10 years ago I wouldn't be caught dead on a bike like this, but time marches on, we get older and less inclined to ride a bike bent over at a 45 degree angle playing chicken with cars and rocks at 60 mph. In the past I have had a Nishiki road bike and a Specialized Rock Hopper mountain bike, both medium priced and much more expensive than this bike. Recently, my girl friend has been pressuring me to get a bike to accompany her on the American River Bike Trail here in Sacramento, and also for a trip to The Grand Tetons/Yellowstone this summer. My gonzo biking days are over, so I wanted the cheapest, most decent, most comfortable bike I could find. Consumer Reports rated this a best buy, so I decided to buy one from Amazon.
It arrived 3 days after ordering in a box measuring 54" length, 29" width, and 7.5" depth. The bike was very well packed and the exterior of the box had only minor shipping scuffs. The box was so well packed that it took me 20 minutes to remove all the foam, cardboard, and protective do-dads. It came with the rear wheel attached to the frame, and the only assembly required was the handlebars, front wheel, pedals, and the seat. The front wheel quick release was packed separately and had to be installed, which only requires pushing it through the hub.
The assembly was not a problem for me as I have completely overhauled bikes in the past, but if you are not mechanically inclined, you might want to have a bike shop assemble the bike and perform minor adjustments. I did have to tweak the rear brakes, as they were not centered, and I noticed the rear wheel was very slightly off true, but not too bad and that can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the spokes. It is better to have a bike shop do that. Surprisingly, all the gears shift with no adjustment at all.
As for fit, I am 6' 1", and standing over the bike with my feet on the ground, there is 3.5-4 inches of clearance between the top tube and my crotch, which is perfect for me. I think this bike would be OK for any one 5' 9" or taller, just make sure there is clearance between the top tube and your crotch to minimize damage to the family jewels. Sitting normally on the bike, I ride in a nearly upright position, although the handlebars can be adjusted to lean forward more if that is your desire. Some people complained about the seat, but I find it OK for the intended purpose of this bike and plan to keep it. The pedals don't impress me much, and I may change to these< ['] or something similar. Strapless toe clips would help too, but clip-ins would be overkill on this bike.
I have been riding the bike around town for a week and everything works with no problems. People that I meet are amazed that I only spent $229 for this thing. I do have some concerns however. The front wheel quick release is a little rough, which wouldn't matter that much, except I have to take the front wheel off to get the bike in my Honda Civic. Also I am concerned about the fact that the wheels only have 24 spokes, which is about half of what a normal bike has. The spokes are thicker than normal, but I think it would be pretty easy to taco the rims with rough treatment, so no riding over curbs and catching air.
Except for a few relatively minor concerns, I think this bike is an amazingly good deal and comparable to a bike costing twice as much. Just keep in mind its intended purpose. This is a hybrid/comfort bike and meant for bike trails and pavement, and maybe smooth dirt roads. It is not meant to be taken down ski runs in the summer. Yes some of my friends do that, with burly mountain bikes of course!
Edit 5/10/11
Just wanted to add that I am still very happy with this bike, although I noticed that the price has gone up. Even so, it is still a good value at the current price. I have made a few modifications that people may be interested in. I replaced the stock pedals with the highly rated "MKS Sylvan Touring Pedal Double Sided" and added "Delta Bicycle Strapless Toe clips" strapless clips. Excellent 5 star Japanese made pedals--a perfect match for this bike, and worth the cost. The Delta strapless toe clips are a little small for my size 11 shoe, but otherwise work great. I replaced the stock handlebar grips with "WTB Comfort Zone Grips" purchased at REI. Now my hands don't tingle on long rides. They appear to be similar to the inexpensive Avenir Comfy Soft grips available from Amazon. Another tip--I don't care what Schwinn or the tire company says, don't inflate the tires more than 30 lbs, unless you want to get a lot of flats. Always carry the "Park Tool TR-1 Tire and Tube Repair Kit" and a small pump like the "Topeak Masterblaster Bike Pump With Gauge". Both the patch kit and the pump are highly rated. All the add-ons are available from Amazon. Good Luck!!
