Posts Tagged ‘Racing Bikes’

Schwinn Meridian Adult 26 Inch 3 Wheel Bike

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Schwinn Meridian Adult 26 Inch 3 Wheel Bike




Cruise around in comfort and style with this easy-to-use, single-speed three-wheeled Schwinn Meridian bike. The bike features a low step-through frame, an upright handlebar, padded cruiser saddle, and front and rear brakes. Perfect for rides around town or through the park on a warm, sunny day, the bike features a folding rear basket to stash your picnic lunch or extra jacket. The Meridian also offers a lightweight aluminum frame for a comfortable and stable ride.

Key Features:

  • Frame Type: Tricycle cruiser
  • Frame Material: Aluminum
  • Gearing: Single speed
  • Brakes: Rear band brake with front linear pull brake
  • Wheels: Alloy rims with stainless steel spokes

About Schwinn
Founded in 1895, Schwinn is an American icon that has been synonymous with quality and innovation. They have built some of the best-known and best loved bikes of numerous generations–Aerocycle, Paramount, Phantom, Varsity, Sting-Ray, Krate and Homegrown. Today, Schwinn continues to be a leader in the industry with innovative bikes such as the new Sting-Ray, Rocket mountain bikes, and Fastback road bikes. With a continued dedication to quality, forever synonymous with the Schwinn name, America’s most famous bicycle brand looks forward to providing another century of innovation, freedom and performance to people of all ages.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it’s important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

  • Road and Racing Bikes–As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
  • Mountain Bikes–With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike–even one that you use regularly on trails–adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
  • Comfort/Cruiser Bikes–For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike’s price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

  • Entry-level–You’ll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
  • Mid-range–Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you’re looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the “sweet spot.” Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
  • High-end–Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

  • Stand-over Height–To find out if a bike’s overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you’ll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you’ll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
  • Top Tube Length–You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike’s posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
  • Bikes for Women–Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women’s bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don’t forget these crucial add-ons:

  • Helmet (this is a must!)
  • Seat pack
  • Lock
  • Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
  • Spare tubes
  • Portable bike pump
  • Gloves

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars ROBUST,WELL MADE, BUT NOTE
Schwinn Meridian Adult 26-Inch 3-Wheel Bike

This made in China tricycle has a lot going for it, including a very capacious carrier/metal basket, quickly and easily adjusted saddle,brakes that lock in position so that the bike will not roll away, but note the following:

It is heavy. You will need to be quite strong if you need to pick it up.

It is 28.5 inches at its widest point. It will not pass through my side door, though it will through the front door.

Will it work for my 5′3 inch wife? It is quite big.

MOST IMPORTANTLY. My recommendation is that you have it shipped to your nearest Schwinn bike shop for assembly unless you are mechanically inclined and have the necessary tools.

NO REVIEWS I HAVE READ POINT OUT YOU NEED TO USE A TORQUE WRENCH WHEN ASSEMBLING THIS TRIKE,an item not to be found in most households and which costs $45 to purchase. I suspect buyers have used a regular spanner which is highly unlikely to tighten a nut correctly.

On balance, I decided to have the trike professionally assembled using the right tools. The cost of doing this was $70. The Schwinn Cyclery who handled this task found that a bolt and two nuts were missing from the kit.

5 Stars 3 wheel schwinn meridian bike
The bike was exactly as pictured on the web page, was easely assembled, and delivered promptly. I am very satisfied, and find the bike just as it was described on the web page. I would recomend this bike to anyone who is interested in a three wheeler. Bill H. Hill

4 Stars So much fun!
I love my new trike! Hadn’t been on a bicycle since the training wheels came off my bike at age 6, so I had no preconceptions about how to ride. My daughter, on the other hand found it difficult to ride and nearly hit a pole.

The reviews on this bike repeatedly talk about how hard it is to put together. It took my daughter’s motor head boyfriend something like six hours before he finally took it to a Schwinn shop for the final adjustments on the front wheel.

He was frustrated, but I am absolutely thrilled with how fun it is to ride. The only problem is that my three year old grandson wants to play chicken with me on HIS trike. Oh, well…

5 Stars Love the Trike
Love the trike when I am good Elizabeth lets me go for a ride in the basket.

We go to the DOGGy PARK and all around our Mobile home park. She lets me look at the golf course however I can’t go on it, only rabbits can. The rabbits hold conventions on the greens, at the 5th hole. I am not allowed in the lakes either but sometimes she lets me walk on a lease beside her and that is fun as I get to read the other doggy news left on the bushes. Most of the dogs in the Park are green with envy when I go riding by their house.

