It might surprise some of you to know what a Walmart bicycle can accomplish ... I've had mine for 5.5 years now and have put about 2500 kms on it each year ... for a total now of about 13000 kms (over 8000 miles). I mainly use it for commuting and for riding in bad weather - through rain, sleet, slush, snow, salt, and sand. But I have also ridden about 7 centuries (100 mile rides), and one 200 km brevet with it ... despite the fact that I have knobby tires on it, and despite the fact that it weighs about 40 lbs.

In all that time, and with all those miles, I have had it in the shop TWO times. They have done some minor adjustments and replaced the chain each time. That's it.

I paid about $300 for the bicycle, added a few things to it, took it to the shop those two times for a total of about $400.00 spent.

Since I used it for commuting, if I had taken the bus instead (I don't own a car), I would have spent close to $4000.00 on bus fares.

I'd say that bicycle has paid for itself 10 times over ... and it's still going!!