Customer Reviews

Cadillac Ladies Av-T 17-Inch Commuter Bike, Burgundy Gloss Finish

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The price was plummeting, and I was intrigued by the nuvinci hub. I wanted a step through frame. The hub alone was selling for nearly this price and reviews of the hub are very good. I have lots of bike commuter experience. I also like to experiment. The bike was easy to assemble. The front disk brake would not quite line up, but I managed. I am an inveterate tinkerer, and I do all my bike maintenance. Riding with and shifting the nuvinci hub is a very, very fun experience, and that is absolutely the high point of the bike. After 50 or so miles and replicating known rides with some steep hills, I really like this hub. The rest of the bike components are OK but probably low end. If they don't last, I will make changes and at the sale price still be under the price of other quality commuter bikes. I pretty much wear out everything on my bikes regularly anyway. If the frame does not last I will probably have lost money, but for a commuter bike this should work really nice. The extra weight of the rear hub is noticeable when I lift the bike over a guardrail or something like that, but riding it, I do not notice the weight. The tires are narrow 28c, I expected wider, but that's OK. I am 5'8 and the frame size is OK if one wants a very upright riding position. This frame might not be good for taller people or people who want to lean forward more. I like the fat cushy seat. The hub is the cadillac part of the bike, everything else is chevette, but hey, I drove a chevette for 20 years and it was the best car for the price I ever owned. If this bike lasts like my chevette, I will have to come back and give it 5 stars. Mostly, I would rather ride a bike, and I don't aspire to having a either cadillac or a chevette.

I bought this bike, because I was really curious how the nuvinci gear system would work out for me (I'm in my 60's and pushing gears is sometimes a bit hard for my fingers)). My bike mechanic put it together (took him 1 1/2 hour) and he reported back to me that he found the brakes below par. And they are. Maybe they are the cheapest Promax brakes, but both rotors are slightly bent, so the brakes touch at certain places and they don't feel super secure. However, replacing them would cost $250, so I'm stuck with them. That's the bad news. The other negative is that it is pretty hard to replace a rear flat, so I put liners in my tires and hopefully won't have any! The weight of the gears makes this a pretty heavy bike, so it's not good for long rides. Now the positives: The gear system is GREAT! SO easy on my hands (you use only one hand and you can switch gears standing still!) My town is built on hills, so I need to shift a lot to go up and down and also to navigate traffic. With this gear system it's a breeze! It's definitely the best part of the bike! The saddle is super comfy. The steering is ergonomically just right and the low bar makes it easy to get on and off. I am definitely keeping the bike and will use it as my town bike. I have outfitted it with various panniers and baskets to hold my groceries and library books. Too bad of the brakes though! All in all the bike is worth the discounted price.