Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - 2007 Schwinn Le Tour GS Road Bike?

In narrowing my search, this seems to be a decent bike that is comfortably within what I'd like to spend at this point. Alum frame w/ CF fork, Sora shifters & FD w/ Tiagra RD and it is a 24 speed. The local Performance Bike Shop has it for $500 which is $250 less than anything I've seen elsewhere with similar equipment. Looking for a basic road bike that will help in at least doubling my current 10 mile per day average while dropping from my current 230 lbs. down to sub-clyde. Opinions?

Looks like you have a stable full of capable bikes already. The GS probably isn't a bad bike FWIW.

As long as you're buying from performance you might as well check out bikesdirect.com too.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm

They have a ton of bikes in that $500-$600 range although they may not be as nice as the Schwinn you're looking at.

Worth a look right?

depends on where you are really. my local bike shop has the KHS flite 300 for 550, which you could probably talk them down on. available with triple or double, same components as the schwinn you are looking at.

As long as you're buying from performance you might as well check out bikesdirect.com too...They have a ton of bikes in that $500-$600 range although they may not be as nice as the Schwinn you're looking at. Worth a look right?
Looked at BD and it seems I'd be paying $100 more for similar equipment and buying it online instead of from a store 10 minutes from home.


depends on where you are really. my local bike shop has the KHS flite 300 for 550, which you could probably talk them down on. available with triple or double, same components as the schwinn you are looking at.
I've hit 5 of the 7 LBSs in the area with 2 more to go. $750 seems to be the starting point for bikes wih this level of equipment. If I find the KHS Flite 300, is it superior to the Schwinn? I could expand my shopping area if there is a compelling reason to seek out something other than the Schwinn (although I would prefer to be deling with a place closer to home).

EDIT: Went to the last 2 shops. One had 3 road bikes total. A Giant OCR around my size for $900 and the others were small. The other had a KHS Flite 300 for $500 and the rest of their road bikes were $750 + (but they did have a large selection). It seems most of the LBSs around here have few road bikes (one had none) and concentrate on MTBs, comforts & hybrids.

So, the KHS is the same price as the Schwinn and they are similarly equipped except the KHS does not have bar-top brake levers (not a big deal but would be nice on MUPs). Is the KHS better? Should I expand my search area? Is there something bad about the Schwinn that I should know? I value experienced opinions and appreciate your help.