Originally Posted by monsterpile

Nice truck. There are lots of people that like the 4.3. In my 2 Blazers I had a TBI and CPI and even though it was older supposedly had less horsepower and had twice as many miles the TPI seemed better for me. That little beast almost required a Tetanas shot to drive because the other body was so rusty, but it was a good little vehicle. I paid for it in cash mostly from selling bicycles which is probably a sin or something. LOL

Originally Posted by rodneyd24

I got my bike and wanted to share my experience. I am very satisfied with this purchase. Shipping took less than a week and was included in the $160 price tag. Out of the box all the components worked great. Wheels are true. It took me about 2 hours to put it together, tweak and customize. I didn’t rush and the process included swapping out new brake pads, removing guards, reflectors and the kick stand, replacing the seat, installing ATB comp pedals with straps, and putting some velcro adhesive strips down on the top tube so I can attach energy gel packs for easy access.

The shifters needed minor adjustments because a couple of shifts were off and the front derailleur was scraping the chain in certain gears. But following the directions made those corrections easy. I adjusted the brakes and they work fine. I am able to lock them up if I want.

The pic is of me with the bike leaving T1 at my first triathlon. You can see the mods. I saw two other Denalis at this event.



I’ve now got 100+ miles on it and a competitive event so I’m starting to get comfortable and have a few thoughts:

• I’m just under 6’ tall and got a “large” bike. The 57.5cm frame is the right size and fits me well.
• I like the larger 32c tires. I’m not an elite competitor and prefer comfort over all-out performance. Thinner tires at high psi are a stiffer ride.
• The Revo shifters do not bother me. Brifters or thumb shifters are better options but I would prefer the Revo shifters over down tube, stem and possibly even bar-end shifters. The indexing has worked very well so far.
• The triple crank is not ideal. I don’t use the small crank at all. I think it’s a complete waste unless you are a weaker rider or doing serious climbing.

All-in-all, I’ve got about $250 invested in the bike with my customizations and am completely satisfied with this purchase. IMO, unless you can find good value in a used bike that has the components you want, the GMC Denali is a solid option. It’s a great starter bike and/or low-budget option. There will come a time, probably by next season, when the limitations of this bike will lead me to purchase a new or used higher-end road bike. I would probably do that instead of making major upgrades to this one (because of the frame weight) but certainly see the value in continuing to make upgrades.

Thanks again to everyone who positively contributes to this thread. It has been very helpful for me.

Originally Posted by wphamilton

One thing that's been puzzling me is about the frame, and various opinions I've seen. Mainly that it's not worth upgrading beyond low end components. I understand that the sum of the parts can be more expensive than the whole bike, but assuming you avoid the LBS prices and labor charges, what is the issue specifically?

The frame weighs four pounds. The lightest frame you can get is two pounds. Generally speaking at rational expenditures, we're looking at a pound to a pound and a half heavier than a carbon frame. So if you used the components of an 18 pound CF bike you'd have a 19 to 20 pound "Denali". Is that a deal-breaker from the frame alone?

No doubt there are differences in handling characteristics. Stiffness, road vibration, "feel" whatever that is, and so on. I wouldn't know - probably most owners of such low end bikes have little or no time in the saddle on high end bikes. So I'd like to hear from those of you who have spent time on both. What are the serious, deal-breaker drawbacks of the frame itself other than the extra pound or so?

Originally Posted by ShinyBiker

What's the turnaround time when you order a walmart bike online and the time it gets to your local store?

Originally Posted by LansingWes

I too just bought the GMC Denali. As a Grad Student, this bike was really the best I could afford. Also, I figured it's better to start riding and outgrow a bike rather not ride while I save up for something to grow into.

Assembly was easy out of the box. Tightening the handlebars was a trick. I had to stick the long end of the allen wrench into the post and try to turn the small end with a separate wrench. Tricky, but it worked. I also had to make slight adjustments to the brakes. And spent a lot of time centering the front wheel. All told, it took about 2 hours but I have no experience putting bikes together. Someone with the right tools and experience could probably whip it together in quite a bit less time.

Everything is probably broken in by now. I've been riding a week now and have gone about 54 miles. I need to take it to my LBS to tune the derailleurs because I'm not comfortable doing that myself.

Personally, I hate the placement of the shifters. I'd like to replace the entire drop bar assembly and switch to an integrated shifter/brake system. My longest ride was today, when I rode around town and on the bike path we have here. I went 19 miles and the seat is a little uncomfortable. Then again, I have yet to get bike shorts. I'm hoping to buy some later this week and I think that will go a long way to reduce any discomfort.

Like you, I don't think the gears are big enough. I'm not sure if I should replace the crankset or the cassette. It's mostly flat here and, unless I'm riding in traffic (where I have to make stops at many red lights), I'm riding in the biggest gear.

I really do think that for the money this is the best bike around. I spent $150 at Amazon. So far I'm having fun and feeling great. Sure, it's not the last bike I'll ever own. But, it's a great machine to start out on. And, at least I'm riding while I wait to get something better!

Originally Posted by MyBikeGotStolen

Great review, I have been reading all your updates so far! Also, I like the truck. I have the same 96 S10, same colors and everything. Lol, my color is pretty bad faded, and I only have the 4 cylinder.