WestMichiganGuy

I will admit, I went cheap and from Wally BUT, this bike (hopefully) will be a good starter while I save for a good bike or, little by little, mod this into a great ride. Modding would probably cost more but might be fun if only to have a beefed up cheapie that is one of a kind and distinctly me.

indyfabz

What size is it?

WestMichiganGuy

Frame size is a mystery to me.. can find nothing mentioning that.. unless, the frame size matches the wheel size... it is Walmart so, yeah, you know how that goes. The only info I can really find is that it is referred to as a "26" Mens Granite Peak"

I sat on it and rode it in store a bit and it was as comfortable than half the MTBs I have tried and more comfortable than the other half (fit wise). The seat will have to go though lol

eja_ bottecchia

OP, congratulations on the new addition to the family. It looks like a good bike, I am sure that it will take you far on your new adventures.

If you look at my signature, I now own and ride some very fine bikes. But I started like you, with a department store bike. Once I fell in love with cycling, however, there was no going back.

Have fun and ride safely!

ill.clyde

Typically speaking, I think the WalMart bikes are generally one-size fits all.

As for your future needs, I wouldn't put any money into that bike (save for maybe a new saddle).

My fear is that front suspension is going to get squishy real fast and you're going to get back to your original worries about feeling unstable on bikes with front suspension (that was something you mentioned in your original thread, so I was surprised to see a suspended fork on this bike). Not to mention once that fork goes (and sad to say it will) it's really not worth fixing and will be a very heavy rigid fork.

I still, personally, feel you should buy a used MTB without a suspended fork. I think you're settling on this bike because you just wanted to have a bike and you didn't really want to think about the buying process all that much, but again, that's just my personal thoughts on it.

I know you want to ride, and I know your budget is limited ... but taking a little extra time now to find a good quality used bike (that's truly in your size and not one size fits all) in my opinion would serve you better.

Please don't think I'm being overly critical.

If you're set on this bike, ride it until the wheels fall off and then get yourself something better.

I just know we've read many, many cases on this website where an uber clyde buys a WalMart bike and hates it once the sheen of newness wears off.

FLJeepGuy

First off! Congratulations on the new ride! Any bike is better than no bike so get out and ride it like you stole it!

For future reference, bike size or frame size usually refers to the distance measured from the center of the crank to the top of the seat tube where the seat post enters it. There are plenty of measurements in a frame's geometry, but this is the one most people refer to as a general reference to the bike's size. The tire size is usually the second most commonly discussed measurement on a bike but it will in 99% of the cases be different than the "frame size".

As far as seats go, it's a very personal thing, and most folks change seats to their individual preference regardless of the cost of the bike. Your LBS can help with finding one that fits you properly with the right balance between support and softness.

Little Darwin

Glad to see you found something to get you on the road!

I agree with some other comments, don't upgrade, just find a saddle that works for you, and replace anything that breaks as you get into the addiction and figure out what you want long term.

BIGDCYCLES

Woohoo!!! My first bike in a long time was a wally world mongoose deception 29er. It has served me well for over a year. I have had to true and tension wheels and spokes and the tires are almost worn out. There is a forum for modification of big box store bikes if you do go that route. New saddle that fits you and ride the tires off of it!

indyfabz

26" refers to the wheel size. I am also 6'2". Unless the photo is distorting the true nature of things, I have a hard time believing that that bike would be large enough for me, but if it works for you....

MRT2

So sorry you went this route. At the risk of sounding like a bike snob, IMO, you are better off going without a bike than risking your safety on a Wal Mart bike. Don't put any money into it. Best of luck with it, though.

NurseWizzle

That seemed kind of rude.

MRT2

Not rude, but direct. WestMichiganGuy came to us as a 6'2" 340 # man looking for a bike that would hold his weight and get him back into cycling. He got some good recommendations about what to look for and what to avoid, and he went and bought what most who contributed told him to avoid; a one size fits some Wal Mart special.

If he came asking for recs on a bike to ride on a 1,500 mile tour, then went out and bought a beach cruiser, I would be similarly direct.

I bear no malice against OP and hope it works out for him, but I wonder what was the point of his asking for advice?

WestMichiganGuy

Asking for advice does NOT mean someone has to do exactly what people tell them nor even do anything at all. Sometimes, asking advice is just to see the opinions out there, get more information, and, hell, a good way to say "hello, I am new and no idea what the F I am doing" lol

You were right about risking sounding like a "bike snob".. ya kinda did. I am sure there is little risk to locally riding a Wally World bike as I lose weight and save money. Nobody expects this bike to last forever, ****, it was $85...