I just love the bike and I think Elizabeth does also as she takes me riding a lot.

Yours Truely

Cindy

5 Stars schwinn
It is a beautiful Blue My FAVORITE COLOR Only I would like to have gotten a 24 in. instead of the 26 in. Because I am only 4′ 11″ tall. But I love it and intend to go shopping with it. Go to resturant and library,

Dont need gas so should save some money there.

Yours Truly

Barbara J. Goss

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Mongoose Maxim Dual Suspension Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Mongoose Maxim Dual Suspension Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels




Designed for peak performance under rugged conditions, the 24-inch, 21 speed Mongoose MGX Maxim will tackle all your off-road and in-city journeys with ease. It offers an alloy frame with a full (or dual) suspension, which adds a heavy duty shock absorber to the back wheel in addition to the front fork suspension. This full suspension provides more comfort and greater control as you attack the trails. It has 21-speed shifting with a Shimano rear derailleur and SRAM MRX shifting. Other features include a comfortable ATB anatomical saddle, lightweight alloy rims with MTB hubs, alloy linear pull brakes, chunky MTB wheels, three-piece crank, and an MTB handlebar and stem.

Specifications:

  • Frame & Fork: Dual Suspension Frame with Element Fork
  • Handlebar / Stem: ATB MTB Handlebar and Stem
  • Shifting System: 21-Speed Shifting with Shimano Rear Derailleur
  • Brakes: Alloy Linear Pull Brakes
  • Crankset: 3-piece Crank
  • Wheels: Light weight Alloy Rims with Steel MTB Hubs

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it’s important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

  • Road and Racing Bikes–As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
  • Mountain Bikes–With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike–even one that you use regularly on trails–adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
  • Comfort/Cruiser Bikes–For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike’s price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

  • Entry-level–You’ll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
  • Mid-range–Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you’re looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the “sweet spot.” Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
  • High-end–Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

  • Stand-over Height–To find out if a bike’s overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you’ll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you’ll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
  • Top Tube Length–You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike’s posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
  • Bikes for Women–Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women’s bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don’t forget these crucial add-ons:

  • Helmet (this is a must!)
  • Seat pack
  • Lock
  • Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
  • Spare tubes
  • Portable bike pump
  • Gloves

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great bike with sharp looks
I bought this bike for my son and he absolutely loves it. It has impressive features for the price and also looks awesome too.

4 Stars Good value for the money
My son got this bike for his birthday last year. It is well built and a good value. Works OK for a 4th - 6th grader who’s not quite big enough for a 26 or 27″ wheel bike.

3 Stars good inexpensive bike for youth boy
Quality of the bike was okay but be careful when trying to adjust the cables. The ends pop off really easy and then the cables fray out. I recommend crimping the caps on the cable ends before you start. Other than that pretty nice bike for my son.

5 Stars Great bike for the money
My son loves this bike. It’s well built and required only the normal assembly.

4 Stars Easy 2 Assemble, one glitch
I bought this bike for my 5′2″ 10 year old. He loves it. Granted we’ve only had it for a month. It arrived quickly and was easy to assemble. No worries about gears, they were already assembled and good to go. The one glitch; the rear tire was flat the next morning after assembling it. Had to take the gear assembly apart (argh) and replace. Wasn’t as bad as anticipated. You can get virtually the same bike already assembled at WalMart now for the same or less $$. Wasn’t the case when I bought it. But It seems to be a good sturdy bike.

Buy/More Info

Mongoose Placid Mens Comfort Bike

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Mongoose Placid Mens Comfort Bike




Ride in style and easy comfort with the 26-inch, 21-speed Mongoose Placid men’s comfort bike, which features a lightweight, oversized aluminum alloy frame. You’ll be protected from bumps and obstacles by the reliable front shock fork, which helps to smooth your ride as well as provide better control. As befitting its designation as a comfort bike, the Placid offers an anatomically padded two-tone sport saddle with added springs for increased comfort on long rides and a taller handlebar stem for an upright seating position.

