Varsity Blues, errr Greens. 1962 Schwinn Varsity

[Eric Amlie]

Had to actually cut the damn tires off the rims. Never experienced tires so tight on the rim, even broke a good tire lever trying to get them off.

I wonder if someone shoe horned some 590 bsd tires onto those 597 bsd rims.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

I wonder if someone shoe horned some 590 bsd tires onto those 597 bsd rims.

Bingo.

 

[Spacecowboy]

Nice finds on both radiant green ones. Also the one converted to 27s, before I forget.

I'm kind of wondering what freewheel/ rear gear cluster each one of the 26" wheel ones has since they're earlier than I have. I haven't really looked into this pre-sprint branded timeframe until recently.

The original post bike, the changeover of derailleur probaly also includes the wheels, if not the freewheel. Moving forward, I'd just go with some early collegiate rims. Maybe a schwinn derailleur. That's where I'd stay with the original style and just flip it.

Ymmv but imho, your main buyer is looking for an original, and even if it isn't, it still has that kind of look of 26" rims. There's other side to that as well that 27s and etc parts are a better deal for long term maintenance for someone going forward. Really I guess the best direction is the least cost.

I had a 64 coppertone one with a broken right lever and for me it was just more practical to break it down rather than take the lever off my collegiate. I was kinda going sell off the parts but playtime with another model interrupted that. It had an Atom freewheel, my 66 varsity has the sprint logo on the freewheel. Not sure about the collegiate freewheel branding but it's probaly sprint, being a 65 or 66.

 

[GTs58]

Nice finds on both radiant green ones. Also the one converted to 27s, before I forget.

I'm kind of wondering what freewheel/ rear gear cluster each one of the 26" wheel ones has since they're earlier than I have. I haven't really looked into this pre-sprint branded timeframe until recently.

The original post bike, the changeover of derailleur probaly also includes the wheels, if not the freewheel. Moving forward, I'd just go with some early collegiate rims. Maybe a schwinn derailleur. That's where I'd stay with the original style and just flip it.

Ymmv but imho, your main buyer is looking for an original, and even if it isn't, it still has that kind of look of 26" rims. There's other side to that as well that 27s and etc parts are a better deal for long term maintenance for someone going forward. Really I guess the best direction is the least cost.

I had a 64 coppertone one with a broken right lever and for me it was just more practical to break it down rather than take the lever off my collegiate. I was kinda going sell off the parts but playtime with another model interrupted that. It had an Atom freewheel, my 66 varsity has the sprint logo on the freewheel. Not sure about the collegiate freewheel branding but it's probaly sprint, being a 65 or 66.

Here's a link to the SLDB if you're not aware of it. During the Sprint era most all the Schwinns were equipped with the Sprint branded drivetrain. https://schwinnbikeforum.com/SLDB/Cover.htm

 

[cyclingday]

Yep,
The 61, 10 Speed has an Atom freewheel cluster.

 

[Spacecowboy]

Thanks Gts58, no hadn't heard of it until I saw your posts earlier in the thread. It confirms what I thought, that the Atom hub started in with the 10/15 sp. It'll help researching easier than only using the catalog pages from Waterford which is what I have done since I started in like '10.

The 4 gear Duban cluster mentioned in the 1960 spec sheet, I hadn't heard of before.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

I love oxalic acid.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

The chain on this thing is in my estimation beyond saving, best replacement option?

 

[GTs58]

KMC is the largest chain manufacture in the world. Years ago I picked up a 5 piece lot of the KMC Z7 for my Corvettes and 10 speeds. Close to the stock Sedis coloring but you can upgrade and spend more if you want.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

KMC is the largest chain manufacture in the world. Years ago I picked up a 5 piece lot of the KMC Z7 for my Corvettes and 10 speeds. Close to the stock Sedis coloring but you can upgrade and spend more if you want.

I've always bought that brand. Now then, how many links?