What's wrong with a Walmart bike?
07-13-11, 10:04 PM
#701
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tjspiel,
I am all for people buying a walmart bike, as they can be a good starting point. but i agree with you on the Denali, which fits perfectly Boro personality, it just doesnt seem like a smart choice. I understand that $150 is dang good price but for me if i get into road biking (which i am now) i dont think a denali is out of the box made for that sport or non mechanical types. like you said all show and no go.
i think for the sport of road biking your best bet is a LBS, because you get a fitted bike with free maintenance/adjustments a warranty from the LBS and Manufacture.
for a basic beginner bike and to get somebody riding and off the couch, there is nothing wrong with a target/walmart/sears/kmart bike. as long its not the suspension crap they shill.
for me i am riding the crap out of my wally world, and saving cash to buy a giant defy3 this winter from the LBS. and after i buy the defy i still will be riding the crap out of the walmart huffy.
I am all for people buying a walmart bike, as they can be a good starting point. but i agree with you on the Denali, which fits perfectly Boro personality, it just doesnt seem like a smart choice. I understand that $150 is dang good price but for me if i get into road biking (which i am now) i dont think a denali is out of the box made for that sport or non mechanical types. like you said all show and no go.
i think for the sport of road biking your best bet is a LBS, because you get a fitted bike with free maintenance/adjustments a warranty from the LBS and Manufacture.
for a basic beginner bike and to get somebody riding and off the couch, there is nothing wrong with a target/walmart/sears/kmart bike. as long its not the suspension crap they shill.
for me i am riding the crap out of my wally world, and saving cash to buy a giant defy3 this winter from the LBS. and after i buy the defy i still will be riding the crap out of the walmart huffy.
07-14-11, 07:41 AM
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Thanks everyone, that read and commented on my posting and gave me their opinions 
I am going to go and take a look at the cranbrook tommorow night. !
I am going to go and take a look at the cranbrook tommorow night. !
07-14-11, 08:20 AM
#703
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This walmart bike has given me 200 plus miles on the road, some sands and gravel and light trails and I have tried it in a mountain bike trail (2-4 miles) with really steep climbs and dips with tight corners (it was a novice trail nonetheless) once. I plan to go back often
It goes without saying that I have done my homework and adjusted what needs to be adjusted and did some proper maintenance on it. The only thing I changed here is my saddle and a tire tube from the rear because of the flat. All of the components are still out of the box and they all held up pretty well.
I am not saying that I am not going to upgrade, but it's not anytime soon. I will use this bike for my commutes and errands and exercise as long as it holds up. I am still looking for a better bike, but for now this has served me well.
It goes without saying that I have done my homework and adjusted what needs to be adjusted and did some proper maintenance on it. The only thing I changed here is my saddle and a tire tube from the rear because of the flat. All of the components are still out of the box and they all held up pretty well.
I am not saying that I am not going to upgrade, but it's not anytime soon. I will use this bike for my commutes and errands and exercise as long as it holds up. I am still looking for a better bike, but for now this has served me well.
07-14-11, 11:21 AM
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If you've been following the latest thread on the Denali, it's very clear (at least to me) that it has genuine deficiencies when compared to a modern road bike that you'd get from a bike shop. In practice those deficiencies may not matter to a given buyer but they are there nonetheless. However, given the cost of a road bike from a bike shop you certainly can't blame people for getting a Denali instead.
Anyway, a lot of department store bikes are ideal for some tasks and some people, but not for others. I wouldn't tell a fat person in a hilly town to ride a Denali without changing the brakes first. I wouldn't recommend an xMart bike to someone who was new to cycling, didn't know how to do any maintenance, and needed a bike for transportation. That isn't snobbery, it's a question of how well does the bike suit a person's needs. On the other hand, someone who can do basic adjustments, needs a bike for shortish rides, and wants to stick to a budget, or has to lock the bike up outside, or whatever, could be very well served by one of these.
07-14-11, 12:18 PM
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Around here if you had 2 Magna bikes to give away they would be picked up in less than 24 hours if posted on CL. They would be picked up sooner if you knew who to call or where to take them.
