I think there is no or minimal snobbery because everyone here is basically happy to see people get out and ride and support the whole riding, weight loss, change your life thing.

I have wrenched on a lot of costco/Target/walmart bikes for friends and family and find that the components in general break easiy and are hard to adjust/work on and general don't work as well as even slightly more expensive parts. It does seem that the component mix is getting a little better.

Part of the issue is that a lot of lowend bikes have "features" like suspension that don't buy the rider anything, but still add to the cost. The features are there because that's what people buy.

This feature issue also applies to LBS and higher end bikes.....does anyone really need a suspension fork on a hybrid?

I really believe that people would be better served longterm both economicalll and in quality of ride by getting better quality bike/components whether new or used, but would rather see someone riding than not riding.

Squirt dad

PS Some one noted something about clipless and drop bar snobs. YMMV, but personally I find that clipless is the only way to go for longer rides. And as for drop bars....I think is it more lack of experience that make people think they are uncomfortable.... to me they give lots of flexibiliyt and flat bars without barends give me wrist pain.

PPS what the forum needs is more bike pics...so I will put a thread out for that.