What's wrong with a Walmart bike?
10-31-12 | 07:45 AM
#876
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,765
Likes: 3,937
From: Louisville, KY
Can we keep this thread going forever with our sporadic posts?
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
10-31-12 | 07:52 AM
#877
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Metro East area
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads (red)
10-31-12 | 07:53 AM
#878
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,765
Likes: 3,937
From: Louisville, KY
You know, the OP posted on here and made her decision about what bike to ride 4 years ago. Would be nice if she'd check back in and tell us how it worked out (and if the bike's still going strong), but I doubt we'll be that lucky.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
10-31-12 | 10:47 AM
#880
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,278
Likes: 342
From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
I rode my 4 year old Denali GMC to work today if that helps.
10-31-12 | 11:00 AM
#881
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
On Sunday's ride, a noob showed up with a brand-spankin'-new Schwinn Varsity, a flat bar road bike/hybrid, from Wal-Mart. Once he figured out how to ride (first time on a bike in 20 years and had just bought the bike that day), he did okay. Toward the end of the ride though, he was having shifting problems. Upon inspection of his rear derailleur, I found a Shimano-branded device with limit screws that were self-tapped into a plastic body. Functional? Yes. Durable? If set up properly and not abuse, maybe. But if you fiddle with it too much, or if someone puts the screw in crooked (which is what it looked like when I examined it), the RD is basically junk.
Yes I know there are people that get years out of their Wal-Mart bikes, but I think you're far more likely to have something break than on a bike bought at an LBS.
Yes I know there are people that get years out of their Wal-Mart bikes, but I think you're far more likely to have something break than on a bike bought at an LBS.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-01-12 | 02:47 PM
#883
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
What's wrong with asking what's wrong with things?
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
11-01-12 | 03:11 PM
#884
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 7
Caroline -
You have probably concluded that a fair number of folks are a bit biased about anything from Wally World (which is a bit of an extreme position, but it is what it is).
I do think you can get a good $150 bike at Walmart for about $100. For most folks it is the right choice. Don't sweat the choice or opinions of others.
Now if you have time to shop, then you could drill into local bike groups (ask at a bike shop for leads) or even online into craigslist and probably find a nice lightly used $300 bike for about the same $100 (search on Trek or Giant or similar bike names) or you maybe for only $50 if luck is shining on you that day. Other option is to visit a few bike shops and ask them if they have any good used, repaired or traded-in bikes they would be willing to sell... But don't let them know you have only $100 to spend. If they show you some available bikes and one of them looks right to you, then fit on it, but look disinterested. Then ask about their best price for it. Remember that any bike not at new and full retail condition is pretty much open to haggling on the price; nicely at first. If you can get a bike that works for you at your price point, tentatively say you would like to do that... but ask if one of the bike mechanics could give it a looking over to make sure it is ready to ride and safe. Bet there Mech will do it right for you. Being pleasant and friendly in your dealings can be helpful.
Hope that helps
/K
You have probably concluded that a fair number of folks are a bit biased about anything from Wally World (which is a bit of an extreme position, but it is what it is).
I do think you can get a good $150 bike at Walmart for about $100. For most folks it is the right choice. Don't sweat the choice or opinions of others.
Now if you have time to shop, then you could drill into local bike groups (ask at a bike shop for leads) or even online into craigslist and probably find a nice lightly used $300 bike for about the same $100 (search on Trek or Giant or similar bike names) or you maybe for only $50 if luck is shining on you that day. Other option is to visit a few bike shops and ask them if they have any good used, repaired or traded-in bikes they would be willing to sell... But don't let them know you have only $100 to spend. If they show you some available bikes and one of them looks right to you, then fit on it, but look disinterested. Then ask about their best price for it. Remember that any bike not at new and full retail condition is pretty much open to haggling on the price; nicely at first. If you can get a bike that works for you at your price point, tentatively say you would like to do that... but ask if one of the bike mechanics could give it a looking over to make sure it is ready to ride and safe. Bet there Mech will do it right for you. Being pleasant and friendly in your dealings can be helpful.
Hope that helps
/K
11-01-12 | 03:17 PM
#885
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 35
From: St. Louis Metro East area
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads (red)
What's wrong with things?
This could become quite tedious!
Since I've had a monogamous relationship with my 1992 Specialized Crossroads from the day it rolled off the showroom floor, I feel unqualified to add anything to the Wallyworld Bicycle discussion, since I'd just be parroting what I've read and heard from others.
I just know that if I got one, I'd:
1.) Take it to the LBS forthwith, and have it basically reassembled correctly, and
2.) have many parts replaced with better parts. Brake levers and pads, Shifters, derailleurs, handlebars (since I love my trekking bars beyond reason), and even wheels, if they were steel rims.
This could become quite tedious! Since I've had a monogamous relationship with my 1992 Specialized Crossroads from the day it rolled off the showroom floor, I feel unqualified to add anything to the Wallyworld Bicycle discussion, since I'd just be parroting what I've read and heard from others.
I just know that if I got one, I'd:
1.) Take it to the LBS forthwith, and have it basically reassembled correctly, and
2.) have many parts replaced with better parts. Brake levers and pads, Shifters, derailleurs, handlebars (since I love my trekking bars beyond reason), and even wheels, if they were steel rims.
11-02-12 | 10:41 AM
#886
a.k.a., Point Five Dude
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
From: Twin Cites, MN USA
Bikes: 1987 Trek Elance 400 T
What's wrong with things?
This could become quite tedious!
Since I've had a monogamous relationship with my 1992 Specialized Crossroads from the day it rolled off the showroom floor, I feel unqualified to add anything to the Wallyworld Bicycle discussion, since I'd just be parroting what I've read and heard from others.
I just know that if I got one, I'd:
1.) Take it to the LBS forthwith, and have it basically reassembled correctly, and
2.) have many parts replaced with better parts. Brake levers and pads, Shifters, derailleurs, handlebars (since I love my trekking bars beyond reason), and even wheels, if they were steel rims.
This could become quite tedious! Since I've had a monogamous relationship with my 1992 Specialized Crossroads from the day it rolled off the showroom floor, I feel unqualified to add anything to the Wallyworld Bicycle discussion, since I'd just be parroting what I've read and heard from others.
I just know that if I got one, I'd:
1.) Take it to the LBS forthwith, and have it basically reassembled correctly, and
2.) have many parts replaced with better parts. Brake levers and pads, Shifters, derailleurs, handlebars (since I love my trekking bars beyond reason), and even wheels, if they were steel rims.
