Here is another of those "non-existant" high quality used bikes I picked up last night for re-sale. 1985 Trek 620 21" 531 Reynolds frame & fork, Shimano XT cantilever brakes, 700cc sealed bearing hubs Shimano 600 (Ultegra quaity level) Indexed shifters & derailleurs, Brooks professional saddle, Blackburn rear rack. PLenty of room for large tires & fenders Cost? $100. The bike needs a rear shifter cable. As I stated so long ago, it is a matter of educating yourself and making the effort. It is ok if you don't want to do that. The Denali will serve your puposes. It is wrong however to steer potential readers/riders away from the used bike option as unobtainable or that the bike has to cost a lot of money and need lots of repair. None of these bikes needed anything more than the the Denali Cig has as far a repair or adjusting. Also why would you not want to know how to do some repair on your bike if you are going to ride to work? You sure can't take it back to Wal Mart for help if you need it.

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics159.jpg[/IMG]

Oh and guess what I picked up last week at a thrift store on my lunch hour?

1981 Miyata 1000 Touring bike: $50

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics117.jpg[/IMG]

1984 Miyayta Ridge Runner Mountain bike: $50

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics116.jpg[/IMG]

1981 Zini Supersport $70 (Online auction score $50 for the bike $20 for shipping)

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ikePics109.jpg[/IMG]

Why can't you elitists understand that I live in place completely void of used bicycles. I would use ebay but I need a bicycle RIGHT NOW, preferably one that I can pick up while I do my grocery shopping. So the Denali it is! I am going to pick one up and as soon as I figure out how to reinstall the fork correctly and adjust the brakes (or should I say "breaks") and the shifters and bearings I will be out riding it. I can't wait to go 28.763 mph while blowin past you elitists with your $4000 orbeas. Heh, I bet you'll feel stupid then.

the funny thing about this entire thread...all the negative posts are all about Wally World's inability to put a bike together correctly. Not that the bike is a piece of crap, just about the way it was put together.

So...if you can do a little work on the bike, perhaps its not a bad bike for commuting on.

WOW, a classic flip flopper. You opposed before and now you are for the Denali. What gives?

Sarcasm gives.

Actually, I think there's been quite a few posters, including myself, who've said they believe the bike is crap - mainly because of the components they hang on the frame.

My beef is, and always has been, the flat-earthers who claim that this bike is a good (or even passable) deal for the money. As fender has shown above, you could have got any one of those bikes for less than what you would have spent on a denali and I believe any one of those bikes would be of better quality in the short or long term than the denali. Better quality frame and components to begin with and easier to repair, replace, and adjust over the life of the bike.
I truly cannot fathom why anyone in their right mind would spend more money for a lesser bike, other than to chalk it up to pure ignorance. Ignorant of the difference between what constitutes a quality bike(do not read 'more expensive') and a bike that rolls when you push on the pedals.

So, let's not talk about whether cig is a good guy or a bad guy, let's not talk about average speed, let's not talk about imagined bike snobbery or the alleged jealousy of the inherent, supposed thriftyness of you walmart shoppers. All of that is just distractive BS. Let's just talk about whether and why this bike is supposedly the best bike you can get for ~$150.00. Let's talk about why, for some of you, Craigslist and ebay are such impossible options that the only alternative is walmart, et al. Honestly. I really want to know. I have an idea, but I really want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

You mean the handlebars could have put on backwards which would give the impression the forks were on backwards. That's a possibility. If that is the case, it takes all of 3 minutes to fix.

A major tune up? Well if adjusting the gears and the brakes count for a major tune-up by an LBS, it's a rip off.

Tue Jul 31
Classic 3 speed Columbia Sports III - $100 (Central Point, Oregon) pic
Lots of rust, not ready to ride
Gary Fisher 2002 w/ PICTURES ADDED - $395 (Phoenix) pic

LITESPEED--TITANIUM-- ROAD BIKE - $395 (Ashland) pic
shifters not working
Giant Rincon SE - $150 (Ashland)
might be the best choice for this day except it is too big
Pink schwinn stingray bike 16 "- chopper style bike - $25 (klamath falls) pic

bike frame - $300 (medford)

Titus motolite - $1100 (Cave Junction)

Mon Jul 30

Bike Rack - Trunk Mount - $20 (Central Point) pic

YETY--Downhill bike---10"Monster T---8"Rock Shock - $1500 (Ashland) pic

Hardtail w/ 7" travel fork - $1000 (Ashland) pic

Tuner 6 Pack - $1850 (Ashland Oregon) pic

Sun Jul 29

Park PRS-20 Repair Stand - $155 (Medford)

*REDLINE 440 Expert 4130 Cromoly-Mid School BMX* - $129 (Medford) pic

Roadmasters Mountain Bike pair (SOLD)(SOLD) - $125 (Ashland) pic

NEXT mini BMX 16" wheels - $20 (Ashland) pic

5 speed bicycle - $20 (Merrill Oregon)
Thu Jul 26

NIB Blue LA cycles Big Mo Chopper bike, 20" - $149 (Central point) pic

2004 GT Zaskar XT Aluminum Hardtail - $500 (Ashland)

(NEW) Incline Newport Shaft Drive Bicycle 3Spd. - $250 (Central Point) pic

Basically New 2006 Drop Off Triple - $225 (Roseburg)

