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Date: 11 Jun 2007 18:23:59
From: SMS
Subject: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25%
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I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
"http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
It doesn't include lights unfortunately, but it's still nice to see a
reasonably priced mass market commuter bike, in five different sizes,
with fenders, a chainguard (virtually impossible to add after-market),
and a rack (the rack has a mounting bracket for a rear light).
On June 16-17 Performance is offering 25% back to Team Performance
members. Personally I've never joined, but it's worth it if you're
buying a bike.
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Date: 25 Jun 2007 07:48:00
From:
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 11, 7:23 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com > wrote:
> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>
> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>
> It doesn't include lights unfortunately, but it's still nice to see a
> reasonably priced mass market commuter bike, in five different sizes,
> with fenders, a chainguard (virtually impossible to add after-market),
> and a rack (the rack has a mounting bracket for a rear light).
>
> On June 16-17 Performance is offering 25% back to Team Performance
> members. Personally I've never joined, but it's worth it if you're
> buying a bike.
I bought one of these and have been riding it to work (8 miles each
way). I'm actually quite pleased with the bike overall. It more
responsive and 'quicker' than I figured it would be, much more so than
my commuter-ized mtn bike. The only sore spot so far were wheels
untrue from the store or knocked out of true during my first 10-mile
ride (which I doubt). A few minutes with a spoke wrench though, and
things have been fine since. I added a basic LED light set for less
than $20 and it's perfect for what I need.
I think it was a great buy and really have nothing but good things to
say about it.
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Date: 16 Jun 2007 13:21:33
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com > writes:
> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>
> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
I ordered one of these this morning (they didn't have my size in
stock). It should come in within two weeks. I'm excited to soon
have a nicer bike for my commute.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 21:53:53
From: victor.kan@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 13, 2:27 pm, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu > wrote:
> > The problem with Performance discounts is that sometimes they're only
> > good at the store, or good only on web/phone orders (but not the in-
> > store "red phone" order line), or they don't have stuff in stock in
> > the local store, and you still have to order it and pay for shipping
> > (especially bad on "oversize" stuff like bikes).
>
> I've had good luck with them honoring web discounts in the store
> when I print out the page and bring it with me to the store.
> I've never tried it with anything priced over $100 though.
I should have written "coupons" rather than discounts. I haven't had
problems with Performance matching their web site's discount prices at
the store, but they have refused to honor both the lower web site
price AND in-store-only-coupons (like the $20 off a $50 purchase ones
I used to get a lot when they opened their new store near me) since
their policy is that you cannot combine a coupon with discount offers
(which seems to include their price match offer).
I suppose it could be the kind of thing that's at the discretion of
the guy running the register, but it seemed to be hard wired into
their computer that way.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 11:27:46
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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"victor.kan@gmail.com" <victor.kan@gmail.com > writes:
> On Jun 13, 12:23 pm, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:
>> I think I'll stop by the Redwood City Performance Bike this
>> afternoon and take a look at their inventory.
>
> I haven't seen this 25% off discount yet. I wonder if it's only in
> some markets and only at local stores, or also for the web site.
The 25% off discount is for June 16 and 17 (Sat and Sun) only.
This is according to the flyer that I received in the mail this
week.
The flyer doesn't mention it being a web discount; I assume that
it's for in-store purchase. I don't see anything about this
discount, or for that matter about the sale on the bike, on the
website.
> The problem with Performance discounts is that sometimes they're only
> good at the store, or good only on web/phone orders (but not the in-
> store "red phone" order line), or they don't have stuff in stock in
> the local store, and you still have to order it and pay for shipping
> (especially bad on "oversize" stuff like bikes).
I've had good luck with them honoring web discounts in the store
when I print out the page and bring it with me to the store.
I've never tried it with anything priced over $100 though.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 13:09:29
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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Ben Pfaff wrote:
> "victor.kan@gmail.com" <victor.kan@gmail.com> writes:
>
>> On Jun 13, 12:23 pm, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:
>>> I think I'll stop by the Redwood City Performance Bike this
>>> afternoon and take a look at their inventory.
>> I haven't seen this 25% off discount yet. I wonder if it's only in
>> some markets and only at local stores, or also for the web site.
>
> The 25% off discount is for June 16 and 17 (Sat and Sun) only.
> This is according to the flyer that I received in the mail this
> week.
