Mark Stone

Don't worry about it windchaser - some of these guys just like to argue. If you would have started the thread with "I had a great ride today!!!" it would have eventually degenerated into an argument over the advantages of Shimano over Campy with name calling - - If a thread you started starts turning ugly, it's not your fault. Just walk away - That's what I do. Your opening post was good. Ride Free!

acidfast7

You only had a better ride than me because most Americans live in the middle of nowhere.

Commodus

I've had to work on some dept store bikes. I have found that they are not generally a sound investment if they're actually used. Too many things wear out too quickly and can not be easily repaired.

Last time I was at a mall though I saw several simple, single speed bikes that would probably work great. The real problem with these bikes is when they try to do too much with too little. You can't make a full suspension bike with disc brakes for $300, you just can't. A single speed beach cruiser though? Sure!

Mark Stone

I looooooove the Middle of Nowhere!

acidfast7

I lived in the middle of no where once for 7 years one a downtown main street where businesses had saloon style doors. Excellent tex-mex and authentic Mexican as well.

I had a fully renovated Queen Anne Victorian.

Now, I have 500 sq ft with dozens of museums and the river 2 minutes away.

Both places are/were nice in their own way

windhchaser

one thing i did notice about my walmart is they leave there bikes outside in the garden area.i never knew this to a few weeks ago while looking for a new place to lock my bike.also months ago i was looking at a bike they had inside that had rust on the fork tubes

ItsJustMe

I'm actually more likely to "pull that" on Amazon - I don't really care about hands on experiences, I want reviews. Local stores can't get that for me. I buy a hell of a lot from Amazon, but it's because THEY give me the shopping experience I want - lots of actual user reviews. I can't get that locally. I get ONE guy's opinions, and in my experience, even knowledgable LBS employees are likely to be either badly biased or trying to sell something regardless of whether it's right for me. Local stores are likely to either be staffed by people who know less than I do, or by blowhards that formed their opinions 20 years ago and haven't looked at the market since then.

When I do buy locally, I've done my research online first, then just gone there to get it. So if I'm cheating anyone, it's online places. If I go to a store and wind up buying online, it's because either they don't have what I want (this is true 90% of the time) or they're BADLY overpriced, like more than 50% over the online price ($150 or more for a $100 online item). I'm not surprised anymore to see local prices double or more online prices, and I just can't justify that.

BassNotBass

That's where I usually go when visiting department stores when in search of a bike... they tend to be almost half the price of new and acceptable for personal use, experimentation or looking for a cheap means of transport for a fellow citizen who needs a cheap ride but doesn't have the skills to make it a reliable means of transportation. I'm a supporter of buying local and/or that is American made but when it comes to bikes, there is nothing available at a reasonable price for the average commuter that isn't mostly made in Asia anyway.

BassNotBass

Actually my >$150 Huffy Black Widow full suspensioned disc braked bike has been reliable for 3 years and others of the same ilk coming through the shop didn't have suspension or brake problems, they had the typical non-stainless steel spoke, poorly adjusted and inadequately lubed hub and bottom bracket problems that plague many bikes that weren't set up by a competent mechanic from the start.

I-Like-To-Bike

Hey nothing like a What Should I Buy? or Should I Buy Dis or Should I Buy Dat? or Is this Brand Better than that Brand? query to get the electrons flowing on this list.

The ultimate wack-a-doodle query will be Does My Bike Saddle/Bike Shorts Combo Make My Ass Look Fat? Without pictures.

sirtirithon

This is absolutely amazing! I love it!!!

Gravity Aided

Many Americans are of German background . But we're all mutts , and hard to generalize about ... Provided a lot of headaches for Europeans in the past that way .

Commodus

I read this on the internet, but I have never seen it in real life. Though perhaps we are defining the term 'problems' differently.

acidfast7

Of course, I'm generalizing as most statistical analysis works that way:



I'm actually most amazed about the Danes, who are also the happiest people on the planet, FWIW.

BassNotBass

Quite possibly. To me a 'problem' is a component failure (or potential failure) although some people view a lack of brand recognition as a 'problem'.

Commodus

I would define suspension with a complete lack of rebound damping as a 'component failure'.

I-Like-To-Bike

Or lack of "nods of approval" from strangers on the Internet.

Gravity Aided

And yet, according to your statistics quoted, save the least . Don't underestimate the Danes ,. I guess, is our takeaway here .Or don't trust all the statistics you read . Variables such as method, sample size , and skew all have their place in considerations as well . Ask Mr Romney about that one .

acidfast7

This is the OECD, the best in the business (as far as sample size and experience with statistics go.)

That's why I am amazed, the Danes probably saved so little because until recently they had 4 years of continuous unemployment insurance (now it's only 2 years.)

I couldn't care less about Romney as he didn't have any statistics that held any value because he didn't have a plan. You (the entire planet, actually) dodged a bullet there.

Gravity Aided

You sure got that right, Acidfast . Amazing things, happening every day .

acidfast7

We (Europe) were very concerned. I, as an American citizen, got asked a hundred billion times for 18 months about how anyone could vote for him. The best answer I could arrive at is that the two-party system/electoral college sucks and it's either a straight Republican vote or an anti-Obama vote. That usually assuaged most question-askers.

Gravity Aided

Siu Blue Wind

Thread closed.