What are your requirements for the best cheap hybrid bike for women?
If you’re looking for a wide range of gears, 700c wheels with quick-release, disc brakes, and lightweight frame, then the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport hybrid bike is for you. This article will walk you through its various features, upsides, and downsides.
Table of Contents
Features and Specifications
Aluminum Dual-Sport Frame
The aluminum frame of the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport is in Baby blue. The Schwinn GTX 1.0 Men’s Dual Sport Bicycle and GTX 2 share the same dual-sport frame design with a sloping top tube. This puts riders in a comfortable riding position, while allowing easy mounting and dismounting.
The size of the frame is 17 inches. By factoring in the size of the frame and wheels, this bike could accommodate riders who are around 5’4” to 6’2” tall and weigh up to 250 pounds (maximum weight limit).
21-Speed Gears with Trigger Shifters
The GTX 2 offers a wide range of gearing to help you tackle different terrains with a simple pull or push of a lever. Having a 21-speed gear system might be an overkill for riding on flat roads, but it’s a great help when you’re climbing up hills and other tricky terrains. The front suspension will take care of the bumps and cracks in the road.
Mechanical Disc Brakes
Schwinn went for mechanical disc brakes for this model instead of rim brakes, just like what the Schwinn Network 3.0 700C Men’s Hybrid Bicycle has. Disc brakes offer a lot of advantages to commuters and winter rides, particularly consistent and reliable stopping power, even in wet weather.
Note: The right handlebar controls the rear disc brake and rear derailleur, while the left handlebar controls the front disc brake and front derailleur.
Schwinn Multi-Use Tires
The tires that come with the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport hybrid bike measures 28 by 1.4 (width) inches. These narrow tires are not suited for soft and harsh off-road terrains, but their smooth tread pattern lets you cruise effortlessly around the city.
They’re fitted on light 700c (around 28 inches) wheels with high profile, alloy rims. These allow you to travel faster, have better bike control, and more comfortable rides.
Technical Details
- Overall dimensions (H x L): 43 x 70 inches
- Bike weight: 38.8 pounds
- Wheel diameter (rear): 28 inches (700c)
- Standover height: 30 inches
- Chain material: Steel
- Frame size and material: 17 inches aluminum, dual-sport frame
- Pedals material: Plastic
- Rims material: Metal alloy
- Tires (smooth): 1.4 inches wide
- Maximum load capacity: 250 pounds
- Assembly information: Tools not included
The Good
Seat is Comfortable
The Schwinn GTX 2 offers a comfortable ride, mostly because of its comfortable seat. The front suspension does a good job of eliminating bumps and shallow potholes well. You might not even need a padded short to disperse road vibrations and prevent chafing and rashes.
Great for Short Trips
If you travel more than 30 miles a day, the Schwinn GTX 2 isn’t best for you. It’s a great commuter hybrid bike that’s designed for short-distance trips, probably around 20 to 30 miles a day.
This isn’t built for traveling through extremely rough roads or soft grounds because of its heavy weight and narrow tires. (It’s heavier than the standard road bike, which weighs 17.5 pounds on average.) You may probably get away riding this on desire paths, grassy bike trails, and some light, unpaved roads.
Good for the Price
There are definitely better hybrid bikes on the market, but they’re going to cost three or four times the amount of the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport. Some of them don’t offer features that this bike does for the average commuter cyclists.
Light and nimble in traffic, the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport is the perfect commuter bike for daily use. Click here to get it.
The Bad
Saddle Too Far Back
The saddle is positioned too low and too far back. And, you can’t really adjust the seat post or the saddle.
When the saddle is angled towards the back, your arms and hands will bear too much load. As a result, you’re going to strain your arms and hands.
Another problem that comes with a saddle that’s positioned too far back is it’s almost impossible to push the pedals with power and control. You might find yourself having a hard time maintaining balance, too.
Needs Professional Assembly and Tune Up
If you’re handy, knowledgeable about bicycles, and patient, you’d probably can do this yourself. If you’re not, you’re better off paying your local bike mechanic for the expert assembly.
Although this hybrid bike is already 90% assembled, you still need to fine tune almost everything to make it road worthy. For instance, adjusting the rear wheel might be difficult for beginners or first-time users of this hybrid bike model.
Poor Quality Freewheel
For those who don’t know, a freewheel bike allows you to coast, so you can rest your legs whenever you want. The problem is the freewheel mechanism installed on this bike is of poor quality.
If you’re a city commuter who’s willing to downgrade to a single-speed bike, the Retrospec Venus Dutch Step-Thru City Comfort Hybrid Bike is a good option. It’s a single-speed, female-specific bike with a freewheel mechanism.
Who Is It For?
Have you been searching for days or weeks for a hybrid bike with 21 speeds, front shocks, and disc brakes for less than $500? The Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport hybrid bike could be what you’re looking for.
The GTX 2 is more for people who want to get into shape or cycle to work, around their campus or neighborhood, paved trails, or wherever—as long as it’s a trip that’s less than 30 miles—this is probably the best value that anyone can find.
Conclusion
The Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport satisfied most of people’s requirements for an entry-level, multiple-geared, hybrid bike. For the price, you can’t really complain about its performance and the quality of its components. The seat is really comfortable. The brakes will stop the bike on a dime. Gear shifting is a non-issue.
Putting this together and fine tuning it might pose a problem for some people, especially beginners. However, it’s something that can be easily solved.
Overall, the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport is worth the consideration.
Whether you’re a beginner rider or a retiree who wants to get into shape, the Schwinn GTX 2 Women’s Dual Sport will fit your needs perfectly. Click here to get yours today.