Originally Posted by
The Historian
Just dispensing with one piece of nonsense in your post for now. Do you mean "toys" such as this?
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5585799
Please note that's a carbon-fiber bike at Wal-Mart, which, applying the same logic you've wielded here, means I can call road bikes "toys." But I'm too polite to take digs at other posters' bikes, so I won't.
And a note for the OP: get whatever bike makes you smile the most.
I'm pretty definite that you posted a link to that bike and called it a carbon fiber road bike. It's not. It's an aluminum bicycle to the core. And there isn't a single person that knows much about bikes that would bring that bike up in a forum where the OP is asking for advice on a fitness/road bike. I'm sorry, but if you really do your research on quality bicycles and value for your dollar, there aren't any bikes sold at Walmart that a professional would recommend to this OP.
If that makes it difficult to have a discussion with me, then so be it. It's only my opinion, but I'm not going to change it, I would not recommend a new hybrid/comfort bike in the under $500 price range for this OP. I'm sorry if you are offended by it. I gave what I thought were good alternatives.... even though they exceed the $500 threshold.