Originally Posted by
jimc101
While Target bikes fall into the BSO range, $850 full price is still a very cheap bike which will only have basic wheels on it. You don't get 'good' wheels till you make a big move up in price, today, these will be factory wheels, with brands like Mavic, Roval, Fulcrum, Shimano etc, and that's the complete wheel, not just the hub or rim.
Why didn't you ask how much the repair was going to be before you left the store? This would have saved you querying the price charged now.
Cheap implies crap in the bike world as I have seen. A 800 dollar Cannondale is NOT a cheap crap bike. A 150 dollar Target bike is crap. A 800 Cannondale is a decent low to mid bike shop grade bike that will have good solid components that won't be the lightest or prettiest but will be worlds better than a 150 dollar Magna.
Your definition of good is somewhat bordering on elitist. A good wheel to me is a well tensioned 32 or 36 spoke aluminum double wall wheel that is taken care of. Sure it may not have the lightest or smoothest components but it will be a plenty serviceable wheel that should not fall apart. My son has a cheap front wheel on his bike that is a no-name Schwinn double wall alloy rim with a Quando front hub. Quite basic and low end. I properly adjusted the front hub and properly tensioned the spokes. Its been perfectly fine for him and he is just over 300 pounds and is hard on his bike, these are 700c wheels.
Most people dont' need high end wheels that start at 800 dollars for the set or a piece.
850 dollars is NOT a "very cheap bike" by any means.