Great Bike for the Casual Rider
598261
My fiancee and I go for bike rides most days after work, somewhere between 5-15 miles.  This is the bike that I take on these rides, and it has been great so far.  I'm going to break down my experience in a few different areas:

Setup: Pretty easy as far as bikes go, although it will likely be tougher than you think if you've never put one together before. If this process intimidates you at all, it may make sense to bring it to a bike shop for setup.  I was able to put it together with only a few missteps and tough sections.

Construction: I am not a bike expert, but once put together this bike seems solid. Shifting is easy and smooth and the brakes are responsive and easily adjustable.  I was able to mount two different waterbottles on the frame without any real difficulty.

Ride: This bike has been great so far, and this bike is very fast! The shocks help to provide a smooth ride, and the bike handles well going up and down hills. No real complaints here, I've been very satisfied.  The only thing I would mention is that the seat is not very comfortable at all, but I've never really had a bike with a comfortable seat.

Overall: I'm definitely happy with this bike purchase, it's been great for our casual cycling. If you're looking for a bike for casual after-work rides, or maybe longer ones on the weekend - then you will probably not be disappointed with this purchase.
4574090
This is a great bike for the price!  I just recently entered the cycling world with hopes of completing a triathlon.  The costs associated with triathlon gear add up quickly so I was looking for an entry level bike that had a fun paint job and wouldn't hold me back too much in weight or price.  The schwinn has answered my hopes.  I ride weekly with several others who have bikes in the $600-$1,000 price range and truthfully, I don't notice the difference between their bikes and mine. The Schwinn rides very smooth, shifts rather smooth and fits my frame great. I was concerned whether the bike would fit my size properly since road bikes come in all different sizes - I'm 5'10 with a 30" inseam and it fits great.
Read other reviews about the rims popping the tubes early on - I have about 100 miles on the bike and haven't had an issue at all.
Was also concerned that the shift tabs are on the top of the bars and not integrated into the brakes - this hasn't been a real issue either.
The pedals and baskets that come stock with it are great also.  I don't have cleats or clip-pedals and after riding awhile, may not even upgrade to those since the baskets seem to work fine.  Seat is very comfortable also.
Overall, very pleased with the bike for the price.
1614275
I recently bought this bike to ride around campus to my classes and I must say it is a great bike for anyone. It is light and simple yet very sturdy. I've received many comments on how sleek my new bike looks :D. It's a giant step up from riding a junky old mountain bike for a great price. I may not know much about bikes but I know that this thing is a great value for any entry level rider and even for you intermediate riders its a steal.
4436925
Great bike for the price, and a great choice for a beater to just commute to school with. I needed something to ride to my university that was light and fast, so I decided to go wth this. It's light enough that I don't mind carrying it up the stairs with me into my apartment. This thing goes pretty fast and it's fun to ride too. I highly recommend this company over the other bikes at this price point that I've looked at which use crappiwr materials.

