Hybrid Bicycles - Schwinn Link Comfort Bike

Does anyone here have or tried a Schwinn Link. It looks more like a mtb, but claims to have comfort geometry.

Does anyone here have or tried a Schwinn Link. It looks more like a mtb, but claims to have comfort geometry.

Here's a photo for our reference... ;)

http://www.viewpoints.com/images/review/2009/178/17/1246140699-2472_full.jpg

Mikey

Here's a review I found on the web...

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Another Loser From Pacific Bicycle


weekend biker, a cycling fan, quality conscious
Pros

Inexpensive

Cons

Steel Frame, No Water Bottle Mounts, No Rear Rack Mounts

JUN
27
2009
Schwinn Link —

Wal-Mart calls this a "mountain bike". WRONG! It's a Hybrid Bike - a cross between a mountain bike & a comfort bike.

The first thing I noticed about this bike is that it has no eyelets to mount a water bottle cage...unless you want to bolt on a handlebar mounted one. So, I guess Wal-Mart & Pacific Bicycle don't consider staying hydrated important. The second thing I noticed was there is no way to add a rear rack...period. Unless you want to use one of those useless clamp on ones that wrap around the seatpost...if you're tall enough to raise the seatpost up to accomodate it. If you're a shorter person...forget it.

Which brings up another point I've made before about these "big box store" bikes; it only comes in one frame size. (This particular model is 17.5") If you're 5' 4" tall, you're too short. If you're 6' 4" tall, you're too tall. These bikes are made for people of 'average' height - whatever Wal-Mart considers to be average. (?)

This bike may also be considered the next "Lead Sled" coming in at a whopping 44 lbs. Just look at the frame configuration. The top bar on the man's bike is triangular in shape - not round. Why? Who knows. This bulky triangle shape just adds weight. My God! I'd bet my Raleigh Hybrid doesn't weigh 44 lbs. with the rear rack, fold out grocery baskets & the handlebar mounted stash bag with all the goodies stored inside. (Tools, lights, lock, etc.) A Raleigh Hybrid is made with an aluminum frame. The Schwinn is steel.

Although this Schwinn Link has a suspension seat post...the seat (saddle) itself is junk. And of course Wal-Mart will boast on the Shimano components. Ninety-Nine percent of all bikes come with Shimano gearing & shifters now-a-days. However, there are varying degrees Shimano components from good down to bad. Just as GM makes both the Chevy Cobalt & the Cadillac CTS. Which would you rather have?

Bottom line: If you're going to putt around no more than a mile from home - it's an OK bike. If you need to take a water bottle along - how are you going to do it? If you need to carry something - how are you going to do it? If you live around hills - remember the heavy steel frame?

Thx for the review. I picked the Link up today( FREE ). Mine looks like the above pic, but it does have rear eyelets on the dropout and one under the brake bridge. I didn't weigh it, but it's nowhere near 44 lbs. The thing I don't like about it is no water bottle eyelets. But I have an adapter for putting it anywhere it like.

It might not be the best choice, but it was free. I will post pics tomorrow. I plan on removing the front shock, suspension seatpost and saddle.

This is the Schwinn Link Comfort bike from Wal-Mart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Men-s-Schwinn-Link-Comfort-Bike/13398151

This one does have water bottle eylets.

Can't beat free, that's for sure.

I purchased a Link from Walmart 2 months ago until a friend told me if i wanted to get into cycling seriously I need to purchase from LBS. The week I rode the Link it did well. It very comfortable not very fast and a little on the heavy side. Overall good bike for recreation under 10 mile rides.

I bought a Schwinn S25 at a pawn shop. This is a FS MTB that was under $200 new -- in other words total garbage that couldn't possibly make it more than 75 miles from Wal-Mart without falling apart totally. It was well-used when I bought it as a spare bike for anybody who wanted to ride with us from my shop but didn't bring a bike. Oddly enough. I found myself liking it and I put 1000 miles on it with no problems. Some department store bikes are totally serviceable -- just a little heavy. This bike had similar gear to an older Trek FS MTB I used to have and was of comparable weight and general quality. There ARE truly worthless department store bikes -- typically they carry a "Huffy" emblem -- but not all are unmitigated junk by any means.

The Schwinn under discussion has a SHIPPING WEIGHT of 45 lbs, so probably the bike itself weighs about 35. That's what both of my Schwinns -- the S25 and a hybrid -- weigh. Its also what a Giant I bought from an employee weighed before I took the running gear and wheels etc. off it and put them on an E-Bay CF frame.

Don in Austin