jlecouteur

Hi,

Let me introduce myself : I am an IT professional in his mid 30s with a couple of young children.
Since my children started to ride their new bikes, I am tired of running after them... and I am considering buying a bike for myself.

As I spend most of my free time sailing, swimming or diving, I never ride and I don't want to spend too much on a bike that won't be used that much (less than 10k's per year)

I was initially looking at Target/KMart/BigW/Woolworths... or even Aldi (!) but after reading some reviews on the internet, it seems that people strongly advice to not go to this kind of stores.

So my question is considering that I don't want / need an expensive bike, and I know I will get what I will pay for, is buying a $100 model in a supermarket still a good option?

Thanks
John

10 Wheels

Visit your local bike shops ad see what they have.
Test rides might also be good for you.

jon c. 

I certainly don't think so. You'll ride more and enjoy it more if you like what you're riding. I'm a proponent of going the used route as you get a lot more bike for your money. I understand there's a fear that you don't know what you're getting, but quality control is poor enough on the cheap box store bikes that you don't really end up knowing what you're getting there either. If the components are failing in six months or the frame cracks in the first year, it isn't really a bargain.

There are a lot of nice bikes sitting in garages because the owner thought it was a good idea, but never really ended up riding it. You can often pick them up at a nice price. And in many markets, there are good used bike sellers who take the time to make sure that what they're selling is thoroughly overhauled and for practical purposes as good as new. There are also, of course, sellers trying to get top dollar for crap, but it's usually not to hard to ascertain who you should be doing business with and who you should avoid.

And if you put the word out to friends and co-workers, you may well turn up someone with a used bike they want to sell.

jlecouteur

Thanks for your advice. I like the idea of used bike.
My plan was to buy a cheap bike for the next couple of years, and then buy a normal one if I end up riding "often" (=once a week or so)
Generally speaking I don't like going to supermarkets but this time they sell $100 bikes compared to a $400 one I found in a dealer shop (it was the cheapest)

AnthonyG

I'd recommend that you start with a $400 bike from a reputable dealer.

A $400 bike from a dealer will be reliable and will be backed by support from the said dealer. $100 bikes are full of promise that they just won't deliver. Forget frames breaking. That's not usually the problem. The main problem with cheap bikes is that you can't get the gears to stay adjusted and change gears properly or the brakes to stay adjusted and brake properly.

Cheap bikes are frustrating to ride and frustrating to work on. Coop bike mechanics who work for cheap just to keep people cycling are frustrated to their wits end trying to adjust cheap bikes so that they work properly for people.

$400 bikes, are cheap. Don't go cheaper.

Anthony