Originally Posted by
JimJimex
I was in your position 3 years ago, too.
I thought a $900 Bicycle was expensive, too.
But if you are in this thing, you'll soon realize that if it turned into an equipment you use almost EVERYDAY for your movement, $900 is a VERY inexpensive fixed investment with close to zero operational cost. My $900 Bike has basic payed for itself now after 3 years of everyday use.
That is why MOST the people here will say don't buy a WalMart Bike. Because if you just ride it once a month, the per-ride-expense is too big. If you ride it everyday, its quality is too poor.
If you are sure you want to do this cycling thing, quality Bicycles pays themselves off VERY quickly.
Fixed that for you. I'm the outlier here. Have fun with your Walmart bike. Think of it as a throwaway. If it spends enough time out of storage over the course of the year that you get tired of it or something breaks, sell it for $50 on craigslist and get something better.
There is NO sense in spending money on something you aren't sure if you will stick with. Don't let it become another treadmill-used-as-a-clothes-drying-rack.
If you are too new to know whether you will stick with cycling, you are too new to know if any used bike you are getting is more trouble than it is worth.