Also, for those of you that are in between getting the 55 or 58 like me. I'm 5'11 and I got the 55, honestly glad I did because I barely have 1 inch of clearance over the top bar, which is perfect. I think then58 would have been way too big, the 55 feels like the right size when I ride around.
1482025
this is a nice bike..the shifters are kinda weak and not very accurate, but for everyday biking this is great! i use it to get to work/school..it's kinda heavy for a road bike, but then again you're not really paying for a top of the line bike here..it's great for the price you pay.
702049
I bought this bike from another website that had free shipping. I've had the bike for about 10 days now and I like the bike. I rode something very similar back in my early adolescence in Europe, where these types of bikes are very popular. As a few other reviewers noted, practice the folding and unfolding several times before you actually have to do it. I am lucky to get on the train here that has designated room for bikes so that is not an issue for me.
So far the rides are fine. I wish it had some kind of a shock absorption because it does get a bit bumpy and the tires are fairly wide so don't expect to develop any serious speed. I love the fact that the tires are small in diameter so it gets really quick acceleration. I have been riding in gears 4 and 5 for most of my trips so far. I took a 10 mile ride and after about mile 4, I wish I had a different saddle. I did put my old gel seat cover on the seat, but it still needs more cushioning.
I was really looking forward to the rack on the rear tire, but it cannot fit much. I don't know of any specialized baskets that would fit on there. I was not even able to put a small backpack on there. I was hoping that the clamp would hold it in place, but it is impossible without having to improvise something. I was thinking of getting a small bike cargo net and giving it my best shot. I do have a regular day hike backpack that has a chest and a waist strap so I took that with me on my commute to work. I also bought a basket from my local Target store to go on the handlebars but because this is a folding bike, I am not able to use the brackets that come with the basket to secure it; just the 2 hanging hooks and hope for the best. I have not used that yet.
All in all, I love the fact that the bike is light weight, that it does not require much additional gear (for my actual road bike I need the clothes and cycling shoes) so this is perfect for a quick grocery store trip and just a ride in the afternoon for a few miles. I like being able to ride upright and my 11 yr old son also loves riding the same bike. I am 5ft8 and the seat post still has plenty of length for someone taller.

Review Update- After owning this bike for over 6 months, it is holding up pretty well. I am yet to invest into a more cushioned, wider seat. Even with the gel seat cover, I am still feeling sore from sitting down. I wish I could utilize the rear cargo rack. The clamp part of the mechanism just does not sit far out toward the end of the rack in order to accommodate actual cargo. It sits 2/3 of the way out. So far the only thing I used it for is to take a lightweight zip up hoodie that didn't fit in my backpack.
Otherwise the bike handles well, the tires are in good condition, I don't fold it much, it is great for shorter distances. I ride it to the train stop 2 miles, then ride on the train, then get off the train and ride 3.5-4 miles. It wouldn't be comfortable for much longer than that. This is a great little bike if space is an issue as well as not really needing much extra gear like you do with road bikes (clothes/shoes). You may get tired of the feeling like you're pedaling but not getting anywhere far or fast. I still like it. It does what it is supposed to do without you having to spend much more on a fancier bike that does the same thing.
1112177
Great bike, I have put this thing on several 30-50 mile rides. I love cycling but not enough to pay a fortune for a carbon bike. To be honest the weight from a carbon bike won't be incredibly different from an aluminum bike. This bike weighs roughly 26 pounds. The only real benefit to carbon is for vibration absorption. This bike has a carbon fork on the front, so that definitely helps with the vibration. Set up was extremely easy took about 15 minutes. This bike has went through some hard rides and has held up nicely. One thing I can suggest is after assembly take to a local bike shop just to make sure it was put together correctly. In short great bike, don't waste your money on a super expensive bike. I plan on riding this bike in a century ride or two this summer.
168620
If you take this bike as it's advertised 'for everday use' then it's a little wonder.  If you want to ride trails or go off road then this isn't the bike for you.  I am not an exercise maven by any means and I weigh in at 230 lbs (just under the 242 recommended maximum pounds and I'm 6'1", five inches under the maximum height so I'm a pretty good workout for this baby I can tell you.

Right off the bat at this price you expect everything to work right right out of the box and I have to admit, except for adding some air to the tires, everything functioned smoothly from the word go.  At my size the best selling point besides the high quality components used in its manufacture, are the 24" tires.  Anything smaller and you'd feel like you're on a toy bike, but these tires give you the feeling that you're indeed riding a bicycle.

Now to how I use it.  I drive down to a local park that has cement trails throughout and unfold it and ride it for about thirty minutes in the morning (the first week more like 8 or 10 minutes before my ballast blew)  I pick times when the walkers aren't around even though the trails have bike paths  adjacent because they never heed the paths.  The bike locks into position when folded including the tires and it's very simple to unlock and unfold.  The bike is sturdy and feels extremely solid though light.  I had trouble at first balancing because it does feel different from a full sized bike and finding a riding position was a challenge but as with all things physical you eventually find the line of least resistance.  Then I ride for thirty minutes instead of walking for a hour and a half.  I fold up the bike, stow it in the hatchback and go back home.  The best part is when I have to take it out of the car at home for whatever reason it fits easily in the hall closet.

