It's a bike..
Written: May 29 '08 (Updated May 29 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Affordable.
Cons: Heavy, Inferior Parts.
The Bottom Line: I won't be purchasing another new Schwinn anytime soon. The quality just isn't what it use to be.
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| hammerkk's Full Review: Schwinn Sidewinder 2.6 FS 26-Inch Mens' All-Terrai... |
Having put 600 miles on mine since I purchased it last month, I can only recommend this bike for short commutes and leisurely, casual rides.
A 'mountain bike' by design, perhaps, but low-grade parts added on to a very heavy frame cancels out applying this cycle for 'mountain biking' as we know it.
Your Owner's Manual will quickly become required reading. One must understand that a Walmart purchase assures the new owner that he'll have to learn 'hands-on' adjustments or pay dearly at a (hopefully) local bicycle shop.
Before you head out on your first ride, please check every and all assemblies. Let's face it, part of the bottom line price is compromised by post-shipping assembly by whoever is on duty - not necessarily a 'bike mechanic'. Don't expect a perfectly tuned, assembled bicycle.
My first ride provided me with an 'ok' feel to the bike. Position adjustments were fairly easily corrected, however I had to dig deeper into the Owner's Manual to learn how to correct shifting skips. To date, I've manually adjusted the derailluer several times with a chain drag at either end of the gears being out of line. Adjust one way to get the 'click click click' and it shows up at the opposite gear. In short, no 'sweet spot' for chain/gear clashing has been obtainable.
After a few hundred miles, I noticed my V-brake arm won't return after depressing, thus riding on the rim and slowing the bike down which is kind of hard on the legs and quite unnecessary, I might add. Again, Owner's Manual consulted, adjustments made, no fix acquired for the effort.
Please invest in gloves if you're planning on shifting much. These grips will tear up your hands with multiple shifting. You really have to use your eyesight to locate the shift number position and make sure you're in the numbered slot. The front gear has 3 clicks per gear change and it's very easy to get hung up in between gears.
Hard pedaling can produce chain skip. Again, an inferior chain size and you can literally lift the chain right out of the teeth.
I had to sand paper my front tire due to excess mold flashing. It made the tire ride badly and unsafely. Normally these 'ride off' soon but after a couple hundred miles I wasn't getting the 'nub' wore down. Too much traction was being sacrificed for my liking having it ride on the thinnest possible area.
My gooseneck seals are pushing grease out. A mild re-tightening brought no favorable stoppage to this, yet.
It's not all 'gloom and doom', though. The bike handles nicely on a lazy, smooth trail. The frame is very stout and welded aptly. I find the decals a bit cheesy and wish Schwinn would go back to just one word, top frame, simple logo but I can see they're trying to make the bike 'stand out' a bit.
I recommend this bike to low budget 'wannabe' mountain bikers who have no moxie to go beyond the 'burbs. The bike very recently went up 20.00 at Walmart (but what hasn't?) so now with tax included, you're closing in on the 200.00 range and you could consider spending an extra 50.00 to 100.00 and get a 'real' bike.
Schwinn - once a great American name, now a slave to great American retailer - and it shows in the 'bottom line'.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
hammerkk
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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