Schwinn Bicycle Company Fastback Comp

Price Paid:  $649.00 at supergo(they rule!)

Favorite Ride:
bonny doon (all)

Bike Setup:
slr seat
maxxis flyweight tubes and rim strips
egg beater pedals

Summary:
this bike kicks ass for $649!!!all around great ride.

Strengths:
light
stiff
looks good

Weaknesses:
heavy chin shin tubes,garbage molded rim strips caused 2 rear flats,stock chain pin came out(super go sent me a new xt chain)laid back seat post,stock seat

Similar Products Used:
its my first road bike!

riding mtb since 1987

Price Paid:  $689.00 at supergo.com

Favorite Ride:
STP - Group Ride

Bike Setup:
Medium 03 Fastback comp with flight deck. Pealed off all warning and size stickers. Replaced 42cm bar with 44cm Weyless carbon and Cinelli cork tape.

Summary:
At $765.00 with S&H the Fastback Comp was the best deal for the money hands down. All of the other bikes in this price range cut corners on the groupo by substituting 105 for lower quality whenever possible. I love the integrated headset, the carbon fork, and 105 / Ritchey parts mix. The frame quality isn't anything to write home about, but the geometry is nimble and fast, and the rear dropouts with the replaceable hanger adds a nice and functional touch. Others who mentioned poor shifting with the 105 group must not have taken the time to dial it in. The bike came with terribly routed, and brittle front and rear derailleur cable housings. Once replaced, and sized properly this bike shifts as well as all of the Ultegra bikes I've owned. I have not experienced the chain problem, and have about 250mi on her. The wheelset is boring and mine came with loose spokes and where out of true. Tires are boring but are good for all around riding / commuting. As mentioned by another poster the Windsor on bikesdirect.com is worth taking a look at, especially when you factor in the pedals and the better wheelset.

Strengths:
Value! Solid 105 groupo, Carbon fork, integrated headset, quick and nimble geometry. Not so fancy you're afraid to ride in the rain and put away wet.

Weaknesses:
Boring wheelset and tires. Stock cable housing should be thrown away before first ride, and replaced with quality parts that fit.

Similar Products Used:
'01 Bianchi EV2 solid Ultegra, Kona King Kahuna solid Ultegra

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Supergo

Favorite Ride:
All rides are great. Variety is the spice of life.

Bike Setup:
Stock but am changing the seat post with a carbon fiber one.

Summary:
The Schwinn Fastback Comp is a good bike for the money. It has 105 components, a stiff and light weight frame. I was looking at litespeeds, but found this bike comfortable and the price was right.

Strengths:
It is light weight hand has 105 components. It is also a fast a responsive bike.

Weaknesses:
The seat is good for me but the seatpost is really bad. The tires are fair but work for the riding I do.

Similar Products Used:
Trek and Bianchi

Price Paid:  $700.00 at Supergo

Favorite Ride:
Any ride - Any time!

Bike Setup:
Stock except for a water bottle, computer, and lights.

Summary:
Very nice bike for the money. I was looking for high quality that I could afford and found it with this bike.
I really wanted 105 components and a carbon fork. There were a few others that came close but this one had everything I was looking for and came in at the lowest price. It was delivered in perfect condition and after spending about 2 hours putting it together and tuneing it up, I was on the road. I've been riding my Mountain bike for a couple of years and its been great on the single track but I really didn't like it on the road. What a difference riding this! It is smooth, quiet, fast, and very quick handeling.
I have only put on 125 miles and the first 25 took some getting used to the bike but now I love it!

Strengths:
Fast
Handeles great
105 components
Carbon fork
Great price

Weaknesses:
None - that I've come across yet.

Similar Products Used:
None - this is my first road bike,

Price Paid:  $700.00 at supergo.com

Favorite Ride:
animas valley loop

Bike Setup:
as shipped

Summary:
This bike was the best deal I could find. The others I saw that were fully 105 were all $1100 or more. This is my first road bike. Have been an MTB’er for a long time and never dreamed that road riding could be so fun. This bike was a great entry into the paved world. I was able to get my shifting mostly dialed so there are no complaints about the 105 groupo. There is still a little trouble smooth shifting the front triple. The black and grey motif looks great. The frame shows some messy welds and looks like the mass produced factory frame that it is so I don't think I would build it up much more than it came. Everything on the bike seems at least good enough, except the chain which I broke in the first few moments of riding. It broke at the "master" link pin, I didn't notice if it was the wrong pin like the person below mentioned. The chain was too long anyway so it didn’t hurt to take out a couple of links. The seat is comfy the wheels are round and it goes as fast as you let it, though I would like an 11 tooth cog in the cassette (which is Shram 12-26. Check the prebuild, the cables on mine were mounted wrong/poorly, annoying but easily fixed. Don't be in a hurry, supergo is SLOW to ship. If I were to do it over I would buy a Windsor Knight from Bikesdirect.com for $695 w/ full 105 & better wheels. Retails for $1600 and said to weight only 18.5lbs. The Windsor wasn't available when I was shopping.

Strengths:
Price
105 groupo
comfy albeit cheap seat
Triple crankset
Ritchey Pro stuff

Weaknesses:
Supergo build
Chain

Similar Products Used:
none