I am very pleased with the Sports Atocha and I'm very glad that Vine offered it because I have to admit I couldn't afford one this nice myself.  I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a bike for everyday use and a little exercise.  I'm over sixty and I have no problem riding it.

So if you can afford it.  I say grab it.  It's built to last.  Longer than us I'm afraid!
2090225
I just moved to a city and was tired of walking and taking unreliable public transit. I go to college about 1.5 miles from my apartment and wanted a bike to get there quicker. I knew a little bit about bikes before making the purchase. I had a 12-speed mountain bike before I bought this and I am very satisfied with the purchase.

Pros:
- Very smooth ride
- breaks work well (as long as you adjust them correctly when assembling)
- seat is comfortable after your butt gets used to it
- easy assembly (all you need is a screw driver and a set of allen wrenches)

Cons:
- I don't like the stickers
- the foot hostlers are unnecessary, but can be easily taken off

Overall, this is a great buy ( I bought it for ~180 at the time). The back tire can be flipped to have either fixed-gear or free rotating (I know there is am ore technical term, but I can't think of it at the moment). The bike is more well-suited for flat areas. It can handle incline, but it wears you out if you aren't in shape.
1683266
This bike is great for anyone looking to get into cycling, but not looking to pay the hefty price tag that comes along with buying a Trek or a Diamondback. This bike is for you if you are a casual rider with no intentions of racing. This bike is also for you if you live in a city where the climate is inconsistent and you yearly riding time is cut short by the fall and winter months. I can justify purchasing a $600 bike to ride 3-7 months of the year, but my finances may be different from other buyers.

I'm not very tall (5'8", 31" inseam) but the bike fits me fine. The bike is also very lightweight for easy portability.

As most reviews have said, its probably a good idea to change the seat, and also change the tubes before you ride to avoid getting stranded. They can be ordered pretty cheap off amazon or the can be purchased at your local walmart or target. This is the reason i took 1 star away from my review score.

Apart from those few issues this bike has been a solid purchase. I only paid $250 and have put 500+ miles on the bike in 4 months. I'm hoping to move to SoCal in a few months and this bike will become my part-time commuter. Most importantly, this bike let me get into the sport of cycling at a low cost. The price allowed me make sure i was ready to invest my time into cycling, without making a $500 investment.

Also ignore the 1 star reviews on this bike. Most of those reviews have issues with amazon's shipping and not the bike. Specifically ignore the 1 star review from Old Hippie. His review is terrible. He doesn't even own the bike.
2507843
I just got this bike and so far so good. It took me about 30 minutes to assemble. The back wheel was already set up on the fixed gear side and I flipped it to start with the single speed side.

