Vilano Shadow Road Bike is a modern bike equipped with all the safety features you might need from a bike to ensure you get to work and back home safe and sound. As a company, Vilano has made a name for themselves by creating top-quality, Italian-inspired bikes that last long in time and are extremely reliable. Moreover, most of the bikes manufactured by Vilano are very affordable, so they won’t break the bank.
For their price range, Vilano bikes are very high quality. The Shadow Road Bike is no exception from the rule. As an entry-level road bike, this model is just perfect for people living in big cities who need a reliable way to get to work without spending tens of minutes stuck in traffic. This bike features a very solid frame and Shimano brake shifters that make it very easy for you to brake and control the bike in dangerous situations.
- Wheelset: 700c doubled walled CNC machined side
- Shimano STI Integrated Brake Lever/Shifters offer precise and controllable braking and shifting in a convenient single unit designed for the road
- 6061 Double Butted Aluminum Aero frame with integrated headset
- Fork: 700c 1 1/8" threadless, brakes: dual pivot alloy caliper
- Free pedals included
Bike Design
This is not a racing road bike by any means. Instead, it is the perfect bike for commuters or recreational users. Vilano has decided to integrate a frame with a traditional design for this bike, which does not encourage forward-leaning stances like racing bikes do. This is very smart, as beginners or casual users need safety and ride quality more than speed.
The frame is built with an upright stance, so you get to enjoy increased visibility and more control of your bike. The aluminum aero frame makes the bike weight only 30 lbs, which is very good for the price. Of course, high-end road bikes weight less than 20 lbs, but they also cost much more.
Because the drivetrain is built by Shimano, you can rest assured that you’ll enjoy a more than decent set of crank, derailleurs, shifters and cassette. Expect to make the most out of the 14 speeds and to feel safe thanks to the dual-pivot type brakes. If you don’t like the idea of gears and oil when you are commuting, then consider a Fixie (single speed bike) or a bike with no chain like a belt drive commuter bike.
Top Features
Vilano Shadow Road Bike offers extremely responsive levers. They are also perfectly placed, so you can easily grip them when you want to steer the bike.
The bike comes in just two colors: white and black. However, it comes with free pedals, so you can use it right after taking it out of the box.
The aluminum double butted frame ensures that you enjoy a super smooth riding experience, comparable with the experience you get when riding premium road bikes. Moreover, in case of a crash or accident, you can rest assured that the elements will not have to suffer too much.
Of course, as time goes on, you can upgrade some of the components offered by this bike and transform it into a real monster on two wheels. However, in the beginning, it comes equipped with everything you need to enjoy a smooth ride to work.
Pros
– Vilano Shadow Road Bike comes at a great value for money
– Its design looks quite nice, with a professional appearance that perfectly matches your business or casual attired
– This bike is very stable thanks to the aluminum frame
– The Shimano components add a new level of quality to the bike and increase its value
– The company behind this bike is a trusted one, with over 11 years of experience in the city bike industry
– Precise and quick drivetrain
Cons
– This bike uses integrated shifters and not trigger style ones. This means that the shifters are part of the brake lever assemblies. If you are used with trigger shifters, it might take a while to get used to this bike.
– The pedals and the saddle are not the highest quality possible. During long rides, the saddle might start to negatively impact your ride. Fortunately, you can easily buy a new saddle and mount it on the bike.
-You have to put the bike together yourself, but it’s very easy (see video below)
Conclusion
Although the Vilano Shadow Road Bike has a few negative points to it, this bike is a high-quality product made to last a lifetime. As a product for beginners, this affordable city bike can be successfully used by anyone who needs a means of transportation when going to work, visiting friends or going to the mall.
You can easily take the bike to a whole new level by upgrading some of its components, like the pedals and the saddle. However, you will be pleasantly surprised by the stability of this bike and the quality of the drivetrain. Purchase this bike today and discover how get to work faster, quicker and in style.