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Very good for the price. Please note that my 5-star rating is based on value.

History: I have been riding a Road Master mountain bike for the past several years just following my children in the neighborhood. I have registered to ride BP MS 150 (from Houston to Austin) in April 2009. I took my bike to training rides and noticed that I was going slower than other riders even though my cadence is same as that of theirs. Further observation revealed that the front gear on my bike was much smaller than the road bikes other people are riding. It was clear that I need a new bike even though the existing bike is still functional.

Research: I spent a lot of time looking for a bike. Local bike shops don’t carry any road bikes that cost less than 600 USD. Then I found this bike and ordered it. I didn’t want to invest a lot of money on a bike as I plan to reduce my riding frequency and duration after my MS 150 ride. I can alway upgrade (if necessary) if I change my mind and continue to bike long distances.

The bike:

I just want to confirm other reviews that the bike came mostly assembled. Instruction manual is mostly useless. The manual is a generic road bike manual – not Prelude manual. I had trouble assembling the front calipers (brake). I had to remove Schwinn Prelude Mens Road Bike afterwards because I figured I should have put white reflector between the calipers and the frame. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to raise the handle bar.

Other reviewer is correct. Their help desk is very quick and responsive. Turns out the handle bar can not be raised.

Bike weighs only 25 lb (my road bike weighs 40 lb). Gears shift fine. Overall the bike is good.

Don’t consider this bike if you are shorter than 5′ 9″.

Pedals are clip and strap type pedals. I am not used to these, so I have replaced them with plain pedals (from the mountain bike) for now.

Spokes are stainless steel and rims are made from alloy metal. Apparently rust-proof.

Problems with the bike (as you can see, they are all minor):

1) There is no room to place the red rear reflector after I assembled the under-the-seat bag. I have fitted the reflector on the rear fork with additional padding.

2) There is absolutely no room on the handle bar for the trip computer. I have currently put it on the handle bar rod; I have to read it sideways!

3) Rear wheel arrived slightly bent. Hopefully I can fix that by adjusting the spokes.

4) I wish the bike came with water bottle cage. Frame has holes and screws for a cage that you can buy.

5) Rear break wire runs along the side of the frame bar. I suspect it causes problems when putting the bike on a carrier.

Overall, I am very pleased with the bike considering the price I paid.

Update 3/3/’09:

I have ridden this bike for more than 110 miles so far. I have replaced the seat (saddle) as the supplied one is hard and doesn’t have anatomic recess. I am yet to find any significant problem. Still happy with the product.

Update 4/27/2009:

Over 500 miles on this bike so far. Still in great condition. I have had 3 flats on the rear wheel. Two are inexplicable (2 – 3 millimeter holes on the rim side), and one was due to a thorn. Biggest problem I have observed is that the lowest gear (highest mechanical advantage) is not low enough to climb steep hills. I am talking about hills where people with expensive bikes are also struggling to climb. I just have to get down from the bike and walk up. This bike has only two gears in the front. A 3rd smaller one would have been very helpful.

Update 12/02/2009:

I have begun inflating the tubes to less than the pressure suggested on the tires. Not a single flat in more than 6 months! I am still using the same bike and I am still very happy with it. Also, see the comments section for suggestions related to flats.

Oh, BTW, I have registered to ride BP MS 150 in 2010 and I going to use this bike again

Just get it. Aight. Here’s the deal. Greatest bike you could ever get for this price. Very fast. Awesome looking. Smooth ride and smooth gears. The brakes will give you a little trouble trying to figure them out… Fiddle with it a bit, bike stops on a dime. First time riding it, did a good 40 mph smooth as butter, no shakes. People say they popped the tires cause they hit a pothole… How bout this.. don’t hit a pothole. I hope when you buy a bike you plan on being able to see where your going. If not, then you probably shouldn’t be riding. Tires and rims are excellent in my opinion… So don’t listen to the people who probably didn’t even inflate them… Yeah so, all in all, great bike, quality of something you’d pay [...] bucks for. So just buy it. You won’t regret it.

Solid road bike. We got this for both my husband (6′1″) and myself (5′6″) and it fits fine for both of us. My seat is almost lowered all the way and his of course is higher. One of the front tires exploded in the first 2 minutes of the ride, so that was discouraging, but the others have held fine. Nice looking bike. Don’t forget to get a water bottle attachment!

Related reviews :
Why must Mens Bike Schwinn Prelude Road

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