Originally Posted by jhumason
* About the Denali: I have good mechanical skill, so I could probably duplicate the repairs/adjustments that Cig did. And I am certainly (as I have posted here in other threads) in the market for a low-priced bike. (Short description: if $750 really is the entry-level break point for a new bike, I am walking instead!) But I don't go into Wal-Mart stores, and I don't buy anything that I would wear that I can't try on first, so I guess it really isn't an option for me. Still, the discussion has been very informative. Thanks!
Anyone who says $750 is the entry-level break point is, well, ********. Or OCP. I bought a $350 Specialized Hardrock Sport from a bike shop late last summer, and 700+ miles later it's still going strong. It's never had anything done to it besides new tubes, and it's supporting my gigantic abusive butt. Note that after the winter abuse, it squeaks like crazy but nothing has broken. I'm proud of it, it's a beautiful beast that has served me well beyond description.
For my new commuter, I bought a Trek 7.3FX. I paid $479 for a 2007 model (yay for buying a bike in January in Nebraska
), and it's awesome. I haven't ridden it much because it's just so pretty and I don't want to get it dirty. The OCP crowd would shake their head at my babying of a "low end" bike, but to me it's nothing near low-end, it's a high end speedster.
It's all about perspective. While I certainly doubt some of cigs claims, the bike does what he needs to when he needs it to.