Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - schwinn madison

seems to be getting good reviews. looks kind of cool. What do people think of it?

i like it. i wish the logos and such were just stickers so they could be removed. my neighbor just ordered one today, so i'm looking forward to checking it out in person.

beyond reviews i've seen online and word of mouth though, i don't know too much about it.

but for the price, i'd much sooner buy a mercier or motobecane from bikesdirect and save some $$$.

I have an 07 Madison and love it. I am new to the fg side and generally to biking so ...

But no problems so far, it is holding up great with plenty of miles on it.
I do want to replace the stock tires and pedals though.

The 07 doesn't come with a place to put a water bottle cage, the new 08 will though. I ended getting tri water cages on the seatpost after trying to zip tie/tape a cage on the frame.

Oh I also am getting a surly tensioner just to make it easier to tension the chain since I suck at fixing bikes.

It has formula hubs, flip flop, brakes, decent wheels, & a good saddle.
I got mine for $425 on sale at performance with the free tune ups (although you don't really need that too much on a fg).

Overall i love it and would buy another. I almost got the Fuji track but it didn't have a brake so I didn't want that.

but for the price, i'd much sooner buy a mercier or motobecane from bikesdirect and save some $$$.

Well, it's $100 more than the Mercier, but comes with brakes and overall is a bit better. If you're going brakeless anyways then yeah, save your money. Personally I prefer the look of the new Madison to the Kilo TT.

I hear it weighs a ton.

It looks pretty sharp in person.

for some reason i was under the impression that the madison was in the ~$650 range. i don't know where i got those numbers from.

knowing that it only about $100 more than thew mercier, i think blickblocks is right. it pretty much boils down to brakes/asthetics at that point (that is, if you're ordering one w/o checking the two side by side in person).

i'll wait till my buddy's madison comes in before i make up my mind. but, white bikes are sexy in my book, so it's got something going good for it already. i'm looking to buy a new bike come employment time, and keeping my "pergot" as a beater/project, so the madison is now on the list of potentials.

The 2008 Madison and the 2008 Capo are probably the best designed bikes I've seen in years.

The 2008 Madison is a seriously beautiful bike.

http://bikepro.com.au/uploadedFiles/1186451577140-3081.jpg

In fact, if they let it go as a frameset, I might try to sell off my Fuji track and replace it with this.

yes also probably my next frameset

wow. that IS nice. although, i'm a bit partial: my frame is the same color blue with polished/black components. although, i sure don't have the exposed chome on my forks or rear triangle.

you guys need to stop making me want a madison. i can't afford it yet! although, a little hook up of mine just told me i can get a 2007 for a stupid low price.

****!

The 2008 Madison and the 2008 Capo are probably the best designed bikes I've seen in years.

'Design' as in aesthetics? Engineering? Value? Please elaborate.

Not arguing...just curious.

As I've said on multiple occasions, I love my 07, which, by the way wasn't nearly $650. I got it for about $350. I wouldn't say it was heavy, but I've never had a super light bike so what do I know. It's held up really well. The only thing you'll want to replace right away (if the same as the 07) is the pos seatpost.

'Design' as in aesthetics? Engineering? Value? Please elaborate.

Not arguing...just curious.

Yeah, aesthetics. Sorry, should have been more clear.

Wait, you guys would seriously buy the madison as a frameset? WTF for? It's heavy, no-name cromo, and the decals don't come off. If you're going to build from scratch anyway you might as well start with something decent.

I wonder if they will have any other colors. I want Kool Lemon!

The 2008 Madison is a seriously beautiful bike.

http://bikepro.com.au/uploadedFiles/1186451577140-3081.jpg

In fact, if they let it go as a frameset, I might try to sell off my Fuji track and replace it with this.

WOW that is a sharp looking bike!!

I'm surprised that they are still making a frame with that much of a classic look and style, looks very very good, vintage look on a new bike that is fairly affordable. Can't wait to check one out!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/tech/reviews/schwinn_madison07/Schwinn_Madison_frame_tubing_label.jpg



The frame's track-style geometry translates into a predictably quick-handling machine that still works well on the open road. While not necessarily nervous, it does require your attention; this is no sip-a-latte-while-chatting-on-your-cell-phone machine. Cornering, in general, can be a bit dicey since you must constantly be aware of pedal clearance on your inside leg, and things naturally get a little hairier as speeds increase.

What do they mean by "Road Tuned Track Geometry"? How does the handling compare to a "true" track geometry? Is there such a thing? Here's a link to their numbers. Can anybody compare this to IRO, Pista, etc geometries?

http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=724

I have the small and it's fairly tight geometry. Certainly not road. I get quite a bit of toe overlap and the top tube's pretty short. Handles like a dream, though.

edit: Although I love my bike I wouldn't bother buying it as a frameset. I'd definitely start with something better.

