poriggity

So, I noticed a sign for a yard sale near me today, Went down there, and found this sitting there. It's a Roadmaster Granite Peak. It still had the cardboard in the front wheel, and the owners manual still zip tied to the seat. it would appear it had never been ridden, and everything looked brand new. I asked the couple running the yard sale if it was for sale. They said yes, and that the husband of the couple bought it 3 months ago with the intention of getting in shape, but then had some knee complications that prevented him from riding anymore. Sure, it's an $80 Walmart bike, and I'm not really sure if any components are upgradeable, but I walked away with this bike for $15. Yes, you read that right.. $15.00.... I'll ride it until the wheels fall off for that price.



It's got TD One Torque Drive components, which I've never heard of, but heck, for $15 I'll ride it till it falls apart on me. I understand this is a BSO, but what this is, is a way for me to get on a bike while I save a few more pennies for the "real" bike I want.. Which I don't quite have narrowed down yet.

Scott

Scott

poriggity

So, I prefer a clean look on all my toys. I debadged both my cars, so I figured I needed to do the same to the bike... Gotta get the front frame emblem off, but got all the flashy stickers off..

Zephyr11

Hard to go wrong for $15. I'm sure it's heavy and hi-ten steel, but for the price of a cheap bottle of wine you have a perfectly serviceable ride until you figure out what you want. Plus if you're going to buy a Walmart bike, better a hardtail than a full-suspension with a pogo stick in the back. And most likely you'll be able to sell it for at least that much when you do decide to buy a better bike. Enjoy.

Redhatter

Hopefully it doesn't do this while you're riding it… Fall to pieces once you get home: sure, but not when you're some distance away or whilst mobile.

I've had occasions when things have come off mid-ride, and it's no fun.

poriggity

Exactly my thoughts. I can't decide what I want to do for a real bike, so this will fill in the void and itch to have something to ride until I figure out what I want. I was kinda surprised that it was a hard tail, as I know wal-mart and the like stores tend to focus on full suspension cheap bikes...

poriggity

The virgin ride, assuming it's not pouring rain, will be a 2 mile round trip trek, so worst case, I'll have to walk home...

Flyboy718

You done good.

poriggity

It was 35 degrees and foggy this morning. I went for a 1 mile ride on dirt, and the bike did fine. I learned that I need to figure out the shifting on this bike, as the chain came off the front sprocket set, and I was shifting it. It went back in easy enough. Can't wait till the weather gets ether so I can go for a longer ride.

Redhatter

Ahh well, can't have everything. I find usually it's a timing issue when the chain decides to jump the sprocket, had it happen to me occasionally, and none of my bikes are "bicycle shaped objects".

It'll probably do okay for a little while. It's just longevity in the components that I'd be particularly concerned about. Then again, at $15 it's almost disposable. The frame is probably okay and you can just replace the bits with higher spec components as they wear out.

poriggity

Yeah, I fully blame myself for the chain jumping the sprocket, so it's not a huge deal Its been raining/snowing the last couple days here, so getting our on the bike has not happened. If it doesn't rain this weekend, you can bet I'll be out there riding it, and getting a feel for it a little more.

bikemig 

You can get a darn good bottle of wine for $15 . . . .

practical

This bike weighs about 40 pounds, so when you get a good bike that weighs under 30 pounds, you're gonna think you died and gone to heaven. You'll also love having more than 18 gears. If you're not riding a lot hills, you might not notice the weight too much or the gear limits. This will be a good bike for gravel and dirt trails. It'll be a little slow on pavement, though. Have fun! The other thing you could do is try to flip the bike on craigslist for about $50.

poriggity

As of now, the trails are hard packed, fairly level dirt, but that's just because I'm getting back into it, and I don't want to push myself too hard at first... I agree with you about flipping the bike once I'm done with it. For the price, it was hard to turn down.

Jax Rhapsody

The bike should be fine, as long as you're not doing hard jumps for that fork. Sucks you can't put an element fork on it, those are the best bso suspension forks.

poriggity

Yeah the 1" fork is gonna make it difficult if I wanted to upgrade it on this bike... But I don't plan on spending any money on this bike. I'll just buy a nicer bike after a while I'm sure.

Jax Rhapsody

I can understand that, I just know how springy those ?forks are. Those cheap element forks found on Mongooses are progressive rate.I wish I could find who stole my Research Dynamics Coyote, that was an awesome street friendly hardtail; had a stiff 3" travel fork, I stuffed a 8speed wheel on it, and trigger shifters, riding on Kenda 838s. Hard to find bike. The 8sp stuuf came off a f/s bso of all things too.

Wanderer

Ride it like you stole it, which you did.... Looks good with the stickers gone!. Lots of tutorials on the internet , for your adjustments.

poriggity

Trust me, I would have been out riding this morning, but the fog/hail/sleet weather we're having is not making for decent riding conditions, so instead, I'll surf bike forums all day...

Zephyr11

Yeah, do NOT sink any money into this bike. Ride it until you either break it or have money for something better, then buy a new bike. Oddly enough, I've ridden with a guy who had a Walmart frame he had completely upgraded with nice components, saying he'd upgrade the frame when he broke it. He crashed that ride, and the frame survived...though his XT rear derailleur did not. Would not suggest that particular method of upgrading though.

poriggity

Went for my first real ride. 2.6 miles along a dirt road/trail. The bike performed as expected, and I learned I'm gonna need to get out more, as this 2.6 miles was tough on my old bones, and I'm not used to any real excersize Had lots of fun, and everything went smoothly. I do need to adjust the brakes, and I installed my Amazon special watter bottle and cage...











Scott

osco53

The cables will take a while to stretch in,

Old trick, take both the shifter cables off the bike, hang them up high on something and hang a block or some such 30 pounds on them for a week.
Then they should stay adjusted. check for kinks in the cable housings, sand the cables if needed...
Take the bottom bracket apart and lube it, It wont have any, just some sticky stuff in there... It's adjusted too tight anyways I bet.
Double check both wheel hubs also.... and every spoke.
,
,
Better yet take it completely apart, you will find things so over torqued they would have give up the ghost real sudden like.

Most wally world bikes are put together poorly, very very poorly.

Lube the seat post ASAP,, trust me on this one...