>
> The flyer doesn't mention it being a web discount; I assume that
> it's for in-store purchase. I don't see anything about this
> discount, or for that matter about the sale on the bike, on the
> website.
Front page of the flyer "GET 25% BACK!...instead of your everyday 10%
back on ALL STORE, WEB, AND PHONE PURCHASES
Again, it's only for 6/16 and 6/17 and only from 9a-12p.
> I've had good luck with them honoring web discounts in the store
> when I print out the page and bring it with me to the store.
> I've never tried it with anything priced over $100 though.
When I recently bought some tires I saw online, I asked the in-store
price. The employee said to bring a print-out of the web price and they
would honor it. I think that it's their official policy to honor web
prices in the store. Sometimes store prices are less.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 18:01:27
From: victor.kan@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 13, 12:23 pm, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu > wrote:
> I think I'll stop by the Redwood City Performance Bike this
> afternoon and take a look at their inventory.
I haven't seen this 25% off discount yet. I wonder if it's only in
some markets and only at local stores, or also for the web site.
The problem with Performance discounts is that sometimes they're only
good at the store, or good only on web/phone orders (but not the in-
store "red phone" order line), or they don't have stuff in stock in
the local store, and you still have to order it and pay for shipping
(especially bad on "oversize" stuff like bikes). That's one
particularly nice thing about REI if you have a nearby store (I have
three of them nearby)--you can always get free shipping if you're
willing to wait a couple of weeks for store delivery, and their
coupons don't distinguish in-store from web purchases.
I was fretting over that 25% vs. the 10% coupon I used recently to buy
a Dahon Vitesse from Performance (nope, they didn't have it at the
local store :-( ), but they've raised the prices (or rather, reduced
the sale discount) of the Dahons, so it'll be a wash if I do end up
getting the 25% off flyer soon.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 13:06:43
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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victor.kan@gmail.com wrote:
> On Jun 13, 12:23 pm, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu> wrote:
>> I think I'll stop by the Redwood City Performance Bike this
>> afternoon and take a look at their inventory.
>
> I haven't seen this 25% off discount yet. I wonder if it's only in
> some markets and only at local stores, or also for the web site.
Store, web, and phone orders.
June 16th 9-noon
June 17th 9-noon
If you're on their mailing list then you should have gotten the sale flyer.
The flyer also has a $25 off coupon for in-store purchases. So
technically you could get that bike for $400-$25 coupon-$100 credit in
points+$25 for a Team Performance member.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 09:23:27
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com > writes:
> Ben Pfaff wrote:
>> SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:
>>
>>>>> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
>>>>> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>>>>>
>>>>> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>>> The sale is 6/13-6/24, $399.97, plus 25% off on 6/16-6/17 (9a-12p) for
>>> Team Performance members, so it'd be $300 (plus the cost of becoming a
>>> Team Performance member of $25).
>>
>> This sounds like a good deal to me for a new commuter bike. But
>> can you really get the 25% discount on top of the sale price?
>
> Yes, the 25% is a rebate paid in Performance scrip, and applies to all
> items, even sale items (unlike the REI rebate). Since the Team
> Performance program is quite expensive ($25 per year), and is not
> "lifetime" like an REI membership, they couldn't really exclude sale
> items.
Ah, I didn't understand that it was in scrip. So it would still
be a $400 charge on my credit card (+$25 membership), but I'd get
a $100 credit in some form to spend on other bike gear? Still
not a bad deal.
> I just wonder if by the 25% off sale days if any of these bicycles
> will be left!
I think I'll stop by the Redwood City Performance Bike this
afternoon and take a look at their inventory.
--
"It was then I realized how dire my medical situation was. Here I was,
a network admin, unable to leave, and here was someone with a broken
network. And they didn't ask me to fix it. They didn't even try to
casually pry a hint out of me." --Ryan Tucker in the Monastery
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 13:02:24
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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Ben Pfaff wrote:
> Ah, I didn't understand that it was in scrip. So it would still
> be a $400 charge on my credit card (+$25 membership), but I'd get
> a $100 credit in some form to spend on other bike gear? Still
> not a bad deal.
"http://www.performancebike.com/team_p.cfm" explains how it works.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 07:14:04
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 13, 8:32 am, Ben Pfaff <b...@cs.stanford.edu > wrote:
> SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> writes:
> >>> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
> >>> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>
> >>> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>
> > The sale is 6/13-6/24, $399.97, plus 25% off on 6/16-6/17 (9a-12p) for
> > Team Performance members, so it'd be $300 (plus the cost of becoming a
> > Team Performance member of $25).
