Bicycle Mechanics - what do you guys think about wall mart bike stuff

i know that bell helmets are ok and i was in walmart today and saw that the products they carry are mostly "bell" they have multi tools and bike pumps and locks and just all sorts of things. its been along time since i been down the bike section of walmart. do you guys know anything about bells other products?


yeah yeah i know walmart not wallmart

Yes Bell has a low end line of products. It comes down to what you need and what you can afford. I'll admit to buying 1 or 2 items like that when I was getting started but you will probably do better reading up on what you need then watching for sales at Nashbar or Performance. Don't forget to use link from here and surf discount coupon thread here 1st.

Jtfind

you get what you pay for.

i bought a spare mtn bike tube, tire tools, patch kit, lock, helmet, gloves, bottle/cage from there.

the cage only lasted a few hundred miles before it it broke. the lock is fine. the gloves are "fragile" but i just wanted something mesh for hot days...so no big deal. haven't had to use the tire tools, patch or tube yet. i bought a chain there once....it broke right away.

i don't think shorts and, especially gloves, are things to "skimp" on.

i buy my wind breakers and moisture-wicking clothes from dept stores as well.

I've used the Bell brake and shifter cable/housing kits when rebuilding older 10/12 speeds. Works great and is inexpensive. ditto for th echains - absolutely no problems.

Also, you can get Crossman 12gr Co2 cartridges there, box of 24 for $12.99. Pretty good deal.

I've also bought both the house brand and Wilson brand base layer undershirts there, and they work great and have not worn out yet after 2 years of hard use. Target has similar shirts, as well.

IS Bell the bike stuff the same company as Bell helmets?
Bell helmets is/was a reputable name (motorcycle etc.)

I've bought a few of their items and they seem to be good for the money.
Tube repair patch kit, 26x1.75" "bike path" tire.

Be careful with the chains- I've bought them and they fit most old 10 or 12 speeds, but they say they will work on up to a 24 speed and that may not be the case. I had an old Nishiki touring bike with a five speed freewheel (granted it had a pretty big granny gear) and a triple chainring, but the chain wasn't even close to long enough to fit it. It really just depends on what kind of bike you're fixing and what you're planning on doing with it. Some of the stuff will get you by, but probably not last as long as a more expensive alternative.

I bought a Bell receiver hitch mounted bike rack at K-Mart (Walmart carried the same model for $5 more) and it is working and holding up well. I think you just have to be careful about the quality of what you buy for cheap, but it is not necessarilly crap.

Wallyworld chains suck.Most 10 spd bikes take 114-120 links,The ones there are always 2-3 links short,and appeared to be of poor quality.The upside is Wallyworld is used to returns but the lines are longer due to greedy corp. labor cutbacks.

IS Bell the bike stuff the same company as Bell helmets?
i believe it is. but i always liked shoei or arai helmets

I have several of the Bell seat bags and multitools. They are holding up fine so far.

I have purchased Bell cheap gloves that have lasted 4000 miles including a Texas summer!

I have purchased a Bell $16 compressor pump with gauge and cigarette lighter power source, works great.

I have purchased a Bell helmet from Walmart that has seen 5000 miles and has the same certification as all others for $18.00

And what is wrong with this??

nice thanks for the input guys. yeah i wouldent get the chain or the tubes from walmart but now i think ill go get a couple cheap "just in case" stuff.

nice thanks for the input guys. yeah i wouldent get the chain or the tubes from walmart but now i think ill go get a couple cheap "just in case" stuff.

For 7-spd or less, Wal-Mart chains are just dandy. They're made by KMC (open one and look at a link). For $6, can't be beat. Too short? Buy four and make three chains, rotate every month and they'll probably outlast your bike.

For 7-spd or less, Wal-Mart chains are just dandy. They're made by KMC (open one and look at a link). For $6, can't be beat. Too short? Buy four and make three chains, rotate every month and they'll probably outlast your bike.

Good idea on the extra chain,but Wallyworld in my area in Ohio seems to now stock a new brand other than KMC.Manager told me their changing vendors.

Good idea on the extra chain,but Wallyworld in my area in Ohio seems to now stock a new brand other than KMC. Manager told me they're changing vendors.

That probably means a lower quality chain...or possibly cheaper.

East Hill

I guess that makes sense. They can't leave anything alone, can they?

I've used cheap bell gloves as well as a wal-mart helmet. The gloves are still going, but need replacing as mouse got to them and ate a hole on the backhand side. As for the helmet, as long as it is CPSC certified, it'll protect your head. The walmart helmets and the LBS helmets all go through the same minimum required safety specs to get to the shelf. You'll be losing some airvents and it'll be more bulky, but they are safe helmets. I don't have much experience with xMart bike stuff outside of that.

you get what you pay for.
True, but it begs the question of what is "good enough". Not something that we can answer here, the OP's needs being the determinate.

I had some of the cheap Bell wal-mart gloves and they were pretty junky. For not much more money, you can shop the sales at Nashbar, Performance, Pricepoint, etc. and get some gloves that are more durable and have better padding. Likewise with chains - bought a Nashbar tandem 7-8 speed chain on sale - like two chains for only ten bucks or so.