Specifications:

  • Frame: Handcrafted Oversized Alloy Frame
  • Fork: Element Alloy Crown Suspension Fork
  • Handlebar Stem: Mongoose Riser Bar and Adjusting Stem
  • Shifters: 21-Speed Rear Index SRAM 3.0 Shifting
  • Derailleurs: 7-Speed SRAM 3.0 Rear Derailleur
  • Brakes: Front and Rear Alloy Linear Pull Brakes
  • Levers: Alloy Brake Levers
  • Crank: Oversized 3-Piece Suntour Alloy Crankset with Chainguard
  • Freewheel: Shimano 7-Speed, 14-28T Index
  • Rims: 36-Spoke Silver Anodized Alloy Rims
  • Hubs: CP 36 Hole Hubs
  • Tires: 26 x 1.95 inches Center Line Comfort Tires

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it’s important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

  • Road and Racing Bikes–As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
  • Mountain Bikes–With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike–even one that you use regularly on trails–adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
  • Comfort/Cruiser Bikes–For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike’s price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

  • Entry-level–You’ll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
  • Mid-range–Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you’re looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the “sweet spot.” Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
  • High-end–Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

  • Stand-over Height–To find out if a bike’s overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you’ll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you’ll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
  • Top Tube Length–You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike’s posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
  • Bikes for Women–Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women’s bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don’t forget these crucial add-ons:

  • Helmet (this is a must!)
  • Seat pack
  • Lock
  • Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
  • Spare tubes
  • Portable bike pump
  • Gloves

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Best for comfort and sport
The more upright riding position of the Mongoose Placid bike allows the rider to pedal in a much more comfortable position than traditional moubtain bikes yet still affords a sporty, confident ride. The combination of front-fork and adjustable seat-post suspension easily absorbs the shock of bumps and curbs.

The 21 speed derailleur easily shift speeds and is set up for smooth uphill pedaling but could use a higher gear range.

Overall, the Mongoose Placid is a comfortable and sporty exercise and leisure bike.

1 Star The UnComfort Bike CHINTZY
I had one I rode it for 10 miles. The front rim was not welded wright So when I apply the front brakes it would eat the PADS . I also got a flat tire it was the tube( cheap). I call they where very nice and sent out a replacement so I waited. I also asked them if I could buy two quick release kits for my rims. They make them but since the bike did not come with them they could not sell them! :( They come on there upper scale bikes there is no difference the axes are the same ) I received the rim in less than a week. I was so happy to get the new rim but it was just like the one I had! :( They did send me new brake pads but it would do no good to change anything I was back to square one . For it being a COMFORT BIKE IT WAS THE WORSTED ONE I HAVE EVER RODE :( :( THE FRONT SHOCKS BOTTOM OUT EVERY TIME IT WENT UP IN ANY DRIVEWAY . THE SEAT WAS NOT A COMFORTABLE AT ALL! I EVEN BOUGHT A GEL TOPPER IT REALLY DIDN’T HELP MUCH :(:(:( (Out of 5 wheels It GETS a half a wheel) for being a Mongoose because that’s how bad this bike rode! I have over 5,000 miles on my other bikes.SO ON THIS BIKE YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY 4 CHINTZY. {THE Plus is that it goes together very easy!} About a hour:)

4 Stars Mongoose Placid Men’s Comfort Bike
Quite happy with this mountain bike. It’s fairly light-weight and has a comfortable ride. Would have preferred to have quick-release hubs but that would have surely increased the purchase price. All around good value for the money. Item arrived even sooner then Amazon estimated. Another positive experience with Amazon.com.

5 Stars Great bike, comfortable and reliable
I bought this bike and its twin for my wife and me last summer after our gastric bypass surgeries and the large weight loss, as a present to ourselves, and apart from the cold of Vermont’s winter, I’ve been riding it just about every day. The bike is very comfortable and with a little maintenance rides smooth and easy.

It comes partially assembled and it took me about an hour to put it together. It should have been about twenty minutes, but the manual is shared between a lot of models, and you have to do a lot of picking through complex directions to find the relevant ones. The manual is not always clear during assembly and sometimes refers to terms without defining them. (However, it’s a great manual otherwise, particularly the section on tuneups and maintenance, once you figure out the terms and which directions do and don’t apply.)

The ride is comfortable, though the seat could be a little bit better, but otherwise it’s smooth and steady. The construction is solid; it has no problem with my still-high weight and never feels like it’s even challenged by me. The brakes and derailleurs needed some adjustment, but once they’re adjusted they run pretty smooth. (Though 21 gears seems a bit silly; I almost never use anything but the top four or five.)

I’ve used the bike on a bike path, various roads, some dirt paths, and some of Vermont’s infamous dirt roads. Also taken it travelling; it was wonderful on the Maine seacoast. The tires are good at handling all these terrains.

There really isn’t anything I’d do differently about this bike. It’s as good as bikes two or three times the price, and better than some. The only room for improvement is in the manual (and maybe the seat).

2 Stars Very uncomfortable seat.
For a comfort bike, this is not at all comfortable. The seat is hard and not well shaped. Also the gear shift does not work as advertised. Spend another $200 at a bicycle shop and get a real comfort bike.

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