very well. i bought this bike recently. Schwinn Prelude Road Bike is a great bike and rides real smooth compared to older road bikes. the parts seem high quality and their easy to adjust if needed especially the brake calipers. it took me just a little bit to put it together, but thats because i took my time. if you purchase this bike you will not be disappointed. i haven’t rode a bike in years and one of the reasons was to get this bike was to help my diabetes. my first rode trip i was trying to take it easy and end up riding 14 miles. it felt really good i couldn’t wait for my next ride.
Good bike for the price, with quality in the right places. The Schwinn Prelude is a lot of bike for $199. The wheel hubs are aluminum (not stamped steel) so the bearings will stay tight and roll smooth with little or no maintenance. The cranks are aluminum, with replaceable chainrings. The rims are aluminum, in the international standard 700c size (not the old 27″ size). The frame is aluminum, just like more expensive road bikes. Aluminum parts are lightweight, do not rust and should provide many years of trouble-free service. Those are all “must have” features. The 14-speed (7 x 2) thumb shifters are simple to operate while keeping your hands on the bars. The Shimano Tourney derailleurs should provide years of trouble-free service.
However, I was disappointed to see that the frame does not have threaded holes (braze-ons) for mounting a cargo rack or fenders. Also, the stock saddle looks a little slim for some riders; but is easily replaced (I recommend a Terry Liberator or Velo Plush). Conclusion: This is a capable road bike, worthy of upgrades. The lack of rack and fender mount points limits its usefulness for commuting (though handlebar bags and seatpost-mounted pannier racks are decent options). I estimate that the Prelude will comfortably fit riders from 5′ 10″ to about 6′ 2″ (I only saw one size offered). If you are in that height range, looking for a great deal on an entry-level road bike, give this one a try. By not having the overpriced Shimano STI shifters, you’ll save hundreds of dollars, and you’ll hardly miss them.
Love this bike. I had no issues with the instructions and I love the bike. I have added Aerobars, gel padding for the handlebars and a new seat but other than that, this bike is very nice for the money. I’ll be using it in an Olympic Triathlon in Sept.
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