Other stuff? I dunno. I bought a fat Kryptonite cable lock from Wally and it looks just about like any other Kryptonite cable lock.

Are we talking Bell stuff or Wal Mart stuff.
The Bell items I've purchased were at a Krogers equivalent. If a Bell item "sucks", you can't really blame the store. You blame Bell!
I purchased a chain for an old 10 speed and it had about 5-6? extra links. I can't remember if it was a Bell though. It's been a couple years. ISTR that the package listed the # of links.

Walmart is the only place I have seen the tires and tubes for the newer Stingray choppers. As far as other stuff goes, it's great to watch for clearance sales. I bought a ton if tubes at Meijer in the fall when they were 90 cents each, and tires for $1.90. sure, they may not be the greatest, but the tubes are just as good as any other and make great spares or replacements for bikes I am going to sell. the tires are great for that as well. I mostly pick up lower end bikes to sell and don't want to put much money into them, but if I can put 2 new tubes and tires on one for less than $6, I will more than get my money out of the investment. bags and things like that are about as good as any other. My multi-tool came from Target. it happens to be a Schwinn brand (post Pacific Cycle buyout) that I got on clearance at Target for $3 (originally $20). It works just fine and I've used every tool on it. I can't say anything about the chains because I have never replaced a chain with a "new" one. I have used the cables on my bikes and bikes to be sold and have not had a problem. More often I reuse cables though. I've had good luck with that so far and they are pre-stretched. Brake pads....once again, it's been a while since I've bought new.

Want to know something weird? All Bell (and Giro) helmets you can buy in your LBS are made in CHINA. (And STILL cost big bucks). But the Bell helmets sold in wally's? Made in the USA.

Seriously, WTF?

I'm hesitant to go with a really cheap multi-tool, because when I'm stuck out somewhere using a multi-tool, I really really don't want it to fail on me.

I'm hesitant to go with a really cheap multi-tool, because when I'm stuck out somewhere using a multi-tool, I really really don't want it to fail on me.

+1 on the multi-tool. I bought what I thought was a sweet one at Winner's (Canadian clearance store, kinda like TJ MAx) and it broke the first time I used it. I ended up returning it and spending the extra few bucks on a Topeak one that I use regularly with no issues so far.

-Erik

I'm hesitant to go with a really cheap multi-tool, because when I'm stuck out somewhere using a multi-tool, I really really don't want it to fail on me.
I purchased the multi-tool in Wal-mart and it has performed beyond my expectations. I was out on a three-day holiday weekend doing a bike tour with some friends when I had a shifter cable break. We stopped by a Wal-mart to purchase a cable kit and I bought the multi-tool, as I knew I did not have the proper tools to get my shifter off so the cable could be replaced. I've been using it for over a year and it's held up just fine. I also use the Wal-mart Bell 27 X 1 1/4 tubes in my 38 X 622 (700c) tires. They only lose 5 lbs of pressure in a month so I am not out pumping them up every day during a tour and there thick, not paper-thin light weight tubes you buy in the LBS that leak 5 lbs a day and need to be patched by just getting close to rough terrain. After getting back home I replaced all the other cables from the kit and they have held up as well.

my walmart sells KMC chains. I havent used one.

when i got my 1st bike 3 yrs ago i outfitted myself with walmart gear. i got a speedometer, gloves, lock, multi tool, chain tool, saddle bag, helmet, tubes.

the speedo still works though the magnet doodad that holds it to the spokes broke so i covered it in super glue. it still works fine, but it's permanently stuck on that spoke hehe. the gloves are worn but holding up well, the lock is still fine, the multi tool has been used for tons of stuff and is doing great, the chain tool busted the second time i used it. the saddle bag is still working great, the helmet is still fine, and i've been through several tubes because i ride through a lot of thorny areas..

I've been using a Bell handlebar bag and find it functional and so far it stays put with the velcro straps. I can put a lot of stuff in it too.

On the other hand, I bought a chain tool from Walmart and it snaped in half the second time I used it. Really cheap metal and it says "Made in Taiwan". Glad it didn't happen in the middle of nowhere. I replaced it with a Park Chain Tool.

i forgot, i also bought a schwinn cyclometer from walmart. the wire vibrated loose after 1000 miles or so. i bought a bell saddlepost bag. it came unzipped while i was riding on the bikepath and i lost my wallet and meds and a glucose meter.

the speedo still works

I thought this thread was about bicycle stuff :D :rolleyes:

I have bought a couple of the KMC chains and they are of low quality but for a neighborhood cruiser or giveaway bike they are fine. Run short too. I wish I could find the old Raleigh quality chains those things are built to last, the side plates are about double the weight of the KMC.

Aaron:)

they have a Schwinn 12function cycle-computer that is really beefy for the wiring seems to work fine the mount is not a snazzy as say a cateye but for 9bucks its kinda a good deal.. at least for an experiment.