Bicycles that fold - $250 (Bicycles)

Bike Wanted

10 speed lady bike - $30 (Cave junction)
Freespirit/Canyon Run 10speed sold by Sear's
wanted small/women's road bike

Trek 300- Mountian/race bike - $775 (Ashland) pic

Univega 6 Speed - $195 (Grants Pass) pic
Wed Jul 25

awesome old bike - Roadster made in Austria (medford) pic

Zooma 4 Stroke Scooter - $150 (Ashland)

Next 16" mini BMX bike - $20 (Ashland)

Graber Bike Rack - $30 (Grants Pass) pic

Red Mountain Bike - $50 (Klamath Falls)

Two Bicycles - $15 (JACKSONVILLE) pic

KLein Quantum Pro-Road Bike-53cm - $1750 (gold beach,or.) pic

Thule Roof Rack for Subaru - $125 (Ashland) pic
Mon Jul 23

Kids bikes (Medford)

Youth Pro-Tec Bike helmet & sm youth elbow pads

Schwinnn---- Mens road bike - $85 (Ashland)
Sun Jul 22
Way too big
OLDER SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER M2 FS MOUNTAIN BIKE MATRIX COMPOSITE - $350 (ASHLAND)

26" Mens Mongoose Mountain Bike - $75 (Glendale)
Sat Jul 21

2005 gary fisher mullet-size 13.5 pic

4 bikes--$10 for each or $25 for all - $10 (medford) pic

Schwinn collegiate 3 speed vintage - $50 (Grants Pass) img

Yakima Roof Rack, GT Zaskar, other misc. (Ashland)

My area's entire craigslist bike listing:

Tennesse Cruisers - $400 (Huntington Beach) pic
Tue Jul 10

Haro V-2 Mountain Bike - $100 (Kingsport)
Sat Jun 23

Women's DIAMONDBACK 26" ISLANDER - Like New - $135 (Bristol) pic

RETRO BIKE RELIVE THE 70'S 20 INCH BIKE - $100 (ABINGDON VA) pic

The area I live in is too hilly to make a cruiser bike very practical, I already have a mountain bike, a women's bike wouldn't fit me, and the '70's were before my time, so I'm not sure I'd do a good job of reliving them.

hey..love the bikes man..i have been trying to find a good used road bike in my town like the ones you have pictured

Ok..against my better judgement I'll respond to this.

I started commuting by bicycle 3 years ago. I have a fairly nice Univega Modo Vincere (nice steel frame, campy veloce, and at the time a nice set of protons on it) that I started out commuting on. This is a nice bike and pretty light weight, it cost me $800 new and then the wheel set was another $400. Unfortunately, the train tracks on my commute decided to eat my protons, and I could not justify spending another $400 on wheels. So I put the mavic CXP 21's back on the univega and started looking for a used bike to commute on. For 6 months I tried craigslist, Ebay, play it again, all the lbs, and the want ads in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. I was unsuccessful at finding an affordable bike that I thought was worth buying. Their were plenty of magnas and huffys, etc. that I could buy, but never could get my hands on what I thought was a decent bike for the commute I had. Eventually, I ended buying a cheap Wally World Schwinn MTB. It has an aluminum frame, tourney derailuer, and I spent $26 more for a set of cheap slicks to put on it. It lasted for 1 1/2 years of commuting and nearly 2,000 miles with absolutely no problems. I still have it. Total $ outlay for this bike, the tires, a rack from REI and panniers was less than $300.
After 2 years of continuous looking, I managed to find an old Puch Pathfinder at a Goodwill store for $16.00 and I snapped it up. This is what I commute on now. Its faster and more comfortable than the wally world bike, but if I had needed a bike in a hurry, I would have been SOL or riding a Wally World special. So, IMO, there's nothing wrong with these bikes for commuting. There certainly not the best bikes in the world, but they are'nt the total trash some try to make them out to be either.

I agree with Modo. There is nothing wrong with the Denali or the like if you need a bike in hurry or if it is the option that best suits your needs. I posted the used stuff because there have been a number of threads stating, in effect, that used bikes are money pits and difficult to maintain, etc. etc. There are potential always issues with any bike purchase new or used. I understand not every area has these types of bikes available. I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. My point is to consider used as well. Used will many times require more effort in finding and weeding out a potential purchase on the buyers part. Used, to keep the price down, will require doing some of your own repair. I feel that it is imperative to know how to do basic repair for you own convenience and saftey if you plan to commute on a regular basis. In addition to Craigslist and Ebay please check out Thirft Shop/Goodwill/Salvation Army, Church Bazarr, Local Police Auctions, Unclaimed property from transit systems, Universities, school districts etc. Also for ebay limit your search to within 200 miles of your house to keep shipping costs down or find something with local pick up.

