Product Description:Bicycling Magazine, June 2006, named "Editor's Choice" for best recreational road bike. "Schwinn's Fastback Pro perfectly splits the difference between our other 00 - 00 picks. With its N'Litened aluminum frame for airiness and power transfer, and carbon stays for comfort, a 10-speed Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with Truvativ Rouleur carbon cranks and Mavic Askium wheels, the 18.2-pound Schwinn was proclaimed 'racy without feeling chattery,' and 'aggressive and zippy when pushed, yet absorbent enough of sting to be all-day worthy' by our testers. Our decision was confirmed on our curviest, climbiest day when, coming out of Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky mesa, the Fastback kept pace admirably with our Dream Bike fleet."
Bicycling Magazine, April 2006 - "A REFINED FRAME AND A GREAT-PERFORMING SHIMANO ULTEGRA DRIVETRAIN. The whip-quick handling will let you feel at home in any pack, yet the carbon stays eat enough road buzz to make this a true all-day bike, and one of our favorites."
Cykemotion (Denmark) - "For the price you are getting a great driving machine with good and predictable steering packed in a beautiful, but conservative designed frame with a superb finish. The choice of component is reasonable and will ensure long lasting riding pleasure. It is a bike that will feel good and secure for a new beginner and will not disappoint any more experienced rider."
Amazon.com Product Description:A June 2006 "editor's choice" for best recreational road bike from
Bicycling Magazine, the Schwinn Fastback pro adult road bike combines world-class performance with an elegant, streamlined frame. The bike is distinguished by a smooth-welded N'Litened Platinum Label super-butted aluminum frame that's lightweight and strong, with superior fatigue failure resistance. The Schwinn Reflex CF-1 carbon fiber fork, meanwhile, is the lightest fork in Schwinn's arsenal, with excellent torsional strength. And riders will love the Shimano Ultegra 10 drivetrain, which couples a TruVativ Rouleur Carbon two-piece crankset with an 11/23T cassette to produce wide-range gearing. Other details include Mavic's Aksium wheelset, a Ritchey Pro oversize bar/stem combo, a Schwinn Reflex SP-1 carbon seat post, and a Fizik Airione leather saddle.
Specifications:
- Frame: Schwinn super-butted N'Litened Platinum Label smooth-welded aluminum, with Reflex carbon fiber seat stays, redesigned carbon chainstays, race geometry, IS standard integrated head tube, forged dropouts with replaceable hanger, and 2 water bottle bosses
- Fork: Schwinn Reflex CF-1 carbon fiber blades with 1-1/8-inch carbon fiber steerer and forged dropouts
- Crankset: TruVativ Carbon Rouleur, 50-36 7075 alloy compact drive
- Bottom bracket: TruVativ Giga X-Drive with external bearings
- Front derailleur: Shimano New Ultegra 10-speed, 34.9mm diameter
- Rear derailleur: Shimano New Ultegra 10-speed
- Shifters: Shimano New Ultegra STI 10 speed
- Freewheel: Shimano New Ultegra 10-speed, 11-23
- Chain: Shimano CN-6600 10-speed
- Rims: Mavic Aksium complete wheelset
- Tires: Vittoria Rubino Pro 120 TPI, 700 x 23C, Kevlar bead
- Front hub: Mavic Aksium complete wheelset
- Rear hub: Mavic Aksium complete wheelset
- Spokes: Mavic Aksium complete wheelset
- Nipples: Mavic Aksium complete wheelset
- Front brake: Shimano New Ultegra
- Rear brake: Shimano New Ultegra
- Brake levers: Shimano New Ultegra STI 10-speed
- Handlebar: Ritchey Pro 31.8 butted alloy, width to suit frame size
- Stem: Ritchey Pro 31.8 3D, forged with 4-bolt stem cap
- Grips: Schwinn gel tape with embossed star logo
- Headset: Cane Creek IS-2 integrated cartridge bearing Aheadset
- Saddle: Fizik Airione extra-long black suede leather
- Seat post: Schwinn Reflex carbon fiber with forged micro-adjust head, 31.6 x 350mm
- Seat clamp: Schwinn forged CNC with Cr-Mo allen bolt
About Schwinn
Founded in 1895, Schwinn is an American icon that has been synonymous with quality and innovation. They have built some of the best-known and best loved bikes of numerous generations--Aerocycle, Paramount, Phantom, Varsity, Sting-Ray, Krate and Homegrown. Today, Schwinn continues to be a leader in the industry with innovative bikes such as the new Sting-Ray, Rocket mountain bikes, and Fastback road bikes. With a continued dedication to quality, forever synonymous with the Schwinn name, America's most famous bicycle brand looks forward to providing another century of innovation, freedom and performance to people of all ages.
Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:
The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:
- Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels, and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
- Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing, and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
- Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.
The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.
- Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
- Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
- High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultralightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.
The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:
- Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
- Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half, and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
- Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.
The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:
- Helmet (this is a must!)
- Seat pack
- Lock
- Hydration pack, or water bottle and bottle cage
- Spare tubes
- Portable bike pump
- Gloves
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