Originally Posted by
csimons
These threads about whether Walmart bikes might be worthwhile in some particular circumstance tend to pop up from time to time, and the response is always the same. Everyone says they aren't worthwhile and so forth.
I'm interested in knowing what, specifically, 'wore out', because these statements in these threads always seem to be vague. I don't understand how a bike can 'wear out', so please enlighten me.
If there is a cheap component that breaks, can it not be replaced? So long as the frame and wheels are alright, what is the big deal? Nothing else on the bike seems to be too expensive to be worth fixing. Occasionally when I'm at Walmart and my wife wants to shop around for crap, I'll wander on over to the bicycle section and take a look at what's on their bikes. A lot of time it is lower-end Shimano derailleurs and some other components are unidentifiable from the distance. Plastic pedals? Big deal, swap them out. Even new chromoly pedals can be bought at JensonUSA for less than $15. Assembly probably needs to be checked at every juncture, but who rides bikes seriously and doesn't know how to do this?
So please, cyclists who naysay Walmart bikes, humor me and tell me specifically what has happened in your experience with Walmart bikes.
There have been several posts on this in this forum and I have given very clear specifics. For instance, the frame isn't tight. Within 25 miles the connections on my sisters bike (which was a Walmart cruiser) needed tightening every single time she rode. The Handlebars would twist in a circle and could not be tightened to the place to stop this. The brakes and shifting were inoperable by 45 miles. The tires themselves were practically bald. Sure you can replace parts, but as we have found most Walmart, Kmart, and Target type bikes do not take standard bike parts. Thus making repairs difficult, costly, or impossible.
Here is a link to where I outlined the situation with my brother's Walmart bike
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ation-for-kids
As I stated in that post, I think that the cost of the bike, plus cost of repairs that are needed within the first year of an average riders use are such that most should consider a LBS bike. If however you like making bike repairs or you just want to stand back and admire the bike, I think that a Walmart bike could be the best thing for you!