Bicycles Online > Road Bikes > Schwinn Prelude Road Bike Review

Schwinn Prelude Road Bike Review

First off, let's clarify what the new Schwinn Prelude Road Bike really is before we review it. Technically, this is a Schwinn (i.e. Pacific Cycle) bike, of course, but you won't find this bike on the Schwinn Bike site or at local bike stores (LBS) and this bike is not at all like old vintage Schwinn Preludes of the 80s (which is good in some ways, but not all good).

The old vintage Schwinn Preludes were 12 speed, steel frame bikes that were build pretty well compared to other bikes of that era.

The new Schwinn Preludes are inexpensive (low end or entry level) aluminum frame, mass marketed bikes that are usually sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, etc. so keep this in mind when reviewing this bike.

The good news is that the Schwinn Prelude is an up to date, entry level road bike at a very reasonable price.

Note: As of 2/1/2012 the Schwinn Prelude is selling for $249.99 (new) at Amazon with free shipping (was $249 on 1/13/2012). See Schwinn Prelude Road Bike for the latest price and customer reviews or to purchase the Schwinn Prelude.
www.amazon.com

The Schwinn Prelude Road Bike at a glance:

The Schwinn Prelude has a Lightweight Aluminum Frame, Shimano 14-speed drive train with Shimano shifters, Wrap Down Handlebars and Schwinn warranty on parts.

About-Bicycles Review:

Although I can not give this bike (or any other department store bike) an unqualified buy recommendation, I can recommend this bike as an inexpensive, entry level road bike for light to moderate use.

Road bikes are usually priced higher than other bike types so it is difficult to find a quality road bike for under $500. If you are a little more serious about getting into cycling, and can afford the upgrade, I would suggest the Scott Speedster (starting around $550), but if you really can't afford the upgrade then the Schwinn Prelude will at get you started with the sport.

Customer Reviews:

There are plenty of customer reviews on this bike at the time of this review and owners rate this bike fairly high (3.5 of 5 stars at Target and 4.5 of 5 stars at Amazon). I believe that customer satisfaction level is sometimes related to the price paid in some situations.

For example, the 4.5 of 5 stars at Amazon probably reflects the satisfaction with the bike for the price paid rather than the overall quality of the bike compared to other quality road bikes.

Relevant comments included...

"Good bike for the money, not for heavy use"
"I am 5'10 and it was just fine. The geometry is comfortable, and the ride a little stiff but bearable. It is very fast because it is so light (for this price range), about 24lbs.'

"Overall, you get what you pay for. This bike has a good frame/fork but pretty low quality components that will wear out in less than 1000 miles. I would only recommend it for occasional recreational use that wouldn't hit that kind of mileage.'

See Schwinn Prelude Road Bike Reviews (at Amazon) for more information, additional customer reviews or to purchase the Schwinn Prelude.

Schwinn Prelude Road Bike Specs and Features:

• Lightweight and durable aluminum frame and a steel fork
  
• Shimano 14-speed drive train with Shimano shifters
  
• Promax dual-pivot caliper brakes
  
• Alloy road crank
  
• Aero 36-spoke alloy wheels with radial-laced front
  
• 700c wheels
  
• Toe clips and straps
  

More helpful online bike sales resources:

See Best Buy Bikes Online - for the latest sales and deals on quality brand names bikes for sale online.

Most popular bike brands in US - WIth so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary of the top 20 bike most popular bike brands.

See Online Bike Stores - for a complete listing of where to purchase the most popular brands for all bike types online.