MRT2

Aren't all helmets covered by a plastic shell these days (and have vents to keep your head cool on hot days?)?

As for hitting bumps, in time, you will learn to ride lightly over the bumps, by unweighting the front tire as it goes over a bump, then shifting your weight to the front as the back tire goes over the bump.

Don't know what to tell you about the performance of the components. The derailleurs and brakes might need adjustment. Hard to walk you through it over the internet. Maybe take it to your local bike coop for some help.

chewa

Gear clunking may just be technique. When changing gear you have to ease off the pressure on the pedals a bit (while still pedalling) and you should find that it clunks less.

Squeaky brakes normally mean the blocks need "toe'd in" which is to adjust them so the front of the blocks (in direction of travel) hits the rim slightly ahead of the rear of the blocks (I hope that makes sense). The squeaking is usually vibration because of the rear of the blocks hitting first.

Don't use WD 40 as you will affect the braking efficiency. Google Sheldon Brown for some good bike maintenance tips. It's very satisfying to do it yourself (if you can), but you may want someone who knows what they are doing to do the brakes.

JackoDandy

Great advice. Here's his website. A mine of good info

https://sheldonbrown.com/

SpokeEasy

If you live in Millersburg, PA, then swing by Big Himmy's bike shop. Mark will be able to help you get off to a good start.

cagedbird

Well, I just took my second ride. I rode from my house to my brother's house, which is just a bit over 6 miles. I've never done anything like that in my life, and let me tell you that I was scared to death. I wanted to ride my bike again badly, but it was raining. The past six months, I have been trying to get rid of excuses. So, I stashed the car keys and hopped on my bike! For a 300 lb woman that hasn't ridden a bike in over a decade, I think I did pretty darn well.

My technique definitely needs work, which makes sense with the above posts, so thank you for those bits of advice. (On my next ride, I'll try to ride bumps better and see if I can get a smoother gear shift.) I had ahold of the bars so tightly that my arms were so tired! I'm still shakey with steering, so the entire ride was just as intense for my upper half as my lower. My confidence in riding is still not where it needs to be, so I was tense the entire time. Hopefully that will change soon enough.

Regarding the helmet, I mean shell as in like... a turtle shell, I guess!

My helmet:

The helmet type I was talking about and can't describe:



No room for stickers... see?! I need my stickers!

Anyway, yes, I live in Millersburg. I've never heard of that bike shop! I will have to go visit it! Maybe they can take a look at my bike and see what adjustments it needs so I can get the most out of it this summer. I can definitely see myself getting a proper bike with better performance very soon.

JackoDandy

Well done! It took me weeks just to get to the 2 mile mark. I remember vividly riding 2.1 miles and being so proud of myself. The miles do get easier and always fun.

Dont overdo it though. Keep it simple and keep it fun

MRT2

Your helmet is more of an urban/skateboard type of helmet. It will work fine for biking, though it is slightly heavier and because it has more plastic and fewer vents, you might feel hotter on hot days.

RE: your riding technique, you shouldn't have a death grip on your handlebars. In fact, your arms and shoulders should be relatively relaxed as your core and legs do their thing.

RWBlue01

The top one has the cool factor, but it will cook your head.

The bottom one looks like what I have have. I still sweat buckets, but I don't cook my head.

Helmets are cheap, buy them both and see what you like.

BTW, good job on your ride. A few more times and you will not have to think about riding all the time, it will just happen.

cagedbird

No head-cooking so far, but I'm prepared to have to settle for a less "cool" helmet.

Hopefully I can find one in a shade of purple to match my ride.

Yo Spiff

Locking your arms will do that. Ideally, you should have a slight bend in your elbows. This way it supports your upper body but does not transmit all the shock up your arms. It sounds like your issue was nothing more than nerves, however. Once you get a little confidence, you should do better. 6 miles is a really good ride for not having been on a bike in so long. Welcome to your new addiction!

Black wallnut 

Congrats, you are well on your way to a great hobby. FWIW I started on a Costco Schwinn that cost me only twice what you paid for your bike. After a year of light use I started popping spokes. New wheels cured that. I also upgraded the cassette. That bike has carried me in excess of 2500 miles and still gets occasional use. I did upgrade to a good road bike and have now upgrade that with a carbon road bike. My advice is ride, ride lots. Enjoy better health because of riding.

