Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!! I really appreciate it !

I'm going to take the schwinn sometime before the weekend to this LBS near my house... they used to only sell schwinns in the 80s - so maybe there are still schwinn experts there...

I think I'll see what a trek fx feels like, too. If it's amazing, I'll call my friend asap and buy it off of him. If it feels like the schwinn, or only slightly better... I guess I'll hold off for six months and buy a "Real" bike later...

thanks again for the advice... :-)

how much are new tires and tubes? does anyone know?