07-14-11, 01:27 PM
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Ok the anonymity of the internet (and my relative thick skin when it comes to message board flaming) lets me ask a question that I would totally be afraid to ask in real life, considering what I've read on these forums...
What's wrong with a Walmart bicycle?
I am considering getting my first bike since I was a kid (I biked to school and back about 8 miles each way in a very hilly area all through middle school!) to commute to work and back and around the park and neighborhood with my kids (right now my oldest is on a tricycle! but I'm thinking ahead). My ride to work is about 1 mile each way of mostly flat, very low-traffic road.
I think eventually I might want to invest in a good bike, so that I can make quick trips to the grocery store or Starbucks a few miles away, and just ride for fun/exercise. I grew up in Europe and as a kid we biked just about everywhere, and I loved it. I can totally see that sometime in the future I might become a "biker" again, especially when my kids are old enough to join in.
But right now (1) we have NO extra money (many tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills for my daughter, which will hopefully be over with in about a year), (2) I'm not sure what I want in a bike or whether I'll really end up wanting to bike.
So, I'm thinking of getting this bike: https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=8399245 (I know it's a men's bike, but it was comfortable for me). I read the comments on here about Walmart shoppers and how stupid we are, and how people on a $100 bike are probably too lame to know how to ride without running people over, etc. etc. so I thought I might add that I made it to the top of my law school class, and just because I'm new to biking doesn't mean I'm a moron
So, my question again is, what's wrong with this bike? If I know that I will most likely end up with a better bike in the near future, and I just need something to test the whole biking to work/around the neighborhood experience out with, will this bike not do the job? If not, why? Should people who don't have $1,000 to spend on a bike never ride a bicycle? I'm not asking that to be an a**, I really am curious about whether you feel like no bike is better than a cheap bike. Honestly, it would be probably four or five years before I would feel like we could set aside $1,000 (or even $500) on a bike for me, and I hate the thought that I should just give up the idea of biking to work until then. As a kid I know I rode the cheapest bike my parents could find, and it seemed okay!
Thanks!
What's wrong with a Walmart bicycle?
I am considering getting my first bike since I was a kid (I biked to school and back about 8 miles each way in a very hilly area all through middle school!) to commute to work and back and around the park and neighborhood with my kids (right now my oldest is on a tricycle! but I'm thinking ahead). My ride to work is about 1 mile each way of mostly flat, very low-traffic road.
I think eventually I might want to invest in a good bike, so that I can make quick trips to the grocery store or Starbucks a few miles away, and just ride for fun/exercise. I grew up in Europe and as a kid we biked just about everywhere, and I loved it. I can totally see that sometime in the future I might become a "biker" again, especially when my kids are old enough to join in.
But right now (1) we have NO extra money (many tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills for my daughter, which will hopefully be over with in about a year), (2) I'm not sure what I want in a bike or whether I'll really end up wanting to bike.
So, I'm thinking of getting this bike: https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=8399245 (I know it's a men's bike, but it was comfortable for me). I read the comments on here about Walmart shoppers and how stupid we are, and how people on a $100 bike are probably too lame to know how to ride without running people over, etc. etc. so I thought I might add that I made it to the top of my law school class, and just because I'm new to biking doesn't mean I'm a moron
So, my question again is, what's wrong with this bike? If I know that I will most likely end up with a better bike in the near future, and I just need something to test the whole biking to work/around the neighborhood experience out with, will this bike not do the job? If not, why? Should people who don't have $1,000 to spend on a bike never ride a bicycle? I'm not asking that to be an a**, I really am curious about whether you feel like no bike is better than a cheap bike. Honestly, it would be probably four or five years before I would feel like we could set aside $1,000 (or even $500) on a bike for me, and I hate the thought that I should just give up the idea of biking to work until then. As a kid I know I rode the cheapest bike my parents could find, and it seemed okay!
Thanks!
There's nothing wrong with the bike you've cited, except it seems not to be currently available through the link you've provided. I saw this one, which you might look over:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/700c-M-Sav...r&ssm=0&sspt=1
I'll not get a cut of the profit, or anything (
), but the bicycle looks to be designed for similar purpose to the one you mention, and it's only $90.00 ($30.00 less than the latter); there are plenty of reviews of it, too, mostly favorable.Good luck.