>
> This sounds like a good deal to me for a new commuter bike. But
> can you really get the 25% discount on top of the sale price?
> I've never been a Team Performance member so I don't know, and I
> don't see anything that obviously says so one way or another.
>
> I don't know anything about SRAM or the other brands of
> components that are on this bike. Are they good enough to stand
> up to an everyday commute of 6-10 miles (one way), dry and wet?
> Anything I should consider swapping out?
Nothing wrong with SRAM, they're a Chicago based group that build fine
shifty bits and even are the owners of the venerable Sachs as of a few
years ago. If that were my ride, after I pulled it from the box,
here's what I'd do (but YMMV): I'd immediately repack the hubs with 25
grade bearings, bring the wheels up to real tension, destress the
spokes, replace the grips with Ritchey Tru-grips, replace brake shoes
with threaded stud Kool-Stop Eagle Claws, and wipe off the outside of
the chain with a spirits soaked rag to remove the factory lube from
the outside plates. Then I'd stuff five bucks in my cargo shorts and
take a ten mile test ride in search of some really killer hot-sour
soup. If I can manage to obsess about the soup without the bike
getting in my way, it's dialed in right.
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 06:32:56
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com > writes:
>>> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
>>> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>>>
>>> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>
> The sale is 6/13-6/24, $399.97, plus 25% off on 6/16-6/17 (9a-12p) for
> Team Performance members, so it'd be $300 (plus the cost of becoming a
> Team Performance member of $25).
This sounds like a good deal to me for a new commuter bike. But
can you really get the 25% discount on top of the sale price?
I've never been a Team Performance member so I don't know, and I
don't see anything that obviously says so one way or another.
I don't know anything about SRAM or the other brands of
components that are on this bike. Are they good enough to stand
up to an everyday commute of 6-10 miles (one way), dry and wet?
Anything I should consider swapping out?
--
"Writing is easy.
All you do is sit in front of a typewriter and open a vein."
--Walter Smith
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 08:17:17
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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Ben Pfaff wrote:
> SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> writes:
>
>>>> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
>>>> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>>>>
>>>> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>> The sale is 6/13-6/24, $399.97, plus 25% off on 6/16-6/17 (9a-12p) for
>> Team Performance members, so it'd be $300 (plus the cost of becoming a
>> Team Performance member of $25).
>
> This sounds like a good deal to me for a new commuter bike. But
> can you really get the 25% discount on top of the sale price?
Yes, the 25% is a rebate paid in Performance scrip, and applies to all
items, even sale items (unlike the REI rebate). Since the Team
Performance program is quite expensive ($25 per year), and is not
"lifetime" like an REI membership, they couldn't really exclude sale items.
> I don't know anything about SRAM or the other brands of
> components that are on this bike. Are they good enough to stand
> up to an everyday commute of 6-10 miles (one way), dry and wet?
> Anything I should consider swapping out?
They're good enough to start with, and when they wear out you swap them out.
Schwinn actually has quite a line-up of commute bikes at different
equipment levels, see
"http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_category.php?id=111" though
none have the chainguard like the the Performance model. It's almost a
silly thing, but to add a chainguard aftermerket is very difficult. They
sell them in Europe (Hebie 368 on page 36 of
"http://www.hebie.de/pdf/hebie_web_katalog_en.pdf"), but good luck
getting one in the U.S..
I just wonder if by the 25% off sale days if any of these bicycles will
be left!
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Date: 11 Jun 2007 20:20:44
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 11, 9:40 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com > wrote:
> I have a folder with an internal hub (3 x 7). It's got its pros and
> cons. Fixing a flat tire is a pain in the butt compared to a d=E9railleur
> equipped bicycle.
I learned to ride and fix flats on a folder via my dear dead granpa.
There's rarely a reason to pull the wheel from the bike, just fine the
flat, open up enough sidewall to get the damaged tube out, patch, tuck
it back in , and inflate.
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Date: 11 Jun 2007 20:20:06
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 11, 9:40 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com > wrote:
> I have a folder with an internal hub (3 x 7). It's got its pros and
> cons. Fixing a flat tire is a pain in the butt compared to a d=E9railleur
> equipped bicycle.
I learned to ride and fix flats on a folder via my dear dead granpa.
