Schwinn Bicycle Company Alloy 7

Price Paid:  $320.00 at SouthWest Schwinn (S

Favorite Ride:
Highway 166

Bike Setup:
Mine was ridden stock for the first 2000 (or so) miles all throughout Houston, TX and surrounding areas.

The back tire was inflated to 60 pounds and the front to 40. This avoided flats until it happened only one time at 2600 miles. It is necessary to use high performance bike tubes from mountain bike sport. Department store tubes just don't do it.

I tried mountain bike slicks to make it go faster, even though it was already fast. Six different brands of slicks caused slower speeds, so I re-installed the Typhoon Cord tires.

What made it go faster was changing the 29" crusier handlebars for 24" crusier handlebars (Dimension Aluminum). This gave the necessary areo for speeds into the 20's.

Now, it was so easy to pedal that I just ran out of gears. I used a more complex approach, but an economical 11-34 freewheel plus a TX70 or higher rear derailer will give you the taller gears needed for a sustainable flat ground pace in the mid 20's.

Except for big headwind situations, this crusier has easily overcome the performance of my road bike by giving me higher sustainable speeds and more long-distance stamina. It sure does look funny in the roadie pack! ;)

Summary:
This is an extraordinary light weight and comfortable ride.

10 hour plus rides are simply enjoyable on this bike.

It is remarkably fast. Factory geared for an easy and sustainable 17 mph, and the low 20's with a slight spin, it is easily faster than the majority of mountain and comfort bikes.

Strengths:
Light weight
High speed (Very surprising!)
Long Distance Comfort
Simplicity
Price to Performance Ratio

Weaknesses:
Junk brake pads eat rims (replace with Kool Stop MTB)

Irritable seat post (replace with economy micro adjust, 28.6mm)

Monster handlebars are a trial at a headwind (replace with 24" alloy crusier bars--deduct 3/4" inch to make a sane size handlebar)

Imprecise derailer needs frequent adjustment (replace with tx70 or deore)

Astabula crankset (replace with MRP adapter and 68mm sealed cartridge, OR replace bearings with Astabula BMX Racing sport bearings)

Not geared for tall hills or mountain touring (Replace 14-34 freewheel with 11-34 freewheel and use a smaller chainring--OR for city use, have a Nexus Premium 8 laced to the rear rim)

No water bottle mount (Install 22.2mm handlebar mount water bottle cage).

Excellent "roadie" speed class is highly reliant on Schwinn's accidental reproduction of a high-performance sand-race tire. They'll last an incredibly long time, do not flat, but they aren't available for purchase seperately from a cruiser.

Totally ineffective grease used on everything that should have high grade grease. Must re-grease all moving parts at 3000 miles. But, this is not really unusual for any bike.

Similar Products Used:
Trek, Electra, many comfort or hybrid bikes, and Raliegh. Only Raliegh could even come close. Nothing equalled or surpassed the speed and comfort of the Schwinn.

Price Paid:  $250.00 at "cycleworld"

Favorite Ride:
schwinn alloy 7

Bike Setup:
STOCK

Summary:
This bike is my introduction to cycling "American style" and I absolutely love it! Cruisers are rare in England but they are just starting to catch on. I test rode about six or seven cruisers and choppers before I finaly chose this one. The only ones that came near to being as good were the Giant "Simple" (but no gears and rather plain) and the Electra "Custom" (approx £150 more, only three gears ). The first weekend that I had this bike I rode 45-50 miles on pretty hilly terrain and only had to push up one or two hills that I could have managed on my mountain bike - so much for cruisers only being good for going to the shops and back. I chose this bike because I wanted to have derailier gears and I liked the lightweight alloy frame because I have to carry my bikes up three flights of stairs, And of course I love the way this bike looks, I spend hours lusting over all the curves, and it turns heads whenever I ride it,(as I said cruisers are rare over here). My my friends queued up to have a ride on it and they all think the relaxed riding position, wide bars and huge seat are great, and so do I! This bike puts a smile on my face when ever I ride it, which is as often as possible! If you like cruisers but don't want a heavy and primitive machine that's only good for short rides on flat ground then this is the one to get. (note: price 250 english pounds)

Strengths:
The whole bike is superbly designed and manufactured.It is very lightweight for a cruiser, and looks beautiful,the frame is a real work of art.Comfortable and fun to ride to ride. Good blend of retro looks and modern materials and components.

Weaknesses:
NONE WHATSOEVER. ( except danger of of accident due to admiring reflection of bike in shop window as I ride past instead of looking where I am going...

Similar Products Used:
Gary Fisher mountain bike