The important part of that statement was the the bike they bought for $20 was crap. If they bought a descent bike for $20, good for them.

Many people are under the impression that throwing enough money and time into any bike will make it a good bike. They get attached to a particular frame and do whatever they have to to make it nice. They end up spending quite a bit of money and create a lot of frustration in an attempt to stay loyal to a particular frame or components. A lot of times it would be cheaper and easier to look for a better frame to start with.

Yes, the bike might get you across town. It might get you there quickly and feel good to you. But what I learned after many years riding is that I had no reference point from which to judge the feel of a bike when I first started riding. This is why so many new riders are riding frames much too big or small, but they insist that they feel great. You can't tell what a bike is supposed to feel like until you've ridden a quality, properly sized bike. Your first bike may feel good to you, but there's a good chance that there are bikes out there for relatively little money that would feel much better. I definitely found that out when I switched from a 58cm to a 60cm frame after two years of riding.

And yes, cycling can get expensive. Just because your neighbor was able to build an awesome $50 conversion, doesn't mean you will be able to do it too.

Just...don't get to attached.

p.s. French bikes are a pain in the ass to convert because all the threadings and diameters are not currently standard. Parts (headsets, pedals, BB's...) are very difficult to find if they need to be replaced.

p.p.s. I'm a very sarcastic person