The Trek pictured above was a very expensive bike in 1985. It has everything a commuter would need and it will actually INCREASE in value going forward if maintained. That will not happen with any Wal-MArt bike. Also if you decide that commuting is not for you, you will be able to recoup most, if not all of your orignal used bike purchase price if you decide to sell it. The Denali and the like have virtually no resale value after you roll them out of the store. Ultimately people are free to do whatever they want and more bikes being ridden to work etc. is better than fewer bikes, regardless of make or model. I would rather have 2 bikes like the ones pictured above vs. 1 Denali type bike for the same money. That way I have a back up or a different type of bike to ride. (Road vs. Mountain etc.)

Also this forum is an amazing resource. Folks in the classic & vintage area are friendly and helpful as are the folks in the Mechanis forum. I have learded virtually everthing I know from this forum. YMMV.

I think modo hit the nail on the head here.

You CAN find a fantastic used bike for little...but it may not be "right now"....get what is best for you at the time you need it, then look out for the better ride later on. Don't play the "upgrade game" on the temporary bike....just keep it running smooth until that good used bike shows itself to you.

Life is a series of compromises, and perfection is only obtained through perseverance or at great costs.

A few questions:

Actually, I think you hit the nail on the head.

I wanted to avoid the 1 piece cranks that are common on the lowest priced department store bikes. I wanted a 3 piece crankset since they, IMO, are easier to work on. Also wanted eyelets for a rack and most of the lowest priced huffy/magna style don't come with those.

Price wise, what was I looking to pay? Sub $200 for the bike was my only limitation. There are some very nice used bikes in that price range. They usually get snapped up in a hurry.

Hi,
I have read most of this thread and bought a used denali from CL based on it. I have been riding it for a couple month and am quite happy with it. Since mine was used it came with a better front brake (a nashbar dual pivot). Anyhow since after looking for a while and bargaining like hell, I may have found one of these easy good old bike that our colleague from Giorgia seem to find at every street corner, for a decent price I was thinking of converting my denali to fixed gear . I bet we will have another bunch of bike snobs ranting on this thread :-)
Greg
PS: Yes I know it has no drop outs to speak of so I will have to find a chainring sprocket combination that works.

Hmm, what does THAT do to this thread... the trolls say to go get a decent used bike instead of a new Denali... so gregounours goes and gets a decent used bike... that just happens to be a Denali! :lol:

This isn't entirely on topic, but since you mentioned Goodwill, let me share with you the news that Goodwill stores, at least here in the Philadelphia suburbs, no longer sell or accept bicycles. I've asked at four of them whenever I've had to make a dropoff. The reason given is always that they are afraid of being sued in case of a mechanical problem or injury.

Note, though, that Goodwill organizations are VERY loosely connected - one parent company, but it's all separate organizations in areas. In my area, there's three or four different Goodwill organizations.

The ones I go to, they sell bicycles (not many, though.) However, I've not seen ANY computers lately - my guess is they don't accept them due to data security issues.

I have the Denali Road Pro and have not had a single issue with this bike as of date. 3 months. Did I have to go over it with a fine tooth comb and tweak a few things to get it to shift right, yes. Did I have to tighten bolts and various other things, yes. Was the front quick release loose, yes, and I had to tighten it. But I chalk that up to the fact that the people assembling these are not mechanics in any way and are forced by wal-mart to assemble a ungodly amount of bikes per shift. So yes, with a small amount of wrenching this bike can be set up the way it should have been from the beginning, providing an enjoyable ride for someone who is not into the sport as seriously as the people who have spent 5g's on there roadbikes, but want to get out and ride. Also, for someone who lives in a high crime rate area where bikes are stolen alot, would someone even want to risk losing a 900+ dollar bike? I know I wouldnt.

My big issue with why I didn't buy used is I know nothing about bikes. I don't know a mongoose from a denali from a specialized. I can't tell what's broken to the point of being unridable and what's just a little loose spoke. I don't know bikes, at all and I just wanted to comute and have a little fun. Now I bought the denali, have been riding it for a few months and have about 400 miles on it. I am saving up currently for a bikes direct crosscheck in my size and can't wait. But it's the 148 dollar denali that got me interested and here in the first place.

Nothing wrong with that!
It was a cheap diamondback from Dick's Sporting Goods, that got me re-introduced to cycling.

I can't believe I rode that POS for as long as I did -- wheels always going out of true, derailleur clunking like an old toolbox, a bottom bracket that sounded like a wimpering child whenever I stood up on the cranks...


But it served it's purpose.

Interesting item of note...very late the other night I was in WM picking up some batteries for our LED headlights at work, just happened to wander thru the bike section on the way...the Denali they had in stock had brifters:eek: Looked like a cheap copy of the Sora's that I have. They also had a very similar road bike badged as a Schwinn Allez? for about $10 less.

Aaron:)

That would be the Denali Pro, and was NOT a basic Denali, and was NOT $150 - IIRC, the Pro is $320 or something.