Vilano Shadow 3.0 Road Bike with Integrated Shifters
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I'm 5'8" and I'm wearing a 53cm dress. It fits perfectly, but I would have chosen the 49cm if I wanted a higher seat and a longer drop from the seat to the handlebars. As a result, if you're 5'6", I'd suggest the 49cm.
20 inches
The weight is approximately 23 lbs.
Selected User Reviews For Vilano Shadow 3.0 Road Bike with Integrated Shifters
$569 plus $20 for shipping, $50 for tax (CA), $90 for fine tuning and truing up the wheels (which were not straight when shipped) and I have a $730 bike, which is about $350 more than a bike of this quality is worth. It would be far more worthwhile of your time. br>br>2- 4 hours to learn about Bike Group Sets (the components that make up a bike) and find a lightly used, high-quality bike for under $400 on CL, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace. br>br>I regret doing all of this research after purchasing the bike. Even after setting up the Vilano bike and getting it ready to ride, I find myself reaching for my 40-year-old, high-quality road bike. br>br>I can't recall the last time I had this much buyer's remorse.
It's not too difficult to put together. br>Over the weekend, I went for a 30-mile bike ride, which felt great. It's a little heavy for a road bike, weighing just under 25 pounds compared to the average road bike's 18 pounds. br>I'm looking forward to taking this bike on longer rides so that I can report back with more information. br>This is my first road bike, so I'm not an expert, but I've been riding on two wheels for a long time, and it took some getting used to, but I enjoyed my ride.
I'm 53 years old and I absolutely adore the bike. It cost $449 to buy. People who compare bikes like this (under $500) to bikes that cost $1,000-$2,000 irritate me. 5,000. They had better be set up professionally for those prices. The front wheel had to be trued, which took about 25 minutes. My first attempt on a $60 truing machine took 30 minutes; the next time will probably take half that time, and I'll be able to true it myself whenever it's needed. The most difficult part is remembering that tightening and loosening the spokes appears to be done backwards. The rear wheel was nearly perfect, though I did have to adjust the derailleurs, which I despise doing. It took a while for me to notice that the front derailleur has trim, which is useful for reducing chain rub caused by the derailleur cage. Its lack of disc brakes has been a source of contention for some. Caliper brakes have been used on bicycles since their invention, with few brake failures. So far, the braking has been both safe and consistent. These comments are explained by audiophiles who believe that if you don't use cutting-edge technology or items that cost a lot of money, your speakers, cables, and other equipment are junk. After adjusting them, shifting was a breeze. I still need to tweak the low and high speed limits, but not to the point where I feel compelled to do so. I'm guessing that the complaints about shifting in the reviews haven't been addressed at all. The rest of the equipment appears to be well-made, and I'm guessing it's far better than a $200 bike; the only minor annoyance is that it doesn't come with a kickstand, which is only $16 at Dick's Sporting Goods or Amazon, but it's a minor annoyance. It must be a side mounted one that attaches to the rear frame, which is still very common, rather than one that bolts to the underside of the frame. br>br>In conclusion, while it may appear that I am a seasoned cyclist from the above, I am not. The truing, derailleur adjusting, and other tasks were completed with the help of a mountain bike maintenance book, online research, and about 45 minutes to an hour of time. I've only walked 20 miles in two days, but I'm very pleased with my purchase. The bike is extremely light, with a sharp finish. I don't usually talk about packing, but the box was damaged (by UPS), but the bike was not. When I opened it in front of the UPS driver, he complimented me on how well it was packed, saying it was better than most bikes he'd delivered. I'm now able to put the remaining $500 towards something else. If you don't mind doing some research and waiting an extra day or two, I believe you will be very happy with this bike. br>br>One final note. This is a 14-speed bicycle designed for use on the road. It is not suitable for use on trails or in the presence of gravel. That is something I do on my mountain bike. I was initially concerned because it lacked 21 gears, and on the two occasions that I have ridden it, I have used gear 14. Except on significant downgrades where I don't want to stop pedaling, I don't think this will be an issue. I'll try to remember to keep this review updated as I ride more.
I've been meaning to write a review since Christmas, just to be certain. When we first got it, we took it to a bike shop, and it had a lot of issues. For instance, there was insufficient brake line to turn corners, and the spokes of the wheel were tight in some places but loose in others, causing the wheel to shake and wobble noticeably. Everything was fine once we put an extra $200 into the bike; it was a great ride and looked great.
So I bought this bike primarily to commute into the city (Washington, DC). It's roughly a ten-minute drive. It's a 16-mile commute that includes bike lanes, some sidewalk, and trails. If you live in the DC metro area, you're well aware of the constant state of construction, cracked roads, and bumps. br>However, this bike is ideal for me to commute in because it is good enough to make the commute easier than if I were riding a mountain bike, and it is inexpensive enough that I don't have to be overly cautious when riding it. br>br>A couple of things I didn't like were that the brakes were too tight at first and required adjustment, which was inconvenient, and that the chain would skip a lot while shifting gears, to the point where I had to take it to my local bike shop for tuning (which cost me about $45). br>br>Overall, a fantastic commuting bike.
I only use it for fitness and casual cycling because it is such a good deal for a road bike. It was easy to put together, and adjusting the seat height and handle position was a breeze. The shifters work perfectly, but I'll have it fine-tuned at a shop. On the 4th gear, big ring, the chain does rub against the chaingate a little. And shifting can be a challenge at times. The seat is comfortable, and I don't use any additional seat padding other than the chamois. I've only ridden it for about 65 miles, so I can't comment on the tires or tubes just yet. The brakes (which are weak and slow to stop, so be careful) and chainring set are the only real concerns. Even though there are only 14 gears, I already feel like top gear isn't providing enough resistance, but that could be normal. I'm used to riding a 21-speed mountain bike with plenty of top-gear resistance. Overall, I love the bike and would recommend it to anyone looking for a road bike for less than $1000.
While the bike is reasonably priced, remember that you get what you pay for. The most significant disadvantage was that I had difficulty shifting into any gear, even after having it professionally adjusted. It was difficult to shift only hills. This bike is strictly for commuting.