When I told someone I was looking at a new mountain bike for around $750, they looked at me like I had bugs crawling on my eyeballs. I was informed that you could buy a great bike for $95 at Target with "springs" front & rear. To me, $300-$400 is the lowest that a decent bike can be bought for, assuming you shop carefully & have realistic expectations. Bikes are undervalued by the non-riding population. Too many will buy the Wallymart horrors, ride them 3 times, and proclaim how stupid bike riding is.

Back in the late 70's I rode an assortment of some of the most mediocre to downright horrid (Huffy 10-speed, undersized and overweight) bikes built. My high school graduation present was a Univega Viva Sport. What a revelation. Not high dollar, not exotic, but a good quality all around bike that worked! My father still thinks that the $250 (1979 dollars) price tag was too high. I had the Univega for 12 years and still wish I had kept it.

Let the bigbox discount sell the krap. The LBS's should stick to decent quality.


A side note: My wife & I visited a bike shop. Rock & Road Cyclery, good guys, helping with a warranty issue the the manufacturer has the right to tell me to take a flying leap....story for another time. I had mentioned that I wanted to get a new bike. Good sales going on, I told her.

The first bike she sees carries a $6,300 price tag, reduced from $6,800. I have lost all credibilty & hope.