I forgot the executive summary so here are my first impressions.
Pro:
- Cheap at $229
- Chromoly frame and fork, decent looking welds
- Comes with both brakes, flip-flop hub, sealed bottom bracket
- lots of eyelets for fenders and/or racks
- light seat post and nice adjustable clamp
- seat stays look like up to 32 mm tires will clear, front fork even wider
Neutral:
- Shipped a different model without notice
- Low end calipers, but the brakes are OK at least initially
- dull matte paint, thankfully with only one decal
- low end but very adequate crank set
- durable double-wall rims of known brand
- it remains to be seen if the saddle clamp holds up and holds adjustments
Cons:
- 25 pounds configured as shipped
- heavy wheels, possibly too-cheap freewheel
- hubs urgently require grease, cones tightened haphazardly
- the bottom bracket cover "felt" like it was torqued too tightly (but I'm no pro mechanic)
- bottom-barrel pedals
- the heavy, padded "Super Light" saddle is bound to be replaced soon
Unknowns:
- Does the freewheel have a click? Will it fail soon? Remains to be fully diagnosed.
- Just how sluggish will it feel when I put the rack and fenders on, along with my commuting load?
- I'm wary of the crank arm bolts since they needed to be really tight - how well will that hold up?
If I do wind up replacing the wheelset eventually, and the handlebar I ordered or want instead of the drop bars bikes direct sent, and use a different saddle, I'd have been better off ordering the $110 Dawes SST frameset from BikeIsland and building up. If this satisfies me as is through the winter, I'll be perfectly happy with it.