Cole sent the U-District my way because he knew I was looking for something light and fast and easy to maintain.  The U-District is all those things.  I love having the freedom to tear around the city without worrying about gears and derailers and all the other maintenance issues I have with my regular commuter bike. The steel frame is strong enough to withstand the massive Chicago potholes and support some portage weight, but still light enough to carry upstairs. 
The geometry of the U-District’s compact frame took a little getting used to.  The 54cm frame is right for my height, but felt way too short for my reach until I swapped the straight bars out for drop bars.  I’m planning to change a couple of the other components, too.  The brakes in particular keep slipping out of alignment and rubbing the rims.  
I think some of the component issues I’ve had may come from the fact that the bike is a flip-flop.  The manufacturers probably assume that most riders will use it as a fixie, so why equip it with high-end brakes?  I prefer riding it as a single speed, and think it needs a little modification to be really comfortable and reliable. 
The U-District is definitely a fun ride, even if it’s not perfect out of the box.  Overall, it’s a great deal for the price.
-Shauna
-P.S. Cole will be adding his two cents soon! Look for the update next week!