Originally Posted by
spare_wheel
the snobby responses to this post are so predictable. most walmart bikes are perfectly serviceable. you may need to tighten some nuts, adjust cable tension, and tweak derailleur settings but any decent bike shop can do this for 30 bucks. in contrast to many rusty bucket vintage bikes, walmart bikes are warrantied. i've know several people who have had good experiences with walmart bikes.
It's not pure snobbishness. Some of us are put off to the downward pressure Wally puts on American wages with their pushing to re institute 19th century labor practices. As for the bikes, they're mostly very cheap in their construction. The brakes are usually flexy stamped carbon steel. The brake cables are low grade carbon steel, and fail quite often. Friends don't let friends use twist grip shifters, and they are all, but some of the higher end bikes, not equipped with quick releases on the wheels, making for more bothersome tire changes.