I have no doubt "we" derisively describe the products from the competition as "BSO's... Bicycle Shaped Objects." I don't, and I doubt if most of the consumers of those products describe them in that fashion.

But then, what do "they" know, eh?

We would be people who work in the bicycle industry and recognize that far too many of the bicycles that get sold through x-mart are poorly made, poorly equipped, and have a quality level far below what we would consider to be a safe and reliable bicycle.

Can you honestly disagree with this ?

what is wrong with an old jalopy car? Nothing, but it will never be as nice as riding around in a benz. You get what you pay for.

I agree that the ranting and wailing about the aleged deficiencies of department store bikes emanates from those in the "bicycle industry" who often are selling/promoting higher priced bicycles to a more affluent customer population.
I believe fastbartender's response is also an appropriate answer:

I don't think most will see your point here.

Box stores sell many decent, entry level bikes. And, it's very clear most of the negative reviews on sites for the bikes are from LBS's owners/employees deriding the unit for imagined deficiencies.

Now, many of the bikes at box stores are crap. But, there are many quality machines.

I personally can't stand riding in a Benz. Handling is crap :) Give me a nice cross over, with command seating.

I didn't, but I do now. I thought: "how bad can it possibly be, really?" Eh, pretty bad: Latest "gotchya": the screw that holds the BB cable guide in is TOO LONG to slide a cartridge BB in place.

It's been less than a year and I'm ready to move on. There's nothing wrong with it, just. . . it's time to move on.

So... your conclusion is that there is nothing wrong with the bicycles sold at x-mart and that there is no basis for the complaints about their sub standard parts, assembly, or customer support ?

I bit the bullet and spent some money on decent bikes for my kids (though used) after some bad experiences with bikes from Target and Walmart. Funny thing is that they both *love* riding this tiny "Dora the Explorer" bike that I got for my daughter for $15.00

It was intended to help her learn to ride without training wheels. It was small enough that her feet could easily reach the ground while seated and I took the pedals and cranks off. My wife thought I was nuts but it worked.

So for a couple of years she's been able to ride her Trek but she still tears around the driveway and alley on the little Dora bike after begging me to put the pedals back on, - and so does her 11 year old brother who is *much* too heavy for it. It gets all kinds of abuse but still works fine.

I think they're fine for recreational purposes and maybe more if you know how to take care of them. I wouldn't take one on a cross-country tour.

I was at my county recycling center this weekend, and there is a 50' x 50' fenced in area full of, guess what . . . x mart bikes. I would conclude there is nothing wrong with them for recycling purposes.

There's a guy who did a New Hampshire to Texas ride on a Walmart Schwinn. Only problem was a couple of flats.

He did a shorter tour on a "high-end" bike, and had myriad issues on the ride.

That isn't what I wrote.

Walmart bikes are what they are, and usually meet the needs of most of the customers who buy them; and deliver the cycling experience expectexd of them by the customer. It hardly makes a difference if they doesn't meet the requirements of the LBS associated personnel that cater to the go-fast and "Cat 6 racer" crowd.

I'll work on a Dell. I won't like it but I'll do it anyway. Macs are worse. It's like they never thought their beautiful crap would 1) break, or 2) need an upgrade.

I still maintain that there is nothing wrong with a Wal-Mart bike if you don't mind turning a wrench and know what you're getting into. I can't even remember the last time I did something other than put air in the tires or clean/lube the chain on mine. It is coming up on time to service the hubs/headset though.
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'Cause one guy is statistically significant, -right ?

It's certainly possible. For example, you can camp for months in a tent from Walmart without trouble and the zipper could break the first time you use it on a high-end tent. That doesn't make the guy camping in a Walmart tent a genius and the guy who bought the Marmot an idiot for spending the extra money.

Besides "Without trouble" doesn't mean the experience was as good as it could have been. I said that I wouldn't take one on a cross-country tour. I'd want the ride to be as comfortable, effortless, and worry free as possible on that kind of adventure and I'd be willing to spend some extra money to make that a more likely outcome. If somebody else wants to take a Walmart bike on a long tour, more power to them.

