I think most people here don't think you have to spend $1500 to buy a beginners bike. They just don't want anyone to waste $80 to $200 on a new department store bike bike that falls apart easily. I know because I went the Huffy route.I actually bent the chainrings shifting gears. I wish I had spent that $100 on a used bike or just saved for something better. Over the 10 years I've been cycling, 8 of them were on a $500 hybrid.