OiS

Yeah, you know what I think about this thing? AWESOME!! You are a person excited about getting on a new bike and getting into biking. Any bike that does that to a person is awesome! I hope it gives you at least enough joy to make you love riding and keep going. Sounds like you have a great start!!

robbdj

Hi Cagedbird,

You've had your bike a little while now, how is it treating you?

JusticeZero

We bought the kid - who is not an Athena - a bike from Walmart as a stopgap. A basic single speed cruiser, nothing fancy to break down. One month later, the thing had decayed to the point of being a farce - bent and twisted cranks, trouble with the sprockets, frame issues, brake problems, bent rims and more. Then we got her a $260 Sun Revolution from one of the LBSes nearby - most people use cruisers here, and there are a lot of Sun dealers. One year later, it still rides perfectly. Walmart cuts corners on their stuff until they have a perfect sphere. They're only designed to last 70 miles from storefront to dumpster, and I can blow through 70 miles in a week of commuting.

Wut

I am interested to see how long the walmart bike will last myself. I think it is fine to start on a bike like that and then reward yourself later on once you reach a fitness goal.

Congrats on getting into biking.

phread59

Cage. I found another bike shop down you're way. Zimmerman's in Port Trevorton. He's a Fuji,Specialized and Raleigh dealer. I needed a Rear derailer hanger for my Fuji road bike. He phoned today (Thursday) to let me know it's in. I'll report back here how he is. Could be a good place to go later. I'm heading down Saturday.

Mark Shuman

ChiefTJS

At this stage of the game it doesn't matter what you ride or when or where or how you ride. Just ride.

goldfinch

I hope we hear from Caged again. I always wonder when a person buys a bike as an impulse. And, I wonder how people do in real life with their Walmart bikes.

phread59

Well Cage I was blown away. The place is amazing. Owned by Amish the amount of bikes is huge. They are displaying over 100 bikes. Clothing accessories, helmets you name it. At great prices. When you are ready to move up make it a point to stop in. It's listed on Fuji's web site under dealer locator. They stock a boatload of Specialized stuff. Cash or check only though. I was happy to go there. Nice people.

How are you making out. How's the new bike working? Curious how you are making out.

Mark Shuman

Rollinrock

Absolutely! Be proud of your bike no matter what others may think, that is YOUR bike. have fun on it, in the end that's what it's all about anyway, right?

MRT2

Same here. Is she riding every day? Couple of times a week? Or is her Wal Mart bike gathering dust in a garage, or god forbid, abandoned by the side of the road.

JackoDandy

Thats exactly why she should have bought a Walmart bike. If shes grown tired of riding shes out $100 or so. If she had dropped $800 on a bike, that would be $800 gathering dust in the garage.

MRT2

My advice to OP was to go with a decent used bike. They can be found for less than the cost of a new Wal Mart bike, and are a much better value.

The thing is, if OP quit biking because she hated riding a cheap, poorly assembled, heavy, POC, she will never know if biking is for her because she will not have really experienced what cycling could be.

JackoDandy

The OP paid $150 for her bike. Good luck finding a "decent" used bike for that kind of $. Also, there is every indication that the OP had a blast on her WalMart bike - she said so in posts. No indication that she hated it.

Hopefully shes still riding but if not, thats OK too.

MRT2

Don't know if she is still riding or not, hence the need for a post script. RE: finding something decent for $150 or less, here are a few things on my local Milwaukee CL.

As for finding something decent for under $150, I wouldn't set out cross country touring on any of these, or ride the TDF, but all of these look pretty solid, most probably ready to ride. I actually went this route for my son 3 years ago. Bought him a Trek 800. Took three years of kid abuse, and he still rides it with me on 25 mile rides. I wouldn't let my son ride a Wal Mart bike, even though there was a time when he wanted one.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/3888733042.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/3888519470.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/3887793472.html
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/3881973898.html

Now, buying a used bike takes patience and perhaps a good eye for quality, something a newbie maybe doesn't yet have. I really do want to hear back though. If I was wrong and the Wal Mart bike is good enough for a new rider, I am man enough to admit it. And if I was right, will remember this thread the next time someone asks the exact same question on this forum.