teachmichigan

I'm trying to replace an old bike. I've looked at both Schwinn and Raleigh hybrids. They're similar in price, but I'm wondering how they rate performance wise? Is one better than the other? Have you heard any negatives about either one? My previous bike was a Schwinn and I had absolutely no trouble with it. Hope you can give me some advice so I can make my decision soon. Thanks!

gabiker

I have a Schwinn and for the money it has been fine. Schwinn recently went Bankrupt and sold to Pacific bikes which sells to Wally world and others. Don't know what this will do for there quality and it will probably not affect the bikes the sell to bike shops, however they are going to sell a lower end to Wally world and others.

Don't know much about Raleigh other than i bought one for my daughter about 8 years ago and it was a good bike so you probably won't go wrong with either one.

Before you make up your mind I would look at the Trek and Specialized line though. Both of them make great bikes and have a nice line of hybrids.

Hope I didn't make your decision harder.

Walter

Raleigh is owned by a company called Derby which also owns the Univega name though they've dropped Univega production. Raleigh has a line of quality roadbikes called "Heritage" that look really nice. They also ring the nostalgia bell as they use many of the model names from Raleigh's past. Bikes are TIG welded together here in the US too if that's a consideration. I would imagine lower-line Raleighs are mass assembled in Taiwan like everything else.

"Raleigh v. Schwinn" was a dilemma faced by many when looking for a quality bike a generation ago. Nowadays it's a non-issue. "Schwinn" is a name stuck on Huffy quality bikes wheras Raleigh, though no longer English, has maintained some integrity.

No real choice IMO unless you're looking at left-over Schwinn models your LBS might have.

Rich Clark

Generally, all of the lower-priced hybrids ($200-400) that you find in bike shops are very comparable. Decent aluminum frames from Taiwan, comparable mixes of Shimano and SRAM parts, machine-built wheels, etc.

What distinguishes them is fit, first of all (although hybrids are designed for a wide range of adjustability), but most importantly the shop that sells them.

When you buy a bike of this type, the most important component is the service you get from the shop. A good shop will not let you buy a frame that's too big or too small and "make it fit" by adjusting it to extremes. A good shop will explain the nuances of fitting so that you won't change things later out of ignorance. A good shop will demonstrate every feature of the bike, including shifting, the operation of quick-releases, tire and chain maintenance. A good shop will offer a free 30-day tune-up and probably at least one more free tune-up down the line -- but will always be there to make minor adjustments and answer your questions without condescending or making you feel stupid.

That is what you should be shopping for: a good shop. Find that, and you can confidently choose any of the major brands (Trek, Raleigh, Specialized, Bianchi, Jamis, Fuji, Giant, Cannondale... who did I miss?) they might sell, based on fit and feel.

I can't emphasize fit enough. Bikes go unridden because they don't fit, and improper fit makes them uncomfortable or even painful to ride. The ability to fit a bike to the rider is one of the main things that distinguishes bike shops from mass merchandisers, and bike shops that don't spotlight this are doing the entire sport a disservice, in my opinion.

As noted, Schwinn has gone bankrupt. "New old stock" Schwinns are sold without a manufacturer's warranty, which means if the frame breaks (and frames do break, although rarely on good hybrids that are ridden on roads and paths) you're not covered after the store warranty runs out. Frame warranties are typically 5 years or lifetime. All the other parts on a hybrid are non-proprietary, interchangeable between bike brands, and covered by their own manufacturer's warranties.

Leftover Schwinns can be bargains if you're willing to take the gamble on the frame warranty, because they were perfectly fine bikes. But I'd be wary of a shop that wasn't upfront about the bankruptcy issue.

Oh, and Raleighs are fine, too.

RichC

teachmichigan

Thanks for the info!! Was just in at the Schwinn dealer and wasn't told about financial issues.

Will make sure to ask these questions and focus on "fit" and "Service" more than brand name! I really appreciate all of your advice!

John E

Agreed! Your top consideration should be FIT. This applies for bike frames, shoes, helmets, etc. Unless you do all of your own work, the next consideration is your rapport with your LBS mechanic and your faith in their operation.