Reddit reviews Schwinn Volare 1400 Adult Hybrid Road Bike, 28-inch wheel, aluminum frame, Red
We found 2 Reddit comments about Schwinn Volare 1400 Adult Hybrid Road Bike, 28-inch wheel, aluminum frame, Red. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Road bike with aluminum rigid fitness frame and rigid fork. Flat styled handlebar and sport riding seat.14 speeds, Shimano rear derailleur and shifter brake lever combo will give you precise shifting. You can trust Shimano for years of smooth shifting.The alloy linear pull brakes on the front and rear mean that stopping won't be an issue and the alloy wheels with high profile rims have a look greatAluminum frame, alloy wheels, alloy crank, alloy brakes and Shimano components. A great deal that will get you out there riding and feeling more fit.Like all Schwinn bikes the Volare 1400 comes with limited lifetime warranty for as long as you own the bike.
Interesting challenge. If I had to narrow it down to one ride at that price, it’s going to come down to both how it’s set up at purchase, and how potentially upgradeable it is.
That being said, after a bit of shopping, this is my pick, at the moment:
Schwinn Volare 1400 Road Bike, 700c/28 inch wheel size, red, Fitness Bicycle, 53cm/Medium Frame Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5XTB94/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CMtXCbVDDFV54
It’s “near” the setup you’d likely eventually want. 2x up front, pretty standard 100/130 spacing for the wheels, brifter-style levers, 1 1/8 threadless forks, comes with “decent for the price” Tourney stuff for both derailleurs and the brake/shifter levers, quick releases. It’s also pretty light, at I think 25 pounds or something. The cheap Schwinns usually use pretty standard sized, and therefore easily upgradable, bottom brackets, things like that.
I’d use the rest of the $300 to replace the freewheel to something like this:
DNP Epoch Freewheel 7spd 11-28 Nickel Plated https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007A8RPUS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4ZtXCbXVFYWQK
That might get you a bit closer to a more fancy road bike’s gearing, with the 11t high gear. Past that, when you had the cash, I’m sure a change of tires, brake pads, a different seat, maybe a cheap replacement free hub wheelset would make quite a difference. Maybe a bigger chain ring. I think those Tourney front derailleurs can handle 50t.
I’m sure most people would say not to upgrade a $266 bike. But all of that doesn’t add up to much more, especially since so many are basically maintenance/wear parts anyway.
I can’t say I wouldn’t pick something else tomorrow. But if I had to put one in the cart right now for that price, that’s the best I can do.
Once you go Di2, it is very hard to go back... still, if I was in NYC, and average height I'd either get a disposable fixie (if no hills), or get a cheap-ass schwinn $260 STI bike which I wouldn't care about being stolen or rusting apart:
Thruster Fixie for $130 - https://www.amazon.com/Thruster-700C-Urban-Fixie-Bike/dp/B00GWWEZDS/
Aluminum Road w. STI/brifters & 700x28 for $266 - https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Volare-1400-Bicycle/dp/B01N5XTB94/
Otherwise, I'd be paranoid about theft.