I'm not a bike expert and don't consider myself a cyclist so I didn't care about top notch components. If I want better components, I will upgrade in the future. It's a great starter bike for anyone who wants a fixie and something low maintenance.
519418
I bought this bike used and a bit banged up, but it has been pretty reliable. I commute by bicycle, putting in 12-24 miles every day of the week. The frame is steel so it's solid, but the stock wheels are a bit flimsy so with this amount of use I've managed to warp them beyond being able to use the brakes. I took them to get trued but they were too far gone so now I'm debating whether to get new wheels or to just buy another Admiral (same cost). Overall it's one of the better bikes I've owned, though I've never sprung for a very high quality bike. It's a very comfortable ride, easily being used as an upright sitting cruiser or pushed pretty hard on faster roads. Being steel, it's a bit heavy, so if you don't mind that, I'd say it's one of the better cruiser-style bikes available. I also get lots of compliments on its looks. Thumbs up.
4461621
I bought this bike after carefully reading the reviews of this and similar bikes.  It took forever to put together (though I was doing it myself).  The bar that holds the butt and back cushions seems to wobble as does the handle bars on the sides.  I'm not sure if that can be fixed.  It has several "height" positions and I love that about it, it ensures a perfect fit for me instead of the general population.  I also has several resistance settings, and I think that'll come in handy as I use it more.  It is extremely quite which means I can use it during my son's naptime and while everyone is asleep without fear I'll wake anybody up.  Because it has a back rest, it is easier on my back than most regular exercise bikes and because it sits lower to the ground it is easier on my knees.  I love the side handle bars, they provide a feeling of stability.  The seat and back rest is VERY comfortable, meaning I can put in a movie and pedal away without my rear going numb halfway through the movie, the butt cushion is very generous in size! One of the biggest downsides is the size.  This is not a good bike if you do not have alot of room to store it.  My other bike was very compact and was simple to move out of the way into a corner of the room or closet, I cannot do that with this one, but that's also a good thing in a way, if its out in the open and I'm tripping over it, there's more chance I'll use it :)
All-in-all, this is a very good value for the price.
3924779
This bike is fun to ride and looks great.  The bike came mostly assembled and was packaged very well.  My wife and I put it together and once it was ready it looked like it needed to be on a showroom floor because of the beauty of the bike.  We took it to a local bike shop to get the gears more fine tuned that I could and then we took it out for a spin.  It rides very well and with the 21 speeds, the hills and flats are definitely not as hard.  The gears shift smoothly and the brakes will stop you quick.  I definitely recommend this bike to anybody.
2707397
I have recently started riding again, after taking the last 25 years off due to laziness.  I am living a healthier lifestyle, and bike riding has become a very large part of it.  I had a mountain bike that I purchased from Walmart, but didn't like the handlebars, and the rugged mountain tires would not let me go as fast as I wanted on the country roads that I ride on.  I read the reviews, and decided on the Schwinn Men's Prelude.  I know the ins and outs of bicylces, so I felt it was easy to assemble.  It has a very smooth ride, and after a few rides and a few adjustments, got the bike to work very well for me.  It has a good balance, comfortable seat, and cushioned handlebar tape.

I've seen other reviews talk about how they got flat tires after running over rocks.  I have not had that trouble.  I live in a small town, therefore I travel on roads that are sealed each year with tar and rock, and have not run into any problems so far.

My only drawbacks are that the brakes are not placed in a position to access quickly if you are not riding in the racing position, and the bolt that tightens the shifter wire above the high gear derailluer snapped when I tried to tighten it.

Also, be very careful when transporting, due to the high pressure of the tires, they are very fragile when rubbing up against other items.  Caused a flat quite easily.

All things considered, I am very satisfied with this bike, and am looking forward to hundreds, if not thousand of miles of enjoyment in the future.  Happy riding!
757712
Got this bike just over a month ago, and so far it's been fantastic. It did take about 2 hours for me to assemble by myself, but the instructions were straightforward enough, and once assembled, the bike is very sturdy and stable.

For me, the best feature is the fact that it rarely squeaks and makes virtually no sound, which is great if you live in an apartment and like to ride later at night. It's good to know i won't be annoying anyone.

Overall i like the computer and the display, although it could be a little easier to set up a custom program. It's nice to see how fast you're going and how many calories you're burning.

Te seat isn't the most comfortable after awhile, but it's an exercise bike, not a recliner. For exercise purposes, it's fine.

One minor note: the front handlebars can come loose a bit easily if you hold them a lot, just keep the allen wrench they give you handy for occasional tightening.

It can really provide a terrific workout. I started in the lower levels, and in a month i've advanced to almost the highest levels, and have lost quite a bit of weight. There's also many pre-programmed routines, so even if you reach the bike's toughest resistance levels, you'll always have plenty of workout options.

This bike provides an easy to do workout that you can do in your own place and not make excuses to avoid it. Just stick the bike in front of a TV, and go for 40-60 minutes. Before you know it you're done and you've burned a few hundred calories. Can't recommend this enough.
4364249
Awesome and capable bike with surprisingly good quality components for the price.