Cheap, but will need maintenance
Written: Jul 13 '03 (Updated Jul 13 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Price
Cons: Most parts will need rapid replacement
The Bottom Line: I hesitate between 2 and 3 stars. Not for MTB/ATB usage, decent commuter if willing to substitute some components
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| jierik's Full Review: Schwinn Sidewinder 2.6 FS 26-Inch Mens' All-Terrai... |
I've been commuting by bicycle for 22 years now (if you count my school years back in Holland) and I still enjoy it very much. No parking fees for me, or traffic jams. Come snow or rain. And with my extra strong deodorant stick in my backpack I can even attend the morning meetings at work without a shower.
When you're commuting, you need a compromise between durability, comfort and un-actractiveness for potential thieves. And, especially in Lexington KY (where students love to throw beer bottles from their cars), also a set of massive tires to withstand the shattered glass.
So, the best option would be a second hand sturdy mountain bike. But the second-hand market for bicycles here is very thin, and I had to replace my dead Schwinn suburban (1970s!) within a short time. Happy with the brand "Schwinn", I was excited to see that Walmart offers Schwinn bikes for incredibly low prices. I did not know then that a Chinese company (or US-Chinese joint-venture) had bought the name "Schwinn" from the bankrupt US company. So, basically, they build very cheap bikes and put the "Schwinn" sticker on it.
So when I received the box with the bike in it (which added about 20$ to the price) I was filled with mixed emotions. Sure, most parts were Shimano, but some parts already filled me with suspicion. The chain looked quite crummy, and so did the pedals (which I didn't even install, I took the pedals from my old "real" Schwinn). I also did not install the stand. The alu-rims and the tires are okay, and so are the brakes and the steering elements.
Assembly was quite easy, but I was a bit disappointed by the weight of the bike. I also noticed that the biggest blade (or cog wheel, or chain ring or whatever they call it) was very small. And indeed, the 21st -highest- gear is very short! This means that the top-speed is quite low, unless you are willing to rev your legs like an Acura Integra. This is especially irritating when you're going downhill. But overall the bike rides quite comfortably. The spring suspension under the saddle is a plus when you need to take a short-cut through rough terrain, and the bike is equiped with a good-working front-suspension. The only minus in comfort is the saddle; for longer rides you need special pants to protect your you-know-what. And you need to get used to the upright, almost backward-leaning position. Shifting is accurate, with the levers integrated in the grip.
But after a while, you'll notice where they saved on materials. After a month, the very rusty chain broke (which I had predicted), and the spring within the rear derailleur was so rusty, that shifting gears became rough. I managed to clean the thing and to put some vaseline on it. Then the frame that holds the bar that holds the saddle was so rusty, that I couldn't change its height anymore! By the way, the screw that releases the saddle tube was so rusty, that I couldn't even release it.
Granted, I've been using this bike for 6 months now, and still haven't had a flat tire. The couple of bad components aside, it has been a decent commuting bike. If you replace some components here and there, it will take you anywehre. But I would not dare using it in rough terrain, as an ATB!
Due to the low price, I'll go ahead and recommend it. But I have a feeling that the brand "Schwinn" will soon "verschwin(n)den"
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jierik
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Location: lost in the midwest
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 3 members
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