Hello everybody,
Well, reading the Wal-Mart thread got me thinking about returning my Wal-Mart Schwinn bike, so I'm going to. I made my first trip to my LBS and I'm going to get a Trek 800. Is this a good bike? The price they had was $219. That comes with free 90 day tune up and 1 one year free service.

I'm a short guy, 5'8", and the guy said I would need a 17" frame, which he had in stock, so he's going to build the bike and it will be ready in a couple of days.

Did I make a good choice for my first bike? (well second after the wal-mart bike)

great choice! welcome to the club

how much is the 4500 at your LBS??... you might want to consider that one over the 800...

Yeeeehaww..sweet man..Wal-Mart/toy store bikes suck...

Welcome to the wonderful world of...well..good bikes?

Sounds like a fair deal. The 800 may be a basic bike, but being professionally assembled and maintained means a lot, plus even its most basic parts are as good or better than the best parts on the Schwinn that walmart is selling right now.
You've already seen what is below the 800, but you might also consider what is above, as well. The 820 is nearly identical except for the RST Capa suspension fork. The 4100 has an aluminum frame and the 4300 has the aluminum frame and I believe better components. I'm not sure about the prices on these bikes, but the bike shop owner would be glad to enlighten you.
As for fit, you should have 2-3 inches of clearance over the top tube when standing flat footed and it should feel comfortable to pedal. 17" sounds about right, but that should be based on your decision.
Welcome to the sport

Good choice. The fact that your bike is being assembled by a real mechanic and can be repaired by a real mechanic is a MAJOR plus over buying from Walmart.

Have fun returning the Wal-Mart bike. The one here has a "No Return" policy on bikes now.

Congrats on your decision and future acquisition!

My WalMart took two back with no questions asked. I was thoroughly satisfied with the experience. (both times) The KMart across the street will not refund bicycles, they will only (and I use this term very loosely) repair them. - Ted

Congratulations on your decision. I just did the same thing, as you know, and I could not be happier with my new bike. (am I a kid again?) I rode my KHS for about an hour and 15 minutes with my son today. It ride like a dream. It is much more comfortable. I also sold my GT Aggressor 3.0 today, and only lost about 50 bucks. Not bad. - Ted

I was told by a bike shop emploie that the Schwinn doesn't have a sealed bottom bracket and the Trek does. Our Wal-Mart doesn't cary any bikes that can compeat with the bike shop fare!

If in the end you will be happy and satisfyed, then it's a good choise...
Hope you enjoy your new bike. Be safe!

The Trek 800 a good start up bike. Nothing fancy to worry about, good start up parts, acceptable weight, and a reputable company. Can't beat that. Plus you are getting it from a shop that will be able to repair it and keep it in good shape for you. BONUS!

Be sure to take it in for repairs after a few rides, the cables and such will stretch initially, but a quick tune up will fix that and keep things happy.

congratulations on your trek, my wife started on a trek multitrack 700 a few years ago, it was a low cost bike, and it has been great. She still has it, and bought a higher end trek mountain bike last year too, good bikes ....tom

"You've already seen what is below the 800, but you might also consider what is above, as well. The 820 is nearly identical except for the RST Capa suspension fork. The 4100 has an aluminum frame and the 4300 has the aluminum frame and I believe better components."

Would there be a good reason to go to the 820? Do I really need a suspension fork?

Depends on what type of riding you intend to do. If you're actually going to do some off-roading (beyond gravel paths and the like you'd find at a forest preserve), the fork could be a good idea. At this price, they are heavy and somewhat limited in function and adjustability so it might not be the best thing for you.

NO. I would actually recommend staying with the 800. I think you will like it.

A suspension fork will ad weight, and very little useable travel. The fork on the 820 tends to be stiff, and locks up in cold weather. The rigid fork of the 800 will keep the bike weight down, keep maintenance down, and if you do go offroading, it will help bike handling skills.

The fork on the 820 isn't worth the extra money. Stick with what you got for now and just have fun with it.

Don't worry if you don't think you'll need a suspension. I just wanted to make sure you had considered them as well. Like a person buying a car would consider a compact, midsize or luxury, then pick the one that best fit their needs/budget. I'd say most people only give the luxury a passing thought.
A suspension fork can help with control, but a rigid frame will help you learn the skills better. The steel frames are also usually better for longevity.
Happy Trails!

For what it's worth, I had a Trek 800 for about 5 years and it was my path to the path, so to speak. I road it on all kinds of trails in this area, no jumps or major obstacles, but not flat gravel either.

When I did an endo in a ditch (ouch!) and broke some things I decided to replace it late last fall. I still use it to tow my kids in the bike trailer. As someone said above, it's a great place to start, not to mention hands down better than Wally World...

Welcome to the club!

Great to hear that. Happy riding.