07-14-11, 01:57 PM
#707
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I'll stop there... I'm sure a lot of people here know my take on this subject so I'll be kind and spare them by keeping quiet.
08-28-11, 08:21 AM
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I work with two guys with disabilities who both love to bike. Since their main source of income is Social Security we've bought their bikes, as well as a bike for the staff (just to make sure that there's always someone with them when they're out and about), at Walmart. My thought is this: I wouldn't tell someone to get a bike there even as a joke. The gears work according to principles that are mysterious to me; the brakes rub like they have it in for the rider; the pedals and cranks were disturbingly loose even when we got them. For a long time I thought one of my guys didn't know how to shift because I would tell him to downshift on hills and he would respond that he was down as far as he could go, even though I could clearly see that he was square in the middle of the rear cogs. Lo and behold, the grip shift was all the way down. Maybe it will shift... someday... One of the things that keeps me commuting to work on my own bike, even when I'm exhausted, is to avoid having to use the awful Walmart bike we have for the staff.
Last edited by Pynchonite; 08-28-11 at 08:26 AM. Reason: *on my own bike*
08-28-11, 08:37 AM
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I work with two guys with disabilities who both love to bike. Since their main source of income is Social Security we've bought their bikes, as well as a bike for the staff (just to make sure that there's always someone with them when they're out and about), at Walmart. My thought is this: I wouldn't tell someone to get a bike there even as a joke. The gears work according to principles that are mysterious to me; the brakes rub like they have it in for the rider; the pedals and cranks were disturbingly loose even when we got them. For a long time I thought one of my guys didn't know how to shift because I would tell him to downshift on hills and he would respond that he was down as far as he could go, even though I could clearly see that he was square in the middle of the rear cogs. Lo and behold, the grip shift was all the way down. Maybe it will shift... someday... One of the things that keeps me commuting to work on my own bike, even when I'm exhausted, is to avoid having to use the awful Walmart bike we have for the staff.
08-28-11, 09:08 AM
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Point taken. I guess the point is that unless you've got some experience with making those adjustments, you'll end up at a dedicated bike shop anyway.
08-28-11, 10:43 AM
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Sure, but it still can save you big, because it may only cost you $50 or $100 to make it work right instead of several hundred more buying an LBS bike.
08-28-11, 11:09 AM
#712
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Wally bikes maybe ok for some commuters, but seeing Wally bike quality firsthand, and repairing the damage I can do to even an entry level LBS bike from my daily commutes, Wally bikes are not even close to being on my bike purchasing radar.
Saving a few hundred dollars is sometimes not worth the added effort in making constant repairs or upgrades, which may end up in the long run costing just as much or more than that dedicated commuter bike one was trying to avoid buying in the first place.
Saving a few hundred dollars is sometimes not worth the added effort in making constant repairs or upgrades, which may end up in the long run costing just as much or more than that dedicated commuter bike one was trying to avoid buying in the first place.
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08-28-11, 11:55 AM
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Wally bikes maybe ok for some commuters, but seeing Wally bike quality firsthand, and repairing the damage I can do to even an entry level LBS bike from my daily commutes, Wally bikes are not even close to being on my bike purchasing radar.
Saving a few hundred dollars is sometimes not worth the added effort in making constant repairs or upgrades, which may end up in the long run costing just as much or more than that dedicated commuter bike one was trying to avoid buying in the first place.
Saving a few hundred dollars is sometimes not worth the added effort in making constant repairs or upgrades, which may end up in the long run costing just as much or more than that dedicated commuter bike one was trying to avoid buying in the first place.
08-28-11, 12:04 PM
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What is wrong with a Wall Mart bike is Wall Mart.
LC
LC
08-28-11, 12:05 PM
#715
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Yes they do, I would not have as nearly the trouble free commute I enjoy now if I had to solely depend on Wally World quality.
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08-28-11, 12:28 PM
#716
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Our LBS , here, in this town is too busy in the summer to bother with the BSO's.
so you are on your own, in repairs.. of the Wally World rig, it's Magna at the local Big Box.
mid winter without Pacific Coast cycle-tourists
to deal with, on short term notice.. and sunny weather sales to make..