I have the small and it's fairly tight geometry. Certainly not road. I get quite a bit of toe overlap and the top tube's pretty short. Handles like a dream, though.

That sounds really nice, tighter geometry with a short top tube (remind me to buy a shorter stem for my road bike)...I had the opportunity to pick one up for peanuts as I interned at the parent company this past summer, but they were all out.

It's about 22 lbs right? That's just middle of the road, about the same as any decent conversion. What do you expect for under $500?

I saw one at parked on Princeton campus last summer and my jaw dropped. It looks gorgeous in person.

yeah, it's about 22 pounds, although more now with the deep v's and coaster brake.

As I've said on multiple occasions, I love my 07, which, by the way wasn't nearly $650. I got it for about $350. I wouldn't say it was heavy, but I've never had a super light bike so what do I know. It's held up really well. The only thing you'll want to replace right away (if the same as the 07) is the pos seatpost.

Where in God's green earth did you find one for $350? I need a new frame bad; I'd just sell the parts.

I don't know if I can get one in Canada... the Schwinn site doesn't list any Canadian dealers. I know Canadian Tire has some Schwinns, but they're all ****ty ones.

I don't know if I can get one in Canada... the Schwinn site doesn't list any Canadian dealers. I know Canadian Tire has some Schwinns, but they're all ****ty ones.

Performance had them online for a while.

love my rig. i was riding a vintage peugeot for a while, then borrowing rigs here and there to decide whether i wanted to go fixed. i got the madison in small which is a bit tiny for my measurements (i'm 5'9 but with a short reach. t-rex arms.) and its true, handling is super quick but not squirrely and i do find that on tight turns i'm nervous about bb height. compared to the one track bike i have ridden in my life (a colnago) it is similiar in handling.

meh abt the frame decoration, i think it looks cool and very very nouveau vintage. real soon now i'm goign to get new stem/bars/seatpost and then if i'm a good boy, an aerospoke for the front because I AM A HUGE HIPSTER IDIOT.

what?

I don't understand where you guys are finding these bikes for so cheap. I looked into getting one but at my LBS (which happens to be a Performance Bikes) they were 524.99$ +tax. I opted for the Mercier...

I don't understand where you guys are finding these bikes for so cheap. I looked into getting one but at my LBS (which happens to be a Performance Bikes) they were 524.99$ +tax. I opted for the Mercier...

I got mine during a sale for $425 and then got 10% back in store credit with my pb membership thing.
So that is $42.50 back for stuff I was gonna buy anyway.
$382.50 was essentially my price if you don't argue the store credit thing.
Occasionally they have a 20% credit offer for members. Plus they run sales all the time, so keep your eye out.

I am glad I got it, I just got done riding it to grab dinner. In fact ever since I got it my other 3 bikes sit gathering dust, lol. I even commute with it if I think I can handle the uphill 13 mile return home that day.

i just got one and have chopped the bars down. putting the brake back on is difficult. i am stuck because there is this coil like thing that i can't figure out where it goes. anyone who has assembled and disassembled these tektro brakes, some advice would be appreciated.

maybe post a picture of the problem?

if only i had a camera...

I don't recall a coil thing... do you mean a spring?

i really want one of those 2008's. i wonder how much they will retail when they finally come out.

I don't recall a coil thing... do you mean a spring?

it was kind of like a spring-coil. one end hooks onto a screw, the longer end rests against the handle of the lever. what i am kind of confused about is this rod that goes in and prevents the lever from being pulled up into the handle bar. there doesn't seem to be anything holding it in, and i can remove it very easily with my fingers. i didn't notice this until i took put the levers back together.

a little birdie told me that a near by bike shop will be getting a shipment in in about 3 weeks and I might be picking on up for "somewhere in the high 3's"... hmm a sub $400 08' madison, tempting.....

i would be down for a upper $300 08 Madison.

A madison in the 3's eh? I'd do it for sure.

A madison in the 3's eh? I'd do it for sure.

for real?

word of my local forum is that it'd be wiser to spent 2 billz on the tool kit I've been wanting and the rest of a new pair of shoes...

for real?

word of my local forum is that it'd be wiser to spent 2 billz on the tool kit I've been wanting and the rest of a new pair of shoes...

Yeah, I guess if you already have a decent bike your money would be better spent elsewhere. I think I'd probably sell my IRO GB to buy one of them Schwinns though...

for those of you who have the 2007s, did you buy yours online?

and does anyone have any leads on good internet dealers that will be selling these for msrp or less?
(or, for that matter, stores in Los Angeles?)

I used to have a Madison. Sold it to raise money for a good cause--if it were any other reason I'd hate myself for doing it. Great bike, in my opinion.