What are the "Good" bike companies?
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I think it's a little misleading to suggest a LBS is the answer. Many (or, I'd say, "most") LBSes stock Electra, Schwinn, and other brands that are about the same quality (and probably same OEM) as a brand you'd find at a Walmart.
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It has also been suggested that their bike frames are also substandard. I'm not certain about that, except for I know for a fact that many of their bike frames are made of Hi-Tensile Steel. That may have been acceptable twenty years ago, but certainly not these days.
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First, Schwinn Company went out of business years ago and the assets and the NAME were purchased by a holding company. Second, the bicycle shaped objects at the Big Box store that say Schwinn on them are neither real Schwinns made by the Schwinn family or are they actual bicycles.
LC
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First, Schwinn Company went out of business years ago and the assets and the NAME were purchased by a holding company. Second, the bicycle shaped objects at the Big Box store that say Schwinn on them are neither real Schwinns made by the Schwinn family or are they actual bicycles.
LC
LC
Don in Austin
#31
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The BSO term originated in bike shops and came from the poor slobs (like me) that have to get this stuff working for customers and to be reasonably safe to use. The "Elitists" just took it and ran with it.
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First, Schwinn Company went out of business years ago and the assets and the NAME were purchased by a holding company. Second, the bicycle shaped objects at the Big Box store that say Schwinn on them are neither real Schwinns made by the Schwinn family or are they actual bicycles.
LC
LC
"Dorel markets its Recreational/Leisure products under the Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse, SUGOI, Pacific, Dyno, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brand names. "
I don't really like the "BSO" term either, but I do think it's good that folks asking advice about bikes be warned of low-quality models. Some bike-shoppers think $100 for a bike is a lot of money so they shop at Target and get a bike for $50. But, you get what you pay for ... Reading above, I'd also guess that a higher quality bike, like your new Cannondale, is built in the same factory as the Wal-mart Schwinn, just using better specs., materials, etc.
Last edited by AltheCyclist; 09-02-11 at 08:55 AM.
#33
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You're right, Schwinn is owned by Dorel Industries, a holding company. According to their web site:
"Dorel markets its Recreational/Leisure products under the Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse, SUGOI, Pacific, Dyno, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brand names. "
"Dorel markets its Recreational/Leisure products under the Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, IronHorse, SUGOI, Pacific, Dyno, RoadMaster, PowerLite and InSTEP brand names. "
All this means is that bikes CAN be built in America as cheap as , but better, then the imports under any brand name.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
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The subtle point I was trying to make was that people sometimes bash the Wal-mart garbage, even if it's made alongside their $1500 Trek... better to just list good quality bike models than bash the brand.
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If your brother finds a Sekai scrapping send me a PM .
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I didn't know jack, I just walked into a bike shop & saw a Giant Defy #3, picked it up felt light as a feather "After looking at Walmart bikes", & I bought it. Ive been riding for exactly one month now & have nearly 700 miles on it. I loved it but I find myself wanting to be an elitist. It is addicting, now I want the best of everything, good bikes are like crack. I'm going shopping today, who knows what elitists bike will be on sale? Long story short I really love my Giant, even though I know they're mass produced in Taiwan.
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The Giant Defy 3 is an awesome bike!
I can't see it leading to elitism...
However, I can see Walmart bikes leading to crack!
I can't see it leading to elitism...
However, I can see Walmart bikes leading to crack!
Last edited by SlimRider; 09-03-11 at 07:34 PM.
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A Defy is a nice bike, enjoy it.
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There is some good information here on old bikes you would typically find "scrapped"
https://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...ITE_1_HOME.htm
You just won't find things like Waterfords, rivendells, or Lynskeys in the scrap
Also be aware that most "good" companies make all levels of quality bike. Not that their lowest stuff is bad.
Just have him save all bikes until you can get a look at them and ask around here - especially in the C & V forum.
https://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...ITE_1_HOME.htm
You just won't find things like Waterfords, rivendells, or Lynskeys in the scrap
Also be aware that most "good" companies make all levels of quality bike. Not that their lowest stuff is bad.
Just have him save all bikes until you can get a look at them and ask around here - especially in the C & V forum.
Last edited by dedhed; 09-03-11 at 07:11 PM.
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If I were on a tight budget, I would try second hand from a shop to ensure a decent fit. Fit is very important for enjoying a bike to it's fullest. If you cannot afford second hand from a shop. At least read about fit and then go try and find a bike that comes close to what you want, garage sales, scrap as mentioned or classified ads. Once you start riding it will not take long to find the faults in a bike as well as yourself and then you can start saving for better if you like riding; the whole time researching your next upgrade. As far as asking questions like you did in this thread, remember it is a forum, take what is said for what it is worth. There are a lot of people that love to push their opinions. If you ask a 100 different people about a bike you may get that many opinions based on biases from their own personal experience or rumor or from a friend of a friend. The bottom line is buy what you can afford and get out there see if you like it and don't get hung up on others opinions that don't quite meet your view.