectible," it isn't uncommon to find people charging (or people willing to pay) collectible prices for them simply by virtue of the Schwinn name.

Though it's easy to make fun of the Varsity and its close siblings for their "weight problem," I think it's important to look at what else was available in that entry-level market in the early 60s. Imported entry-level "10-speeds" were lighter, but the difference often wasn't as great as some would have you believe, especially if one compared bikes of a similar price. The component choices on the Varsity weren't out of line either. Huret Allvit derailleurs were common on bikes of that level in the early 60s. The steel, one-piece "Ashtabula" cranks were heavy, but how much heavier were they than the cottered steel cranks on the imports? And besides, the one-piece crank was relatively easy to work on, and had a remarkably long service life. Most bikes in the Varsity's price range came with steel rims, so again the weight difference couldn't have been outrageous, and the Schwinn-built rims have been described as "among the sturdiest ever built."

I'd argue that the Varsity, or "Varsinental," was a decent bike for its time -- but it failed to keep up with the times, and I believe that is where a lot of the derision comes from. Even by the early 70s, the bike was getting long in the tooth, but the Bike Boom buyers weren't very picky. As Schwinn began importing bikes from Japan in the 70s to meet the increased demand, their own imported bikes were lighter and worked better than the "Varsinental" for about the same price. Unfortunately, Schwinn didn't read the signs. As already mentioned, the bike was made with only minor changes for roughly 25 years, right into the mid 80s. There was no "Varsity II" that would improve or build on the reputation and keep the bike competitive with the imports, and that was a story that was all too common with long-established manufacturers. Much the same thing could be said of component manufacturers like Huret, who made the Varsity's Allvit derailleurs as long as Schwinn was willing to spec them, only to be badly outpaced by Japanese competition.

So even though the Varsity was a "heavyweight" masquerading as a "lightweight," and a bike that wore out its welcome by not keeping up with the times or competition, it does still have the significant distinction of having introduced many Americans to the concept of adult bicycling, and igniting a love of bicycles that continued on long after those riders had moved on to better, lighter, and more "desirable" bikes. They may not have been great bikes, but they got a lot of people riding, and there's something pretty great about that.

13 comments:

  1. Here we have one of the few *sort of* easy to find bikes in a big size... sadly... it's a Varsity. I've mentioned previously that when I was growing up, the only Bike Shop in town was a Schwinn place, so 99% of the "better" bikes around here were Schwinns. My parents bought his/hers Contis in the mid-70s. I was too young a lad at that time for the Varsity, so I was given a Krate(? drawing a blank now. Banana seat bike, whatever). My parents gave away those bikes not too long ago, and I remember grunting as I picked them up. Heavy dogs, but man did they ride nice like an old Caddy. Forget hills, though.

    I chuckle when I cruise through the bike ads on Craigslist and see $20-$50 Varsities all day long, then some nut will post one for $250 that will sit for weeks and weeks. It's VINTAGE!

    If I ever see a 26" in green that's not ragged out, I may bite the bullet and grab one just for kicks.



    I wonder how different the bicycling landscape would be in America if it weren't for Varsities and the electro-forge process? Love it or hate it, it would be foolish to deny how many people were introduced to "adult" biking because of the affordable entry point and high level of reliability of those bikes.



    Wolf.

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  2. Retro and Wolf--You both make great points. One might say that the Varsinental was a necessary link or bridge to adult cycling for many people of a certain age. It was indeed a valid bike for its time, but the thing that really made it possible to usher people into the world of adult cycling is that many rode Schwinns as kids, so it was a name everybody recognized. Whatever else you want to say about those bikes or about Schwinn, you have to give them credit for turnining American adults on to cycling.

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  3. My Varsity came after I beat the living daylights out of my Sting Ray (I still say we were the first BMXers back in 1974, but that's another story). That blue beast was the reason that I got into the life-long hobby of cycling; I remember even taking it out in the woods, ha! I was cyclocrosser before it was cool. I've memorialized the model by decking my Litespeed out in full Varsity decals.