The fact is, and I know it is a fighting point here but, the box store bikes are ok depending what you expect from them and what you plan on doing with them. Are they the "top notch, look I have a ton of money to throw into riding a bike, I have the best cause I am so cool" type of bikes ? No.. they are simply a good beginner step for someone slowly coming in.

Honestly, people pounding the "only these models are worth riding, no big box store bike is good enough" mentality into everyone probably scares more people away than it should. Hop on a bike.. ANY bike.. ride it.. if it tickles your fancy, save money for a better bike..

Johnny Mullet

I started off with a department store bike and still ride it now and then to keep it in working order. Just a Huffy Thunder Ridge and nothing special, but it at least had low end Shimano indexing on it.............



I wanted to upgrade it with better rims and lighter components, but after adding up costs I decided to just save up and wait for a good, used bike on Craigslist. I rode the hell out of that Huffy for about a month until my search finally paid off on an older, but better bike...........




Ride that bike and enjoy it. After you decide this is something you want to do, then find a better bike and keep the Roadmaster as a backup or have a friend join you riding your old bike.

1loosemoose

Have fun riding your bike. Ride it until its wore out!

At $85 a piece you can go thru a couple of them without losing any big money. If you do wear a couple of them out its time for a better bike. If it sits in the garage you are only out $85.

Lanceoldstrong

As we say around here... +1, or I could have written that myself. Have fun.

MRT2

In the threads you started, nobody suggested you needed a $5000 or $10,000 Madone, S Works, or Cervelo to get you going. Most people were suggesting $100 or $200 used hybrids or at most, something like a new Giant hybrid or even a bikes direct or Nashbar bike (which btw, would have been a better option). Think for a second how Wal Mart can even sell a bike for less than $100 and still make money.

I suspect IllClyde is right, and you just got tired of the process of hunting down a used bike that fit.

every sport, or activity has its cost of entry. In cycling, that price is about $400 new retail, a little less if you get a good sale, or off the internet, and even less used, but you need to be patient and know what to look for. I will not apologize for hating big box store bikes. Ask a fishing enthusiast what to buy and I am sure they won't say great things about fishing gear you get at Wal Mart. I know this isn't what you want to hear and that is fine. I am just some internet guy you don't know from Adam.

tell you what though. Prove me wrong. Ride that thing an hour a day, every day, 2 or 3 hours on Saturday. Take Sunday off. So ride it 6 to 8 hours a week. Come back here in 6 months or so, after riding 100 to 120 hours or roughly 1,000 to 1,200 Miles and let us know how things are going, and what has held up, and what hasn't.

Deal4Fuji

Thumbs up on these supportive comments...the important thing is to ride a bike you like, and when you're ready to upgrade you have gained some knowledge from others here who have more biking experience.

gman214

Congrats on the bike! Now get riding!!!

WestMichiganGuy

MRT2, you seem more upset about what I got than I am with just having something cheap. You need to gets some meds......... and, prove you wrong ? I am sorry, I was nder the impression that I don't have a thing to prove to you.

Also, here in Michigan, I probably have 4 months of riding time available to me and, in my current state, will not be putting "hours and hours" into it until next season at the soonest.

Now please go away.... frankly, you are doing nothing but being rude and have nothing more to say nor contribute to this thread.

WestMichiganGuy

I rode it a bit today.. got a cushier seat and it feels nice.. might get some comfort grips for it down the road.. not a huge fan of the hard rubber ones on there but, who knows.

I had fun.. and it was a workout for me but in a good way.

Johnny Mullet

Once you get over the 3-4 days of pain in your buttocks you will be good to go. Don't let anyone talk down your bike. I still love my Huffy no matter what people say. All bikes are awesome, functional pieces of art. Like a guitar.

Tbobx

Congratulations on the new bike that will surely take you far and welcome you into cycling where you will meet people and get fit. As with any big purchase, save the receipt and know what the warranty covers.

WestMichiganGuy

yep, got all the paperwork and the receipt right here by my pc so I don't lose them

eja_ bottecchia

Way to harsh the OP's mellow. My Mom taught me that if you have nothing nice to say, then you are better off saying nothing at all. Do you really think that a Walmart bike is somehow going to explode while the OP is riding it? That bike will take the OP a long way until he figures out what he really wants to get from cycling. In the meantime he can save his money until he is ready for his next "dream" bike.

OP, enjoy your bike and like others have already said, ride it like you stole it.