The bike looked like it had been sitting around unused for quite a while but was in excellent condition for its age. The frame also offers plenty of braze-ons for mounting racks, fenders, water bottle cages, and other accessories. For example, there are two eyelets on both the rear dropouts and ends of the fork blades. This allows you to mount both racks and fenders at the same time. These allow for a greater range of front rack options, such as lowrider racks. A common feature of Schwinn mountain bikes is their simple yet ergonomic design.
There’s also a nut or something inside my test frame that rattles and rolls like a penny in a jar whenever the bike is moved. Everything on the bike appears to be secure, so perhaps it’s just an extra part or some welding slag that ended up inside the frame. My test bike arrived in a shipping box almost fully assembled. I only needed to attach the front wheel and handlebars, and screw on a set of pedals. This can be a deterrent for some consumers, but it is important to remember that you get what you pay for. Schwinn bikes are a quality product that is worth the investment.
The Chromoly steel frame, in particular, is of excellent quality. Besides the suspension types mentioned, each bike is tailor-fitted with schwinn mountain bicycles features, such as frame sizes, wheel diameters, and brake style. Schwinn mountain bikes are probably some of the best entry-level bikes.
It will cost about $440 (shifters, cables, derailleurs, crank, BB, cassette, chain and rear wheel) plus labour – and the chain is very worn now. I mongoose bmx replaced the chain and greased the bottom bracket and hubs. I also used a spoke wrench to make some minor tweaks to the wheels to true them up.
Made for off-road adventures, the Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 features a versatile 3 x 8 drivetrain and the solid stopping power of hydraulic disc brakes, giving new riders the perfect amount of control. As mentioned earlier, many riders buy vintage mountain bikes such as the Schwinn High Sierra and convert them into something else. For example, the Schwinn High Sierra makes an excellent touring bike, gravel bike, commuter bike, grocery-getter, or poor weather bike. None of Schwinn’s mountain bikes are made for professional or serious hobbyists who want to go off-road on a regular basis.
Another great feature of the Schwinn Mountain Bike S29 Men’s is the 21-speed shifters with derailleurs. These allow you to choose from a wide range of gears, so you can easily adjust your speed and power to match the terrain. The elliptical chainrings are designed to make it easier to peddle in a higher gear so you can supply more power to the rear wheel and ride more efficiently. Due to the elliptical shape, the radius of the Biopace chainrings changes as you peddle. This effectively changes the gear ratio as you peddle. When the smaller radius section engages with the chain, pedaling becomes easier.
Roller cam brakes work similarly to center pull brakes. The main difference is that roller cam brakes use a triangle-shaped cam instead of a transverse cable. When you squeeze the brake lever, the cam is pulled away from the bike wheel. The rollers, which are mounted on the ends of the brake arms, roll down the sides of the triangular cam, forcing them away from one another. The brake pads, which are mounted to the opposite side of the brake arms, move together and squeeze the rim to apply braking force.
Drivetrains on bikes at this price point tend to be a disappointment, requiring constant tweaking to keep them running smoothly. I tested an earlier version of the Axum last year and was never able to get the bike to shift correctly due to a maxed-out B-screw caused by a weak derailleur part. This bike uses the same AXS drivetrain, though fortunately this time I haven’t had any problems. I found the bike pedals and shifts well enough for 20-mile+ rides. Schwinn has been in business for over 100 years and has built up a solid reputation over that time.