Commuting - Smokin Deal! Schwinn World Ave Commuter Package!

We just got this for my wife at our local Performance shop
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile_combo.cfm?SKU=26018&estore_ID=1792&subcategory_ID=&CFID=3549652&CFTOKEN=10830716

The bike was a decent deal on it's own, but look at all the stuff it comes with!
Lights, trunk bag, cable lock, pump, and mirror. All for $499 minus 15% off! And then i used my performance card so I got a 10% credit to use later. She picked up a pair of mtn bike shorts, a water bottle cage, and they through in a kickstand, and it all totaled out to $495 OTD with tax and everything.

The $15 off is only through today online or in the store. I called first to make sure they knew about this commuter combo package and they hadn't heard of it but had no problem honoring it. When i talked to the guy on the phone and he brought it up on his computer he literally said "Holy shhh**t, that's a good deal!" :lol: So it must be a brand new thing. They have a GT with a slightly different setup.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/item_list.cfm?category_id=1&estore_ID=1792

Wow, over 100 views and no comments? I'm a bit surprised.
I've seen this bike mentioned here a few times. I thought it would be a great entry level commuter for someone with the all in one package making it nice and easy.

I got it home from Performance but then had to spend a good hour going over the bike and making adjustments. The rear derailler wasn't shifting correctly from the get go. The rear brake caliper was slapping the rack supports. I don't think the chain was lubed at all... didn't feel/look like it anyway. The shifters were in an odd position making shifting while riding really awkward and difficult. The kickstand needed tightening and some locktite. I also pulled out some slight slack from the brake cables to firm up the feel a bit. Yeesh... I'm glad I work on bikes. And it's so comforting to know that we get a lifetime of free adjustments. :rolleyes: :lol:

As one that appreciates some nostalgia, that bike looks great! I would be a bit put off by the perception that I spent 499 on a bike and then another 65 for adjustments, fit, lube, etc-but I also understand that Performance Bikes ships partially assembled, so they probably assume that you (the consumer) would know that already. I see an awful lot of weight, I guess-I commute pretty light-seatpost/rackbag combo and I carry the lock in there. No chain guard or kickstand on mine. If the rider ever wanted to do more than just A to B they would have to remove an awful lot of stuff. For 495 they could probably get a bike that would allow them to do both, without all the extra stuff. Im somewhat biased, though, since I scored my current ride off of CL in pristine condition for 125.

Really, though, id be more worried about it being a Schwinn-they aren't what they used to be.

As one that appreciates some nostalgia, that bike looks great! I would be a bit put off by the perception that I spent 499 on a bike and then another 65 for adjustments, fit, lube, etc-but I also understand that Performance Bikes ships partially assembled, so they probably assume that you (the consumer) would know that already. I see an awful lot of weight, I guess-I commute pretty light-seatpost/rackbag combo and I carry the lock in there. No chain guard or kickstand on mine. If the rider ever wanted to do more than just A to B they would have to remove an awful lot of stuff. For 495 they could probably get a bike that would allow them to do both, without all the extra stuff. Im somewhat biased, though, since I scored my current ride off of CL in pristine condition for 125.

Really, though, id be more worried about it being a Schwinn-they aren't what they used to be.

Yeah, it's meant to be a commuter, nothing more. I mean look at my rivendells in my sig... all the same commuter oriented stuff. Rack, fenders, lights, bags, kickstand, etc. What $65 extra? This was $499 OTD with the extra shorts and cage, too. The bike combo package itself came out to around $425. Plus i got another $50 in points added to my performance card.
We both have regular road bikes if we want to really put on some fast miles out in the country.

That certainly looks like a nice package for an attractive price. I am really surprised that more LBS are not trying to create similar packages with the current trend of people trying out bike commuting. Being a new commuter myself I can see that I have been slowly accumulating almost all of the parts that came standard in that package. It would be very convenient to be able to get everything all at once.

Considering that you have spent perhaps $5000 or so on gorgeous Rivendell bikes for yourself, why did you go with such a cheap bike for your wife? Is this just supposed to be a "beater"?

I took advantage of PBS's 15% off deal - it's rare for them to do an on-line coupon for stores. I knew they already had the bike I wanted (hopefully in my size) on sale.....they had raised the price $100 from the lowest sale price I had seen, but with the 15% off deal, it was still $50 less than the lowest price I had seen anywhere. That, plus the 10% in Team Performance points sealed the deal. I was tempted to walk next door to Hudson Trail Outfitters - they're a Fuji dealer, and supposedly have a price beating policy, but I don't think they would have sold a bike and accessories for the amount I paid.

That's a pretty complete package though. With the accessory money, you can spring for some rain gear and/or a helmet - they're all on sale, too.

Considering that you have spent perhaps $5000 or so on gorgeous Rivendell bikes for yourself, why did you go with such a cheap bike for your wife? Is this just supposed to be a "beater"?

Hey, my current Riv was only around $3k! :innocent:

$500 was all she wanted to spend. She spends her money on other things so that's all she wanted to budget for a bike. She doesn't have the option of commuting to work right now, so she will only be using this to run errands and stuff with me on the weekends.

Really, though, id be more worried about it being a Schwinn-they aren't what they used to be.

I just picked up a Schwinn World DBX from Performance. The only thing I can find that is made by Schwinn is the frame. And that was probably welded in a Taiwan factory alongside a bunch of other companies frames.