Originally Posted by
PandaExpress
This. As a person that recently got into cycling, it is INCREDIBLY difficult to find a quality affordable bike while you're learning the ins and outs of the sport. Everyone tells you to look on craigslist, but its hard to not get suckered into buying a junk bike when you have no idea which brands are known for making quality bikes, which brands USED to make quality bikes, etc. Add the fact that most LBS won't size you for less than $50 unless you buy a bike from their shop (and the $400+ price tag for ENTRY level bikes) and its almost impossible to break into cycling without a sizeable amount of starting cash. Looking back, I'm not sure whether or not I'd argue against an Wal-mart bike for the first bicycle. If you won't be riding it for more than 2-3 miles at a time, I feel that Wal-Mart bike would be a great pickup.
Even now, I'm considering a Wal-mart bike for my next purchase:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Thruster-7...-Bike/17206771
For $100, I can get a fixie and have plenty of cash left over to upgrade parts. For around $200, I'll have a completely personalized fixed gear bicycle. Probably a hi-ten frame but its not going to be anything more than a grocery/cigarette run bike, so who cares?
Really it's not that hard even for an inexperienced buyer. Just go with what you know. Even in areas where the market is a sellers market, you find old/vintage Chicago made Schwinn Cruisers for $100-$150 on craigslist. If it doesn't have excessive rust, cracks or bends in the frame, and rides and brakes good it's good to go. It will out last any box store bike.
Even better and a lot more fun, is just hitting garage/estate sales and flea markets. That's where you'd actually get a deal that would far surpass the box store or craigslist, which would give you more money for upgrades and extras.
Like noted by others even the vintage big box stuff like Huffys, Free Spirts, and Wards bikes were better made then the new big bike store bikes. Those brands have actually been gaining popularity in bike towns as bar cruisers and errand bikes. Because they last longer than the big box bikes and are less prone to being stolen, yet cost about the same or less.
There is a reason Walmart puts the bikes in toy section and not the sporting goods area. The bikes they sell are for the most part toys, not bikes.
It's not as if the OP was wanting a road bike or vintage bike project, just a "beach" cruiser. They're pretty straight forward. And really a good bike to start with on learning maintenance. Pretty much just keep the chain lubed, perhaps fix or replace a tube/tire, straighten a rim or two with spoke wrench. Then when the bug strikes, lube the bearings. That's about 1/3 of all bike maintenance on any bike.