by If you’re interested in buying the women’s Schwinn Sidewinder as a beginner mountain bike then read on before you buy. The Sidewinder Women’s gets you an affordable department store bike that makes an effective mode of transportation. It’s main intended use is for low impact and leisurely riding.
PROS of the Schwinn Sidewinder Womens MTB
Classic Wheel Size
The Schwinn sidewinder is offered in the classical 26 inch sized wheels offering improved strength thanks to a more compact wheel over larger 27.5 and 29 sized wheels.
With advances in the bike industry 26 inch wheels are becoming increasingly rare. Nevertheless this much loved wheel size still has distinct advantages over its larger counterparts. Firstly the 26er gives you greater control over your speed on the bike.
In addition, you’ll be able to manoeuvre the bike around tighter spaces with greater ease with smaller wheels.
Great Price Point
The main draw of the Schwinn Sidewinder Women’s MTB is the great price point unmatched by many competitors. You’ll find few options for an equivalent mountain bike at this pricing. While low in cost, the Sidewinder still provides all the standard parts you’d expect on a starter mountain bike.
This includes knobby tires, a shimano rear derailleur, front suspension fork, and an adjustable seat post to conform to your body measurements.
Smooth Shifts & Wide Range of Gears
The Sidewinder comes equipped with a Shimano rear derailleur and twist shifters that gives you reliable and smooth shifting every time.
The 21 gears give you a big range of speeds to choose from. This ensures you’ll have plenty of options both off-road and on paved terrains. In all having 21 gears ensures you’ll be able to find the perfect pedalling speed for the riding condition.
The primary benefit is not being forced into using a smaller or bigger gear ring than would be optimal which could add to increased fatigue.
Classic Steel Frame
Many mountain bikes today are spec’d with an aluminum frame body as evidenced by the Scwinn Sidewinder alternate bikes listed below.
The classic steel mountain bike is becoming rarer to see but the Sidewinder opts to keep the classic features once synonymous with mountain bikes. Along with the 26 size wheels, the frame is made from steel.
Steel is a material perfect for a bike meant to be durable and long lasting without major failure.
Suggested First Upgrades to the Schwinn Sidewinder
Bicycle Seat
Seat are often the main source of discomfort on a new bike. They can limit your enjoyment of the bike and how far you’re able to ride. Spending a little extra on a seat upgrade can save you from becoming sore.
Tire Set
While the standard set of tires on the Sidewinder are perfectly fine, upgrading tires can transform the way a bike rides. Getting a nice set of fast rolling tires for improved speed or a tire with softer compound for improved grip and comfort off road is worth the small price of upgrading.
Alternatives to the Schwinn Sidewinder Womens’s Mountain Bike
Regardless of the Schwinn Sidewinder being a good bike, good practice when making any big purchase is to compare it to it’s closest competition. Here are some great alternatives to this bike.
Decathlon Rockrider ST100
The Decathlon Rockrider is a unisex mountain bike well equipped for rougher riding. To start with you’ll get 27.5 sized tires for a good balance between control and rolling speed. In addition the aluminum frame makes this a lighter package overall and lends itself well to learning all the essential mountain bike manouvers.
Finally the 80mm suspension cushions the impact when taking the bike on the rougher roads.
Mongoose Switchback Trail Women’s
The mongoose switchback Trail Women’s bike is a durable bike well equipped to last you many years. The well spec’d components from Shimano and Suntour are made to perform well while withstanding rougher treatment. As an added bonus, the women specific frame shape allows for easy access to and from the seat.
Liv Bliss 3
Lastly the Liv Bliss 3 is a step above the department store models from the Giant manufacturer. It comes as an aluminum frame, an SR Suntour fork and an improved front and rear derailleur in the form of the Shimano Tourney. The lighter frame material, more reliable construction, and components make it more durable when riding on dirt roads.
You can get the bike in either 26 or 27.5 inch wheel size. The wheels you’ll end up with depends on your choice of frame size thanks to the smart wheel sizing system. Overall the upgrade over the Schwinn Sidewinder will be worth the extra cost if your need’s are above that of just a leisure or commuter mountain bike.
Summary
To sum up the Schwinn Sidewinder Women’s mountain bike gets you a good bike for the price with classic mountain bike features. The steel frame will be able to take a beating and be long lasting, and the 26er wheels gets you a stronger wheel over the larger 27.5 and 29 options. It’s main intended use should be for commuting, leisurely riding, and low impact off-roading. We suggest the first upgrades to make to the bike are the seat for improved comfort. In addition we suggest buying a better quality tire set.
