Diamondback Edgewood LX Men's Sport Hybrid Bike (2011 Model, 700c Wheels), Burgundy

At 47, I just bought my very first bike a couple of weeks ago, with the intention of getting some exercise while doing some fun sightseeing.I almost ignored this bike initially because I'd mistakenly thought the LX for XL, and Amazon was offering the 19 and 21" frames only, and I am a short 5'4" female. lol. After weeks of research, I headed out to the local bike shops and sporting stores. The burgundy Diamondback Edgewood LX was the first and only bike I tried that had a good fit, and it was quite rare to find a 15" frame men's bike in the shops. I prefer the men's style because of the classic, clean, sturdy design, as well as easier mounting onto our bike rack. The suspension seat post is noticeable and nice, the seat is comfortable. I also like the large hand grips and the EZ-Fire shifters (makes more sense to me than the twist ones). The gear indicators are very nice.CONS -- I did buy a kickstand right away (did not come with this bike), and replaced the pedals immediately after one bike ride. The original pedals had absolutely no grips. Whenever I pedaled fast for a few seconds, my feet would fly off -- very annoying, especially when trying to go uphill (or even downhill). Both front and back wheels, as well as the seat post, are quick-released; this could cause minor concerns if you leave your bike unattended often. The front and rear reflectors are very cheap looking.PURCHASE -- Surprisingly, the local sporting store had the bike, not only in my size, but $50 less than Amazon, and another 10% off for using the store credit card. Plus, the bike is already assembled, and all services are free for 30 days (extended warranties are optional, which include free annual tune-ups and warranty on labor and parts, except tires and brake pads). After one bike trip, I brought the bike back to the store to replace the pedals, true the wheels, re-adjust the derailers/gears, and brakes. The store's bike technician was very experienced, efficient, and helpful. He installed my kickstand and pedals for free.SIZE -- This 15" men's style bike fits my 5'4" frame almost perfectly. I raised the seat up an inch (from the lowest position) for better leg extension. Since this is the smallest available bike size, you may be unable to install a rear bike rack or a seat bag under the low seat and above the rear 700c tire. I've been happy using an old fanny pack to carry my camera, id, and some money.RECOMMENDATIONS -- Overall, this has been a very good bike for me. I've ridden 8 to 30-mile trips, mostly on paved bike trails and city roads. The gears shift nicely. I occasionally lift my bottom off the seat, so it has not been sore at all. Do check your tire pressure often; after 2 weeks and about 80 miles of biking, I lost 20 psi in each tire. Recommended by my husband, my new pedals also have toe clips/straps, which are very helpful for hills and sudden bursts of speed. You can just use the non-toe-clip sides of the pedals for casual riding, but it's amazing the extra power you can have with simultaneous upward and downward pedaling with the toe clips. My husband bought me some nice front and rear lights/reflectors. I am shopping for a rear view mirror, bell, and speedometer.

This is a great entry-level, hybrid bike for the casual rider.SIZING - Picked up the sz SMALL in BLUE and it's perfect for me, a 5'7" rider. I think the small may even accommodate a 5'8" rider. (Went to an actual B&M store to try out the medium and it was actually too big for me.)INSTALLATION - The bike was fairly easy to install when I received it. You will need to mount the handlebars, pedals (remember to use grease before mounting), and tires(be sure to mount it in the correct direction). If you are going to install it yourself you will also need to make some minor adjustments on the brakes and derailers (or you can just take it to your local bike shop for a tune-up). I learned how to make those adjustments watching youtube videos on bike maintenance- so if you want to save some money, it is relatively easy.DURABILITY - I've taken it on light trails, through streams, potholes, rough streets, dirt roads, and put on 80 miles on just the first week! It can also be converted for light to medium mountain biking with a pedal and tire upgrade. I'm looking to upgrade the tires soon to Schwalbe Land Cruiser tires, which come standard on GT's cyclocross bikes.CONS - Eventually, I ended up changing the pedals for mountain biking pedals with toe clips because these pedals have NO traction when wet (but they are perfect for exercise, city, or paved cycling). I realized how cheap the rear derailers were when I learned how to adjust them, it is a pain and you can never get it perfect (but passable).All in all, this is an excellent bike that will provide both comfort, flexibility, and performance at a reasonable price.

I've owned several bikes, and I consider myself a bike enthusiast. The Edgewood was a great gift. I used it to commute to work every single day, rain or shine, 13 miles each way.Cons: Front and Rear Derraileurs are garbage. I upgraded those components to Shimano Deore and was satisfied with the shifting from that point on. The compact frame made the tires "too big" and hard to attach several accessories needed for commuting. The platform pedals are only suitable in dry weather. Lastly, this beast is way too heavy.Pros: Very easy to steer, reasonably fast (mostly due to 700c wheels), nothing broke after 5 thousand miles of riding. The sitting and steering position made it a relaxed and scenic way to commute through sunny Santa Barbara in the summer.I had this thing loaded up. I weigh 260 lbs and my gear is easily 40 lbs. It was very reliable, I didn't even change the tires or tubes once. I own other road bikes and those bikes have frames that bend, spokes that constantly break, tires and tubes that pop (had a Specialized Armadillo tire sidewall explode, just a few days after putting it on the bike, putting green slime on me/bike/road). Road bikes are meant for speed, not the daily grind.Verdict. This mass produced bike is hearty. It weighs too much. Yet, it works for a commuter. If you want to go fast, you need something lighter. This bike takes hard work to get up to speed, and the upright position makes it hard to sustain higher speeds. $300 may be a lot of money for some, but the Edgewood is an investment that will go a long way. Excellent bang for buck.