Here you go.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2007/reviews/schwinn_madison07

Nice to see fixies getting some love from the racing scene,

that's some jive@ss rear cable routing... do they expect most to remove the rear brake? if so, why the flip flop with FW? if not, why the ziptied cable guides? other weirdness- 25.4 bars... why? and, of course, gearing

All that b!tchin' aside, it seems to be a decent package, provided it fits.

Argh - too bad mine is still on back order. There is no mention that Schwinn has no more supply of '07s. If you see one in the shop, get it, cause what you see is what you get. Of course, you can wait for the '08s next year.

that's some jive@ss rear cable routing... do they expect most to remove the rear brake? if so, why the flip flop with FW? if not, why the ziptied cable guides?


In Schwinn's defense, I think they assume that, given its geometry, most riders will ride it fixed, so they didn't want to mess up the frame with brake cable braze-ons. But they want to give the buyer the option to run a freewheel, hence the flipflop and rear brake.
Seems like a fair (albeit ugly) compromise to me.

FWIW, Surly does the same thing on the venerable Steamroller: they drill the seatstay bridge for a brake, but leave the cable attaching (and the brake itself) up to the owner.

I guess Schwinn is try to make the Pista and San Jose in the same bike. I prefer Bianchi's offerings.

Of course, I'm biased. http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=105&page=4

In Schwinn's defense, I think they assume that, given its geometry, most riders will ride it fixed, so they didn't want to mess up the frame with brake cable braze-ons. But they want to give the buyer the option to run a freewheel, hence the flipflop and rear brake.
Seems like a fair (albeit ugly) compromise to me.

FWIW, Surly does the same thing on the venerable Steamroller: they drill the seatstay bridge for a brake, but leave the cable attaching (and the brake itself) up to the owner.

Soma Rush is the same. It's drilled for a rear brake but no cable routing. Personally, I avoid fixed frames that have rear cable guides...I like the clean look and only run a front brake fixed...

I agree. A rear brake is really not needed when riding fixed, Of course, I'm biased.

When I first planned a week-long fixed gear tour, I anguished over whether to drill the rear bridge on my Pista so I could run a freewheel if the mountains beat me. I decided not to, and have ridden alot of fixed distance rides ever since.

I think the option to run a freewheel & a rear brake gives alot of first-timers the "comfort" of knowing that they aren't trapped into riding fixed. As a practical matter, other than cyclo-cross SSers, it seems that many folks who try fixed stay there. As a result, the Madison seems to make perfect sense. Give folks the option to use a rear brake with a freewheel, so they feel a bit more comfort getting into the one-speed bike thing, but once they settle on riding fixed they won't need/want the brake cable guides mucking up the frame.

I am going to be new to the fixed/ss world and maybe my mind will change down the road, however, I prefer the look of both brakes and brake levers.

I guess Schwinn is try to make the Pista and San Jose in the same bike. I prefer Bianchi's offerings.I ride a Pista and love it, but there is something very strange about Bianchi shipping a bike with a rear hub threaded for flip-flop fixed/free (the other side is not double-threaded for
cog + lock-ring) but not drilled for rear brake.

When I first got a Pista, I ran a freewheel for the first couple of months with only a front brake. It stopped me fine and never seemed like a big deal -- certainly less dangerous than those who ride fixed with no brake, IMO.

^i'd beg to differ come rain time ;)

^i'd beg to differ come rain time ;)


Touché! (Fortunately, it never rains in Texas) :cool:

Touché! (Fortunately, it never rains in Texas) :cool:For those of us in rainy/snowy climes, part of the charm of a fixte or SS is how much more easily it cleans up after a foul weather ride, what with no derailleurs and cables to trap mud.

I ride a Pista and love it, but there is something very strange about Bianchi shipping a bike with a rear hub threaded for flip-flop fixed/free (the other side is not double-threaded for
cog + lock-ring) but not drilled for rear brake.
I find that odd as well. It's never been an issue for me. I guess I was referring to the rest of Bianchi's stuff.