I've owned a bikesdirect Windsor Kensington 8 for a year and a half and I think it's a great value. I've been more than satisfied with it. It's fun to ride and, for the most part, I feel the components are of similar quality to a Linus or Public bike (certainly all of the "branded" components like the Shimano hub are the same). I test-rode the Linus Mixte 8, the Electra Ticino, and the Breezer Uptown before taking the plunge to buy the Kensington 8. I haven't had any problems with it at all. I've been riding it more frequently lately instead of my Workcycles Fr8, as my daughter is riding more often on her own bike, so I only need a "one-child" bike. I've used it to haul both a trail-a-bike and a trailer and been impressed with its stability. I've also taken it on long 20-30 mile rides, usually with my son in his Bobike mini seat in the front. It's hard to find hills in Sacramento, but I've also taken it to San Francisco and was able to get up all but the steepest hills (again with a 30 lb 3 year old perched on my handlebars). If I lived in a particularly hilly city, I'd probably have a lower "lowest" gear put on. That's the "good"; the "bad" and "ugly" about the bike would be: (1) while the paint looked beautiful when I got it, it scratches very easily; only the red color was available in the size I needed when I got it, maybe the paint scratches wouldn't show as much in a different color; (2) the fenders are pretty chintzy; (3) the stock brake pads should probably be replaced if you're going to ride a lot in hilly terrain, they don't seem very "grippy" to me; and (4) the front rack should be slightly longer to better fit panniers--I can fit panniers with the Ortlieb system on the rack, but with any other panniers, the hooks are too far apart (this is a really minor complaint).