There's rarely a reason to pull the wheel from the bike, just fine the
flat, open up enough sidewall to get the damaged tube out, patch, tuck
it back in , and inflate.
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Date: 11 Jun 2007 22:37:19
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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landotter wrote:
> On Jun 11, 9:40 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> I have a folder with an internal hub (3 x 7). It's got its pros and
>> cons. Fixing a flat tire is a pain in the butt compared to a dérailleur
>> equipped bicycle.
>
> I learned to ride and fix flats on a folder via my dear dead granpa.
> There's rarely a reason to pull the wheel from the bike, just fine the
> flat, open up enough sidewall to get the damaged tube out, patch, tuck
> it back in , and inflate.
Yep, that's what I do too.
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Date: 11 Jun 2007 19:19:51
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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On Jun 11, 8:23 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com > wrote:
> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>
> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
It's $550 on my computer, and looks to be a smart little package. I'm
glad to see a normal utility bike on a popular website. Bikes like
that are all over northern Europe, it's not all internal gearing all
the time over there.
Still, if you have an REI nearby, the Novara Transfer, for fifty bucks
more, is a smarter ride:
http://www.rei.com/product/744802?cm_re=LS*SP*Transfer
I'm pro internal hub, but I'm game to simple 7-8 speed derailleur
systems for utility bikes--but the Transfer just kicks the Schwinn's
butt when it comes to style, and it has a 7 speed hub. Great bike--not
that I'm no longer pleased that Performance has such a sensible
offering. :-P
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 14:07:39
From: Dane Buson
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering 25% back this weekend)
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landotter <landotter@gmail.com > wrote:
>
> Still, if you have an REI nearby, the Novara Transfer, for fifty bucks
> more, is a smarter ride:
>
> http://www.rei.com/product/744802?cm_re=LS*SP*Transfer
Maybe if it had a real chaincase.
And I think I'd need to swap out the bars for some drop bars.
http://tinyurl.com/2zns47
--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. If this had been an
actual emergency, do you really think we'd stick around to tell you?
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Date: 13 Jun 2007 16:01:57
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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Dane Buson wrote:
> landotter <landotter@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Still, if you have an REI nearby, the Novara Transfer, for fifty bucks
>> more, is a smarter ride:
>>
>> http://www.rei.com/product/744802?cm_re=LS*SP*Transfer
>
> Maybe if it had a real chaincase.
It'd have been easy to do too, since there is no front dérailleur. The
chainguards for bicycles with triple cranksets are more difficult,
though they are still possible.
One of the keys in getting people to ride a bicycle to work, school,
stores, etc., is selling a bicycle that can be ridden in normal clothes,
and that doesn't require extensive modifications and hundreds of dollars
of accessories in order to be usable.
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Date: 11 Jun 2007 19:40:54
From: SMS
Subject: Re: Performance Selling a Commuter Bicycle for $400 (plus offering
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landotter wrote:
> On Jun 11, 8:23 pm, SMS <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> I was surprised, and pleased, to receive an ad in the mail from
>> Performance that included the "Schwinn World Avenue One" for $400.
>>
>> "http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24141&item=30-0156"
>
>
> It's $550 on my computer, and looks to be a smart little package. I'm
> glad to see a normal utility bike on a popular website. Bikes like
> that are all over northern Europe, it's not all internal gearing all
> the time over there.
The sale is 6/13-6/24, $399.97, plus 25% off on 6/16-6/17 (9a-12p) for
Team Performance members, so it'd be $300 (plus the cost of becoming a
Team Performance member of $25).
I think that a store could sell a lot of these bikes at $300-350. Maybe
Schwinn is going to start a revolution!
> Still, if you have an REI nearby, the Novara Transfer, for fifty bucks
> more, is a smarter ride:
>
> http://www.rei.com/product/744802?cm_re=LS*SP*Transfer
Yeah, if the Schwinn is $550, then the Transfer's a better deal, though
I _really_ like a chain guard on a commute bike (rather than using one
of those silly leg bands, which still aren't as good).
> I'm pro internal hub, but I'm game to simple 7-8 speed derailleur
> systems for utility bikes--but the Transfer just kicks the Schwinn's
> butt when it comes to style, and it has a 7 speed hub. Great bike--not
> that I'm no longer pleased that Performance has such a sensible
> offering. :-P
I have a folder with an internal hub (3 x 7). It's got its pros and
cons. Fixing a flat tire is a pain in the butt compared to a dérailleur
equipped bicycle.
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