Originally Posted by Cyclaholic
Great answer there edp773. Only two things I'd add... even the cheapest Trek will feel nicer than the wal-mart bike in every way. It will shift better, run more smoothly, more reliable, etc...... and at this stage you probably wouldn't be able to pick the difference performance-wise between the cheaper and more expensive Treks, so don't let the marketing hype or bike shop sales people convince you that you 'need' the more expensive bike because you definitely don't at this stage.
Glad to hear some common sense. Thanks for that, Cyclaholic.
At 50 miles per week, if you are happy with the bike you have, the Walmart bike will suit your needs well.
Some time, if you have the chance, try out an up-scale bicycle that fits you. It is not easy to describe why a high-end bicycle is worth the money. After all, the difference in bicycle weight is probably less than the amount of weight you put in your stomach every day.
There is something though - the gear shifting is smoother, like Cyclaholic mentioned, the bike weight will make sprinting and starts easier. The better bike will just have a more controlled feel to it because all the bearings and moving parts have higher tolerances, better materials, and are assembled by professionals who care about their work.
There is a reason people pay more money for better bikes and it isn't just the paint. HOWEVER, that does not mean that bikes under $100 are not worthy. They are aworthy and spoke for spoke, the low-cost bikes are a tremendous value.
Thanks to the Chinese, you can buy a bicycle now for about the same price as you could buy a bicycle in 1964 and I think that is just amazing.