As far as components go, the STI Shifters are the main feature of the Shadow. It isn’t common to find them on a bike in this price range.
Some riders enjoyed the handling of this bike, especially on descents and turns.
It was a common remark, that buying the Vilano Shadow is a good way to teach yourself bicycle maintenance.
The Shadow comes in at the lowest price-point for road-bikes, with amateur enthusiasts describing it as a good entry into the sport.
At under 11kg, this was a pleasingly lightweight option for entry-level riders.
More than one owner was satisfied with the provision of two bottle mounts.

9 reasons not to buy

While the caliper brakes were considered effective, the brakes were described as plasticky and some people experienced slippage.
Numerous riders experienced problems with the pedals shearing off the crank after riding a short distance .
The saddle was almost universally uncomfortable for users, being described as rock-hard.
Assembly problems were rife for many consumers, with the general consensus being that this bike should be taken to a local bike store for set-up.
A lot of reviewers replaced components and only reported a smooth ride once this money had been spent.
A 7-speed cassette is rare on modern road bikes and riders reported a lack of range in some areas.
Some riders reported wheels arriving out-of-true. For others, they came out of true quickly.
A number of users experienced shifting problems.
The biggest complaint for this bike was that this quality of componentry demands frequent tuning and adjustment.

Bottom line

The Shadow comes with a very thrifty price tag. For an aluminum road bike under 11kg that comes equipped with STI Shifters – it is a steal. On the other hand, user difficulties were rife with assembly, componentry and fine-tuning. After upgrades and consultation from the local bike shop, a number of buyers were pleased with having a high-speed bike on their hands. When it comes to weighing up the value represented by the Shadow, the consumer should consider that this bike does allow cheap entry into a traditionally expensive sport. On the other hand, maintenance and upgrades do have a cost of their own.

By Owen Jesse

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The Road Biker

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Cycling Tips: Would You Recommend Your Vilano Road Bike To A Friend?

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If you are thinking about riding yourself then you would do well to consider this model or one in the same price range. But, budget another $90 or so for a better set of tires – just to be safe.

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