When we first returned to cycling I purchased two pairs of Bell gloves, a Bell helmet, a couple of tubes, two Kenda 27" tires, a Bike Trails cyclocomputer and a Bike Trails air pump. The gloves, helmet and tubes are still going strong. The tires are still going, but they're not the same quality as the less expensive Performance Tires. The cyclo computer crapped out after a year and the pump never worked. I did the math and figured out I saved $0 by buying cheap. I don't regret the Bell equipment, but I don't buy at Wally World or the red circle or Krap-Mart anymore.

First off, I hate Wal-Mart with a passion.

While at my parent's house, I needed some bike stuff, there is no bike shop around... so I swallowed my pride and stepped into Wally-world.

Purchased 2 bell chainbreakers. - Broke both.
Purchased Bell Light combo. - Broke both lights.
Purchased patch kit. - Patches don't work worth a damn.
Purchased 2 chains. - Busted links on both.

I agree that the chain tools are pretty crappy, and that is a case of getting what you pay for. what do you expect for $2? I've gotten many uses out of mine, but it did take breaking one to figure out how careful I need to be with it. I've used mine dozens of times while stripping and rebuilding bikes, but it is still a tool I don't use very often and I don't mind being careful and making a $2 tool last.
Any time I've had an emergency on the road where I would have needed a chain tool I would have also needed a chain, a crank puller and spare chainrings so unless I'm out scavenging on garbage day, I don't carry one with me. That makes this not an "essential" tool for me so I can get by with a cheap one. Knowing they were crap, I bought 2 a year and a half ago and the spare is still sitting on the shelf.
I really don't understand how so many people break chains so often. I have never broken a chain while riding and I have probably had some of the most neglected chains I have ever seen. I've gotten sticks and other things caught in them, vines wrapped around my freewheel and in the chain and never snapped a chain. I just recently learned what "spinning" meant, and it's benefits so I've always been a "masher." I guess I just don't get it....

I purchased the multi-tool in Wal-mart and it has performed beyond my expectations. I was out on a three-day holiday weekend doing a bike tour with some friends when I had a shifter cable break. We stopped by a Wal-mart to purchase a cable kit and I bought the multi-tool, as I knew I did not have the proper tools to get my shifter off so the cable could be replaced. I've been using it for over a year and it's held up just fine. I also use the Wal-mart Bell 27 X 1 1/4 tubes in my 38 X 622 (700c) tires. They only lose 5 lbs of pressure in a month so I am not out pumping them up every day during a tour and there thick, not paper-thin light weight tubes you buy in the LBS that leak 5 lbs a day and need to be patched by just getting close to rough terrain. After getting back home I replaced all the other cables from the kit and they have held up as well.
FWIW, I've also had good luck with the Bell multi-tool.
Ditto the chains and cable sets. I re-hab LOTS of bikes to donate and the low cost cable sets are one of the things that make it possible.
My local Wallyworld stocks canti pads but not v-brake pads. Go figure.....
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The bell chain tool is made of the cheapest pot metal that I've ever seen. I also broke it the first time I used it. The chain tool thats on my Topeak multitool is about half the diameter and bulk, but it works fine.

The bell chain tool is made of the cheapest pot metal that I've ever seen. I also broke it the first time I used it. The chain tool thats on my Topeak multitool is about half the diameter and bulk, but it works fine.

Agreed. I broke two before finally buying a good one at my LBS. Fortunately at Wallymart you can return anything.

I picked up a mini-frame pump at wallmart against my better judgment, but I figgured if it worked once, it would be worth the $8, and if it didn't, I could call home, and I didn't have the money to buy a good one.

Much to my suprise, when my tire blew out, and I needed to change it, the pump actually worked, even got up to appropriate (65psi) preasure without much work. I was duely suprised.

Now, whether or not it will still work 6 months to a year from now I don't know, and honestly, I somehow missed this whole CO2 thing, so I'll probably be getting one of those instead first, just because they're smaller and I can then put a whole kit under my seat, but still.

-- James

I prefer to support my local bike shop; If you buy a lot of things and are polite, they might start giving you a discount after a while. Mine did, and now I can buy nice stuff for little more than the cost of Wal-Mart's garbage. ...I mean, awesome products!

Also, I would feel kinda sketchy putting the cheapest parts I could find on my bike. You don't want something to fail and take a spill because it was poorly designed.

If Walmart built ariplanes, would you fly in one?

If Walmart built ariplanes, would you fly in one?


Maybe.... If its cheap enuf

I like wally world for some things,kevlar tires, helmets, locks and stuff, but for bike specific tools I recommend you visit your local bike shop. I've learned the tools from walmart bike dept are inferior and risk damage to you and your bike.

I've never had problems with Wallymart tubes.

Hi All-

Support your local bicycle shop!

Where are we going to find local expertise if their business is eroded by people buying childrens' bikes and other "bread and butter" purchases at Wally World? They supply poor-quality goods that any decent cyclist shouldn't even consider. Chains, tubes, tires, lubricants, locks, lights, tools, bags, and stuff like that you say? Jeez, toss a bone to your local bicycle shop and give him the business.

~ Blue Jays ~

My LBS sells the same tubes then every Wal*Mart I've been to for twice the price, I support them lots, and do buy tubes there.

What I'm saying is sometimes when I need a tube right that minute, and the LBS isnt open I will go to wallyworld and pick up a few tubes.