Originally Posted by KrisPistofferson
Allow me to be the first to say that the new Varsity sucks, as does the Chinese company that purchased the name "Schwinn," and WalMart does too. Some of us who can see the forest for the trees are observing this race to the bottom with some misgivings. Sorry to bust anyone's bubble.
You could've spent $200 at an LBS or bought used and:
1. Your bike wouldn't weigh 65 pounds.
2. You would've supported a local business.
3. The components wouldn't be utter crap.
But that's enough making sense for one Wally-World thread. Feel free to call me a pinko-communist for not wanting to support the People's Republic of China, and other Sean Hannity-style talking points that don't make sense and are unintentionally ironic.
I've never seen a $200 road bike anywhere near my LBS...
As for those of you saying the componenets from an 80's steel bike would be better, would they?
Used 20 year old middle level parts should surely be equivalent to low-end componentry now.