While this bike’s suspension is great, we’d like to see a little more flexibility. A lockout feature for riding on level surfaces would be a welcome addition, as well as the option to tune the suspension for riders of different weights. Ignaz Schwinn was born in Hardheim, Baden, Germany, in 1860 and worked on two-wheeled ancestors of the modern bicycle that appeared in 19th century Europe. In 1895, with the financial backing of fellow German American Adolph Frederick William Arnold (a meat packer), he founded Arnold, Schwinn & Company. Chicago became the center of the American bicycle industry, with thirty factories turning out thousands of bikes every day.
While Schwinn offers this bike in four sizes (including extra large for riders up to six-and-a-half feet tall), the geometry—seat tube and head tube angles—does not scale with size. This may affect comfort and handling for very schwinn mountain bike short or very tall riders. However, the Schwinn Mesa 2 is still a fine choice as an entry-level mountain bike for most riders. In late 1997, Questor Partners Fund, led by Jay Alix and Dan Lufkin, purchased Schwinn Bicycles.
A growing number of US teens and young adults were purchasing imported European sport racing or sport touring bicycles, many fitted with multiple derailleur-shifted gears. schwinn cruiser Schwinn decided to meet the challenge by developing two lines of sport or road ‘racer’ bicycles. One was already in the catalog — the limited production Paramount series.
In this review, we’ll go through some of the key features of this bike and provide detailed specs. Additionally, we share some alternative bikes for you to consider before making your final choice. ACTIVE.com’s editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers.
As someone who’s spent a lot of time researching mountain bikes, let me tell you why the Schwinn Boundary is one of the choices you should consider purchasing if you plan to start trail riding. Mountain bikes below $1,000 with a suspension fork and between 21 and 24 gears generally weigh between 38 and 41 pounds. The materials used for the frame, fork, and components usually account for most of the weight variation in this price range. As a rule of thumb, more expensive bikes weigh less than budget bikes, thanks to higher-quality components and materials.
The new frame and component technology incorporated in the Paramount largely failed to reach Schwinn’s mass-market bicycle lines. W. Schwinn, grandson Frank Valentine Schwinn took over management of the company. It is another conventional beginner mountain bike that suits those looking to be more adventurous and try out more varied terrains. The SR Suntour fork suspension and lightweight aluminum frame can persist in rough trails and small drops. Central to the Mesa’s appeal is its lightweight aluminum frame, known for its resilience and agility.
Questor/Schwinn later purchased GT Bicycles in 1998 for $8 a share in cash, roughly $80 million. The new company produced a series of well-regarded mountain bikes bearing the Schwinn name, called the Homegrown series.[62] In 2001, Schwinn/GT declared bankruptcy. In the 1950s, Schwinn began to aggressively cultivate bicycle retailers, persuading them to sell Schwinns as their predominant, if not exclusive brand. During this period, bicycle sales enjoyed relatively slow growth, with the bulk of sales going to youth models. In 1900, during the height of the first bicycle boom, annual United States sales by all bicycle manufacturers had briefly topped one million.