Originally Posted by gpsblake

$2,000 bike owner = spends $100's on maintenance at the LBS each year. They probably spend more on the spring tune up at the LBS than I spend on my bikes.
$150 bike owner = just buys another bike for $150 rather than throw $100's into it.

I've got 1,400 miles on my latest Walmart Schwinn... still haven't had to replace a thing, not even the tires. Just a brake and shifter adjustment and motor oil for the chain once a week.

I've never had a chain failure on a Walmart Schwinn.

You might ask what about my previous Walmart bikes? When I take a bike tour, I usually just go one way and rather than paying to ship the bike back, I just donate it to some charity and take Greyhound back home and just buy another Walmart bike.