Price Paid:
$385.00
at Isla Vista Bike Bout Favorite Ride:
The coastline of Santa Barbara Bike Setup:
Stock, with a Delta Mega Rack and a huge ugly basket attached (in order to use this as an alternative to driving, I needed a place to put groceries and such). Summary:
I had an old, rusted, very heavy mountain bike since 2000, and was shopping for a replacement. I opened my eyes to the world of road bicycling, and thought to buy the most inexpensive new bicycle I could find. Turns out the cheapest one by far (in this area) was the 2003 Fuji League for $285, but I didn't like the down-tube shifting. I opted instead for the slightly more expensive, slightly lighter, slightly better 2003 Fuji Ace. Before I bought it, I went around to 7 or 8 other bicycle shops and tried their cheapest road bike (always $500 or more). I couldn't tell the difference between the Trek, Giant, or Specialized ones. Therefore, I bought this Fuji. It is a perfect match for me, exactly what I was looking for: an inexpensive road bike to commute to and from school, and use as an alternative to driving. I've had it since March 9, 2004, and I've almost put 400 miles on it. I've hit some SERIOUS potholes too, but nothing seems to have been damaged. Because this bike is exactly what I was looking for, it was a perfect solution and receives my high rating. (If I had more money and wanted a better bike but settled for less, then the rating would reflect that circumstance.)
Since hardly anyone uses a new road bicycle to go around town and leave locked up, I realized that mine particularly stands out even though it is entry-level and inexpensive. I therefore bought an expensive lock (that weighs over 6lbs), and that really increases my ride weight as well. =T Strengths:
Inexpensive price for some pretty good features. Even the tires are pretty cheap ($15ish) for up to 125psi! It would be nice if it was lighter, but I really didn't want to spend more than $500 on a bicycle for commuting the rough (although paved) bicycle trails to and from UCSB. I'm surprised that the bicycle hasn't taken heavy damage from those huge potholes I've run into and over several times. I suspect it endures because it's steel but that's just speculation.
This is better than I expected for something cheaper than all other entry-level bikes, but just as expected for what I paid. Weaknesses:
Not as light as it could be, but I got what I paid for. I'm completely satisfied with this bicycle. The crank made some creaking noises when I first got it, but I found that the bike shop didn't tighten the crank enough. Once tightened, the noise vanished. Also mentioned by someone else, downshifting is a little harsh if you don't lower your torque. Similar Products Used:
None yet. I test rode other "entry-level" bikes without any prior experience and couldn't tell any difference.
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