Besides, I don't think I'm really disagreeing with you. One can be a very happy owner of a Walmart bike.

True, but you've replaced a large percentage of the moving parts on that bike.

There's not a single piece of metal, other than the frame, that is original to the Denali I have. . . no, not even the screws for the bottle boss. . wait no. the seat clamp is the same. Shoot. Thought I had it for a moment.

Macs were never intended to be fixed. They are intended to be replaced. It's the "Mac Cycle": Buy new "amazing thing" every year or two.

I don't think we're in much of a disagreement, either. However, I've yet to see a department store bike just fall apart on an owner.

Do they fall into disuse? Yes. Are they lacking many of the benefits of buying from a specialty store? Yes. But, that's the market they are hitting. People who don't shop at the specialty stores.

A hardcore outbacker wont be shopping for gear at a department store. A hardcore biker wont be shopping for gear at a department store. A hardcore CB'er wont be buying their gear at a department store. It's the same with all hobbies (Yes, cycling for most is recreational at most, some it's a hobby).

And, just because the bike comes from a department store does not mean it is junk. It is what it is. My department store bike has 800 miles on it thus far, with nary an issue. I had some slight adjustments to make after buying, but since then, nada. I picked out the proverbial "diamond in the rough" at a department store.

And, my ride could very likely be taken on a tour (I haven't gotten into that part of the hobby yet), with some good results. It's effortless to ride (Comparable to a Trek 2.3 I passed on for this), comfortable, and thus far, worry free (As would be expected, since it has the same components as a Trek would have had 6 or 7 years ago).

Just out of idle curiosity I checked this thread. Not being one to really argue the bad or good qualities of any bike hey if you ride thats great ride the snot out of whatever you have and either fix it or throw it in the dump and get a new bike. I just looked at the first and last posts and this thread has been going for over THREE YEARS what a waste of band width or however you measure it.

I didn't bother reading any of it, but to sum up, Walmart bikes are crap, they are ridden a couple years, thrown on the scrap heap, sent back to China, and recycled into new bikes.

What bike did you get? Was it online or in the store? I didn't think they sold anything in the stores that was at all comparable to a 2.3 component wise. I think they sell some stuff online with STI shifters but the 2.3 has 105 components which even 6 or 7 years ago was much better than the Sora or 2200 at the low end today.

For me, this sums up what's wrong with Walmart bikes. They reinforce the common opinion that bikes are cheap pieces of metal that may be fun to putz around on once in a while but have no serious use. People who "can't imagine paying $400 or more on a bicycle" will regularly spend $1000 on an automobile that isn't likely to last a year without needing major repairs. So someone goes into a department store and spends $120 on a bike and gets what they expected. Is there anything wrong with that? Only that this person is one step further from ever discovering what a bicycle can be -- i.e. the absolute most awesome machine out there.

I wouldn't say that, I'm still discovering the joy of biking on a $150 bike. You can't judge the quality of life based solely on the price tag attached to it.
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I've read your thread. You've done an awful lot to that bike, which is great. I still think you'd have been better off starting with a bike that had higher initial quality.

Loving my wallyworld bike wife bought it for me back in june and i ride every day i have logged over 800 miles with no probs at all not even a flat {knocks on wood** what i did do was have it checked over at the shop w/tuneup $30.00 and i put new brake shoes on it,i also installed the bar ends bottle holders and rack,picked up a computer and gloves along with a bell for the river dike path that is shared by all.This is the first bike i have rode and owned in 30 years and i love it,i have lost 17 lbs in that time and feel a lot better.Also gave me the encouragement and confidence to join the local fitness center.Yes im a clyde:ride:

http://i.imgur.com/JwkqPl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w48ahl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/d4rrHl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sf6Upl.jpg

where it took me this morning
http://i.imgur.com/sekVkl.jpg