Originally Posted by
sudo bike
It's silly to keep yourself from trying the sport/activity until you can afford a good quality piece of equipment, and then risk that rare capital on it.
That was the position I was in. I thought I'd make good use of a bike, but wasn't sure enough to spend $400-$500 on a Trek FX.
I also wanted to learn to do my own maintenance. I was afraid to "experiment" with an expensive bike.
Finally, I was nervous about how to secure a bike. It was a lot easier to put a $200 bike at risk than a $500 bike. In other words, I was more willing to ride to a store in a bad area. More willing to enjoy myself and not sweat protecting my investment.
That last point cuts both ways. A thief will be less inclined to spend time breaking my u-lock to get my department-store bike (compared to a Trek FX 7.3). Less inclined to strip my "Tourney-grade" components.
Now that I'm into it, and feel more confident about assessing security and how to protect my bike, I wouldn't have a problem spending $500 on a bike. It would be a worthwhile investment. But, I really like what I have. I haven't found an LBS bike that feels better than my department-store bike. So, I'd be glad to upgrade. But, in reality, I don't have any reason to. I've upgraded my $200 bike with $80 worth of tires, new handlebars, kickstand, quick-release rear axle.
The main thing is, I've ridden about 5,000 miles in 18 months. I lost 30 pounds. I'm healthy. I know how to do my own maintenance. I'm perfectly happy with my choice. (But, I realize some people may need a better fitting bike than a one-size-fits-all department store bike. And, some people may not be inclined to do their own maintenance. My choice isn't necessarily the right one for everyone.).