Originally Posted by
agent pombero
In my experince, Most new $400 bikes are rolling turds, and will most likely discourage any serious riding or commuting. The real sweet spot for a quality bike is around $1k if buying new. Next time don't leave your bike unlocked.
I rode a $300 bike for 9 years and 29,000 miles and liked it. I still ride it occasionally, there's nothing wrong with it. The road bike is more fun to ride but if I'd bought it first I would not have gotten in the habit of riding because the riding position is something I could not have maintained back then.
Even the road bike I only spent $800 on (at Bikesdirect). It's very nice. I call it a $1000 bike, because the same bike locally would have been about $1400 or so.
I think people are really way too picky about things.