Bicycles are important in Sweden where I grew up. There are bicycle paths everywhere and bicyclists are respected on regular roads. That is not the case inDallas,Texas, where I live now. Because of the more compact cities inEuropebicycling to school and work is commonplace, and it is healthier, safer for others, and better for the environment. However, the bicycles inSwedenare used differently and look different and therefore my American bicycle terminology may be a little rusty.

We bought this bicycle for our 14 year old son last year. He is fairly tall so we got the 18.5 inch version. However, he did not use it that often. Since I and my wife like to go bicycling on the trails in Dallas and I did not have a new bike at the time I borrowed it. I should say that 18.5 inch was a little bit small for me but it was still better than the old clunker I had. I should say that a few months ago I bought my own new bike, a Trek 820.

The colors of the bike are Charcoal Metallic Duotone and Neptune Blue and the frame is Alpha Silver Aluminum. It has a suspension fork and triple chain ring. The stem is adjustable, and the seat post has adjustable suspension. The wheels have Bontrager 550 36-hole alloy rims and it came with Bontrager H5, 26 inch tires. The brakes are Tektro linear-pull brakes with Tektro levers, and the bicycle crank and gears are Shimano. The bike weighs about 34 pounds.

This bike is a nice looking versatile hybrid bicycle that can be used for a variety of purposes, riding on trails, the road, as well as off the trail. The seat it came with is relatively comfortable and the high quality front suspension makes for a smooth and comfortable ride. It is good on uneven roads. The indexed shifting and the ease in which it shift gears make changing the speed easy and smooth. The handlebar is significantly higher than the seat (adjustable), which gives you an upright posture for leisurely bicycling.

Unlike some other bicycles we’ve owned this bicycle has not given us any trouble with jumping chains, stuck gears, leaky rims, or seats that won’t stay straight, or in position. I have not seen any mechanical problems and the bike seems to be durable. Overall this is a good recreation bike. However, it is perhaps a little heavy and it is not a speed bike so it is not a great bicycle if you want to go fast. As a recreational bicycle I highly recommend it. 

I would like to add this review to Kelly60’s Environmentally Friendly Write-Off since bicycles are environmentally friendly.


Finally I would like to thank Abraham (openroad) for adding this bicycle to the epinions data base.

Lean-n-mean 495 words

Recommended: Yes