That might be different, off season..
so you are on your own, in repairs.. of the Wally World rig, it's Magna at the local Big Box.
mid winter without Pacific Coast cycle-tourists
to deal with, on short term notice.. and sunny weather sales to make..
That might be different, off season..
08-28-11, 03:11 PM
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08-28-11, 05:55 PM
#719
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Here's how you'll know, WalMart or not - quick disconnect wheel skewers.
If a bike doesnt have them, don't pay new money for it. Simple, easy.
If a bike doesnt have them, don't pay new money for it. Simple, easy.
08-28-11, 06:00 PM
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Cables stretch and you can have that type of shifting problem on bike shop level bike. I had it happen with my mini velo. Thats totally normal. I am not saying Walmart bikes are the same level of quality, but the cables are going to stretch on them too.
08-28-11, 08:12 PM
#721
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The cheaper, less durable the component, the faster it will wear out under rigorous commutes, tacking on more replacement costs, and additional labor effort to keep poor, sloppy operating components in alignment.
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08-28-11, 08:20 PM
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I'm not too concerned about cables, an easy adjustment, but axles, hubs, rims and spokes, wheel bearings, frame weight, derailleurs, shifters, brakes, those are a different story.
The cheaper, less durable the component, the faster it will wear out under rigorous commutes, tacking on more replacement costs, and additional labor effort to keep poor, sloppy operating components in alignment.
The cheaper, less durable the component, the faster it will wear out under rigorous commutes, tacking on more replacement costs, and additional labor effort to keep poor, sloppy operating components in alignment.
Supplier A has a QA line. If something fails standard QA, it trickles down to "Walmart QA", where it could still pass, and then be sold to Walmart. It's why most suppliers have a different model number for items sold at Walmart vs. items sold everywhere else.
08-28-11, 08:30 PM
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One thing thats interesting that I found out from a Target employe is he said that If someone returns a bicycle to Target becasue of a problem its not resold I think he said its termed salvage because of liability issues. Maybe this is the same thing for Walmart bikes as well. I wonder what parts fo the chain bringing the bike to the retail store picks up the tab for all those bikes that are returns and where they go. You have to wonder how cheap each of these bikes are to begin with for these retailers to actually make money selling them.
08-28-11, 11:58 PM
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There is nothing "wrong" per-say with a Walmart bike. It will be a bike that works and maybe even a decent starter bike. However, after a year or so, you will decide that the bike is no longer satisfactory - you'll want something lighter, smoother, more well-built, etc. Then you'll end up selling the bike at a garage sale, donating it, or it will just sit in the garage and collect dust. A perfectly good used bike for $200 could have served the same function and not costed the Earth all of the resources to spit out that Walmart bike.
The problem (as I see it) with Walmart and Target bikes is that 90% of them end up in a landfill somewhere. A good quality older bike could have more value and a sense of history associated with it.
The problem (as I see it) with Walmart and Target bikes is that 90% of them end up in a landfill somewhere. A good quality older bike could have more value and a sense of history associated with it.
08-29-11, 03:30 PM
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But, I see this as a potential win/win for a new bike owner. A department store bike offers an opportunity to learn maintenance and make mistakes which could be costly on a more expensive LBS bike. By learning maintenance, the bike owner can save money over a lifetime regardless of the quality of bike they have.
I often believe negative department-store stories are a culmination of factors. Such as, the bike has lower-quality components, poorer factory assembly, poor store assembly, and a lazy owner who is unwilling to put some sweat equity into their discounted bike. I.e., the choice to buy a cheap bike is a reflection of a larger world view which affects the care of that bike. The cheapness of the bike implies poor adjustment and fit, which contributes to failures induced partly due to poor maintenance.
I've been very happy with my Walmart and Target bikes. Not just that they've been reliable, but I've also learned a great deal about maintenance which I would have been afraid to experiment on a $600 local-bike-shop bike.
I think that's the problem with the elitist view that all department-store bikes are bad. It depends on the particular bike, it's purpose and the owner's motivation. If they're just ingrate owners who won't put any passion into maintenance, then you're right: they should buy LBS and pay the money. But, for those willing to invest some time and effort into bike care, not only can they have a decent bike for a low price, they'll gain valuable skills which will save them money at the LBS for a *lifetime*.