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Schwinn is undoubtedly one of the biggest brand names within the road cycling industry today, many of their previous bikes have been regarded as some of the best around and that trend is looking likely to continue well into the future too.
The Schwinn Prelude is a 700c road bike designed to have high specifications at a low price – that sounds pretty good, right?
Schwinn Prelude 700CC Road Bike
Our Rating
PROS
- Quality 25c width tires
- Excellent value
- Gorgeous design
- Very lightweight money
CONS
- Large pedal frames
OUR VERDICT
I’ve always been a huge fan of Schwinn and all of its offerings – but never more so than today with the Prelude!
Schwinn 700c Prelude Road Bike Review
Well, there’s an awful lot more to this bike than meets the eye, it is currently seen by many as one of the finest entry-level road bikes around.
Schwinn is a brand that doesn’t release tons of different bike models each and every year, instead, they opt to perfect a single model and release it when they know it is perfect.
This is certainly the case here, the Schwinn Prelude has been designed to be suited to absolutely anybody and that is just what it is.
“Schwinn – you’ve done it again! Another top-quality road bike at an extremely cheap price, I’m impressed with this latest offering and it totally caught me by surprise!”
The most striking feature of the Prelude is the gorgeously styled 6061 aluminum frame, this is a very lightweight frame that has been meticulously designed to withstand impact, vibrations, and any other potential causes of stress damage to the bike – whilst maintaining high speeds on the road.
Schwinn has ensured this by installing light but very durable components, this is evident when analyzing the quality of road forks on the Prelude.
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These have been specifically crafted to reduce vibrations felt by the rider when they are traveling over uneven or overall poor surfaces, creating a beautiful on-road experience at all times.
Another of the fantastic features that the Schwinn Prelude has is the very rapid gear shifting capacity, this is all made possible by the highly responsive A-050 gear shifting mechanism and the 14-speed Shimano STI drive train.
The cohesion between these different elements ensures that riders are able to quickly accelerate to their top speed and more crucially, maintain this speed at all times with minimal effort.
It is as a result of this that the bike is so accessible to a range of different riders; those who ride for fun and those who are looking for some form of competitive edge.
Performance
The Schwinn Men’s Prelude, we believe, is well suited to any type of cyclist.
Why? Well, because it’s so lightweight – this is ultimately the key feature that everybody is after.
Many bikes are available for the same price or less than the Prelude, but not many are as light and as efficient as it.
To add to that, the bike is very streamlined too and it also promotes a streamlined body posture when you are cycling as well.
This dramatically reduces the wind resistance you face when you’re out on a windy day or going at a high speed.
Many people overlook this feature because it’s difficult to directly measure, but you will certainly notice it after a long cycle with tired legs.
Test Ride
Another feature that I am very happy with is the ergonomically styled handlebars on the Schwinn Prelude, many bikes – and particularly road bikes in general – seem to have poorly constructed handlebars that are awkward to hold after a long ride.
This is not the case here, the Prelude has a beautifully styled handgrip that will be perfect for hands of any shape and size.
While most of us won’t notice it on a gentle ride, it is more than evident when you find yourself on a particularly bad road.
Shimano has provided some excellent components for the Prelude, it has a Shimano STI drive train, derailleurs on the front and rear, 42/52 road crank, and some A-050 shifters too.
These all work in perfect harmony and ensure quick gear shifting with maximum reliability – no more getting stuck in between gears at awkward times.
Similarly, the KMC Z51 chain is very high quality, it comes with some spare oil and altogether this all adds up to an exquisitely smooth ride, wherever you may be.
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Specifications
Key Specifications:
- Size: 55 cm
- Wheel Size: 700c
- 14-speed drivetrain
- Schwinn Aluminum Drop Bar Road Frame
Drivetrain:
- Crank: Schwinn Approved Alloy 42/52-tooth Road
- Bottom Bracket: Sealed with Ball Bottom Bracket System
- Derailleur: Road Double
- Shifters: Shimano A050 Bar Mounted
- Chain: KMC Z-51, Black
Wheels:
- Rims: Schwinn Alloy x 36-hole
- Rim Size: 700C
- Hubs: QR Alloy 36-hole
- Spokes: 14-gram Black
- Tires: Schwinn 700 x 25c Road
Components and Extras:
- Pedals: Road with Toe Clip and Strap
- Brakes: Dual Pivot Road
- Brake Levers: Alloy Road
- Handlebar: Road Shallow Drop
- Stem: Schwinn Road Ahead
- Headset: 1 1/8-inch threadless
- Grips: Color Matched Foam Wrap
- Saddle: Schwinn Padded Road
- Seatpost: 27.2 Alloy
- Color Matched Parts
- Clear Coated Paint and Graphics
- Toe Clips and Straps
- Kickstand
To add to this, the gorgeous 700c x 25c tires are also of high quality, these are another feature that Schwinn always seems to get right and they definitely have done here too.
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They are very thin and sturdy, you will be unlikely to see these tires damaged any time soon with the anti-puncture technology implemented here.
If you are concerned about the traction on 25c width tires, don’t be – the Schwinn Prelude has an outstanding grip on the road and you will be able to attain very high speeds without any worries whatsoever.
Concluding Remarks
Above all, I think that the Schwinn Prelude is not only a stunning road bike, but it is one of the highest quality road bikes that you will be able to find for this sort of money.
I always stand by the fact that it is worth investing a little bit more for that extra bit of quality, but you really don’t need to hear – the Prelude comes complete with everything for a beginner rider, right through to a seasoned professional.
Mark Plummer
Mark Plummer is an experienced bike mechanic who has built, repaired, and customized thousands of bikes over the years. A former mountain biking athlete, his cycling adventures have taken him all over the globe from the mountains of Scotland to the South Island of New Zealand. These days he enjoys the benefits of commuting to work and touring on his Dahon and Brompton folding bikes.This free cheat sheet will help you choose a folding bike by providing quick information on the 7 key considerations when buying a foldable bicycle!
