dddd

I have by now spent a good many hours tinkering with this 27.5-plus bike, but all of the parts came out of my stash.

loky1179

I saw a similar bike at Costco a couple weeks ago - I can't even remember the brand, but it was $169. It was a commuter set up with fenders and a rear rack. Can't remember all the specs, but it had a 3 piece crank and alloy rims.

The fenders and the rack alone would set you back $60, were you to buy them separately. I thought it was a heck of a deal.

exmechanic89

I agree. These bikes are much better quality than what was low-end in the 70's and 80's, which really was mostly unrideable garbage. I think modern manufacturing techniques and cheap Chinese labor have really upped the game of cheaper bikes. 'Cyclists' seem to forget that many people just want something basic to ride around on, they dont need everything as lightweight as possible and with dozens of gears. And I'm not sure why some of the posters here think you'd have to replace all the components, even the low end stuff these days works reasonably well.

dddd

The parts cause problems! Makes the bike unpleasant to ride. BB bearings last maybe weeks or months, require constant readjustment.
Shifters on mine were essentially "fake" shifters. Would have been much better with friction.
Suspension components on these bikes can be especially bad, though my fork only needed two rebuilds so far, in 3-4 weeks, so not as bad as some.
The disk brake pads are screechy beyond belief as well.

SkyDog75

Coincidentally, I've looking for a mixte for my younger daughter and stumbled across this Walmart Schwinn last week. She's pretty much outgrown her 20" banana seat bike and a classic mixte would be just her style -- something upright and relaxed to cruise around the neighborhood or head to the park. I haven't found anything reasonable via Craigslist or other means, so I've been tempted by this Schwinn so she'll have something she's excited to ride when pleasant spring weather arrives.

My local Walmart doesn't have any, but the next nearest one does and I may sneak over there to check one out. I think I know what component levels to expect, but I'm curious about the weight.

alfonsejr

In the Q&A, a "Schwinn rep" responded that weight is 40 lbs. I was curious as well.

CuttersRidge

That sounds like the truth, here this Schwinn's woman's bike weighs 44 lbs.

Schwinn Women's Gateway 28" 700c Hybrid Bike - C... : Target

CliffordK

You could bring a scale. 40 or 44 lbs may be shipping weight, but I wouldn't be surprised if the bikes are well over 30.

Fahrenheit531 

Hmmmmm, no C, no V... I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.
Off to the Classic & Vintage forum now!

Velognome 

When did Mixte frames stop being a classic design? I'll give you the "not vintage" but since we post Rivs, Somas and the the like.

exmechanic89

I was talking about basic bikes for simple transportation - not something as complex as a suspension & disc brake type of bike, which simply cant be done well on the cheap. I realize I didnt specify that in my reply though.

dddd

In recent years, with used-bike purchases, I've had pretty good luck flipping the plentiful Target-Schwinn mtb's, but water intrusion into the forks often makes for extra work. They can be enjoyable to ride, but only come in what I would call the "medium" size. Department stores often offer a larger frame size on the 29"-wheel models.

I just got back from a good ride on my Mongoose Hondo 27.5+, and for the first time the bike needed no attention at all after an hour of technical singletrack. I am really liking the soft tires, which somewhat make up for the ungodly heft and un-damped suspension. The brakes continue to improve slightly. I will mostly stick to solo rides, so won't have to suffer trying to hold pace with riders on good bikes. I was riding through steep, deeply-trenched trails and couldn't believe the traction against the "walls" of these trails! The game here is to not put a foot down, speed is not what riding this bike is about. I have started lifting weights to better control this monster.
I will add a rear rack on the seatpost. There are no "eyelets" to use. The weight of the rack and lock plus repair kit should really improve climbing traction, since the chainstays are on the long side. I like to hit the stores along my return-ride home, so a stout lock will be a welcome addition.
So far, lots of square-edged rocks crossed, and no pinch flats at 17psi.
I am holding my breath that the now-shielded fork will continue operating smoothly for a good while, since there are no inexpensive replacement forks yet available for aftermarket purchase in this 27.5+ size.

mainstreetexile 

I might be losing my gourd, but this actually looks pretty good for the price. Steel frame, canti mounts / v-brakes, alloy 700c rims, rack, fenders, usable upright bars..

This is probably a better buy for a townie bike than buying a similar gas-pipe 70s steel-rimmed mixte and then doing a conversion, as long as people assume it still needs to be actually put together correctly and tuned up after buying it.

I wonder if the bottom bracket shell is a standard size to swap on another bb and a nicer crank, since that crankset probably weighs as much as the frame..

SkyDog75

It's a standard size, but the standard is Ashtabula. It can be adapted to English using what BMXers call an "American to Euro" adapter.

Bikedued

Probably is. I worked on one of these a few months before I left the bike shop. Dismal quality wheels. The kind of wheels that while you are truing them, you get almost there and the last spoke you plan to turn causes the wheel to go completely out of true again with a loud plink noise. Save your money, everything on these bikes is dismal quality to match the wheels.,,,,BD

RobbieTunes

On one hand, it's heavy and perhaps low quality, but it's cheap and can be maintained/prevented, so to speak.
On the other hand, the Electra Townie is the best-selling bike in America. Go figure.

CliffordK

As good as the average high-ten steel Mixte bike from the 70's.

But, even back then, there were a few companies or models that were a butted Vitus, Reynolds 531, Columbus, or otherwise lightweight chromoly steel.

It all depends on one's goals.

My Mongoose that I used as part of my Frankenbike came with a Shimano RD-TZ31 rear derailleur. The whole thing was loose, and I just wasn't impressed with the build quality. One can just go too cheap.

Bikedued

Yeah if you buy a bike, strip everything off of it, and reinstall on this frame, you still have a wally world bike. ,,,,BD

CuttersRidge

Amazon reviews for the Schwinn Admiral: https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Admira...ews/B00FITMX94

Note, amazon sells this, 1 remaining for $379 dollars but I see at least 1 review where it is stated, they got the bicycle at walmart. So, maybe worth adding into the research.

jetboy 

I wonder how it stacks up to the linus-

City bikes, vintage bicycles, european bicycles, retro bikes, linus bike, commuter bikes, vintage bikes, city bikes, european bikes, retro bicycles, commuter bicycles, mixte - Linus Bike

SloButWide 

The Linus is three times the price; it might be three times as good, but you'd be hard pressed to explain that to the typical Walmart shopper. And I'm not sure they're wrong - what percentage of bikes sold by Walmart for adults get ridden more than 100 miles a year? Walmart specializes in "good enough, for the (lowest) price" and they know that niche very, very well.

jetboy 

so they specialize in selling stuff to people who won't actually use it. The american dream!

Bikedued

Hell I doubt if any wally bike sees 100 miles in it's lifetime. Riding a bike is too hard.,,,,BD

FrenchFit 

I have two nice Mixtes, a vintage, lightweight Benotto and an Electra Ticino 20D. I think the disconnect in talking about weight and quality is most users are going to load them up with baskets and bags and use them to cruise the bike path at 12mph. Maybe change gears once of twice during the ride. Hence, the 10 speed cassette & double crank on my wife's Mixte is overkill for most, and although the Benotto is a rocket my daughter is not joining a roadie B group ride anytime soon.

That Walmart bike makes a lot of sense to me. I recall the windsurfing industry blowing up because everything got too technical, too state of the art and too damn expensive...I expect to see the same fall-out in the bike industry. But I digress...

riva

Not hard to find a 70's or 80's mixte that would be better.. But ya that does take a little research and craigslist shopping. Which non afflicted people probably don't consider happy fun time.