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  4. The Varsity was not a bike I loved, just respected, maybe. It was still the same construction as the beloved Schwinn balloon tire bikes (Phantom, Panther, etc..) and the Stingray. I do have one in the stable, this one is setup as a school bike for my son. It will soldier on for decades to come.

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  5. Just happened to run across this older Thread. Very interesting. In 1960 my Dad bought me a Varsity 10-Speed for my 10th birthday. It was the least expensive in the 10-Speed lineup from Schwinn then. I think (?) he paid $75.00 for it then. Which was a lot of money for a bike in 1960. I remember my toes would "just" reach the peddles. I rode that bike almost daily for many years. Kept the painted frame (blue with white lettering) coated with car wax. Bike was almost indestructible. My brother's daughter has the bike now and still rides it today. Every time I visit I take a quick ride on it. Sure brings back great memories. I seem to recall Schwinn's 10-Speed lineup back in the early 1960's was Varsity, Continental, Super Continental, Superior (15-speed !!), and Paramount.

    Rick

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    1. It's pretty awesome your old bike is still in the family. Great story. I think your recollection of the model lineup sounds about right.

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  6. I own a 1975 Schwinn Varsity in original condition I can tell you that the ride quality of the bike is exceptional. Maybe it has something to do with the geometry of the bike and the weight.It always feels very sure-footed under any riding condition. It has the same feel as French randonneuring or touring bicycles that cost twice or three times as much. Every time I ride the bike it makes me smile and unless you're a professional competitor isn't that what cycling is all about.

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    1. I have my original 1975 Schwinn Varsity 10 Speed. I got it for Christmas in 1975 I was 15 years old. I'm now 61 and want to sell it. My wife are both retired and want to unload anything we don't use. My mom paid $125.00 for the Schwinn Varsity. I'm the Nut N/A was talking about. I place a ad on Craig's List and want $250.00

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  7. I still remember Christmas 1969, when my parents gave me a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed with gold paint and my younger sister received a 20 inch blue one speed; she was 8 years younger than me and I was 13. I was beside myself with happiness and surprise. I also felt a bit of guilt. How could my parents have been able to afford to give me a 10 speed Schwinn Varsity? Even though I wanted a bike like this, I never ever thought we could afford one. It was the most amazing Christmas I have ever enjoyed and it was beyond my ken.

    I road that bike for literally thousands of miles. I felt freedom and potential when I rode that bike. It was an incredible experience for me. I mostly rode on my own i.e. b myself. It was much more than a bicycle, it was a means to transport to my potential and my future.

    I kept that bike into my 50's. I let it go when my spouse nagged me about that old bike in the garage. I gave it away. Maybe that was a mistake, or maybe someone else is riding it to freedom and possibility; I don't know.

    But I do know that I could not care less that it was not a "great" bike in the technical sense. All I know is that it was a dream-cycle that made my dreams come into reality and for that I can never ever than the people at Schwinn enough.

    Dr. Henry C. Foley

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    1. That’s a great story! Thanks for sharing it!

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  8. I bought a Schwinn Varsity in pieces for $75 when I was getting into bikes as a teenager in 2007. I rode it to work all summer and keep it in my parents' basement in Wisconsin and happily ride it for 15-50 miles when I visit. It's certainly not a great bike, but for flat Midwestern riding that doesn't call for very much starting or stopping or shifting, it's a very enjoyable bike to ride, and it still looks great.

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  9. I came across your article because I was looking for a girl's 24 inch wheeled Varsity Sport bike for my petite granddaughter. This is an excellent and very accurate article. The Schwinn brand always connoted "trusted value" and durability. It was quite sad to see the company wobble off into the department store brand. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.

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  10. A friend just gave me a 26" lime green like my 24" that I used to ride around the neighborhood on. His bike today only weighs about 7 grams but I ride that varsity. He even outfitted it with a name tag on the seat. That's one way to get me riding again.

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