This bike?
 

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4990075

Yes, I know it's a walmart bike, but it's within my price range.... what are the cons with this bike? If you suggest me to look somewhere else, actually give me actual names and prices to expect....don't just send me to craigslist!

Go to REI. They have a handful of bikes within that price range. The one I bought, a K2 T-Nine Crosswind, was only about $400...and there were a handful of bikes cheaper than that.

Novara is their store brand, and they're not bad. This Metro (commuter) is only $309: http://www.rei.com/product/760868

Oh wow... the cheapest road bike there is $500.... that's still a little much?

I was at a LBS yesterday, they happen to sell Raleigh and Diamondback. There were models of each brand available around $400.00. I was looking for a new rack, and wasn't paying to much attention to bike models/cost, but it might be worth looking into.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3663046

That's more of the price range I'm looking at... $100-$300.

Are you close to any big cities? I know lots of people like browsing through used bikes, and I'm sure many wouldn't mind tossing a few recommendations your way. :)

I do... I live in philly and if you get on craigslist philly I'm sure you can help me look through a few... I'm not sure what to look at.

A 3 mile commute can be done on literally anything. I would say look for something used on craigslist that is in working order, cheap, and fits you. Then, if you start to like biking (I got into biking from commuting to school), then, you put some money into a bike you really like.

Btw, that Wallyworld road bike actually has STI shifters(!), making it better than the infamous GMC Denali. A guy in the road cycling forum was using the Denali to commute, but he had some mechanical knowledge to fix the assembly errors.

I don't understand the specifications in that link. It gives one frame size (22"), but then says it comes as small, medium, or large...and I didn't see any way to specify the size when you order.

lol yeah, but it's $300... between that yellow wallyworld one and this one: http://www.modells.com/product/index...family#featBen

what's better? Just out of curiousity.


And what's wrong with the Denali... is it that bad... besides the horribly tacky blue?

And can someone pleasee help me look up bike on craigs?

Assuming you are only interested in road bikes, these are some that I would look into if I was in philadelphia.

Not really any info given
$40 Raleigh
$40 Ross
$45 Schwinn
$85 Ross
$100 Schwinn
$130 Schwinn
$140 Raleigh
$150 Schwinn
$225 Trek

Wow, there is a whole page of listings just from today! I need to take a road trip. :D

Of course, you will want to check them out and ride them before buying. There's a guide to buying a used bike here. With the money you save, you can take the bike to your LBS for a tune up (You may try asking them if you can see what they're doing. Basic maintenance is very simple and well worth learning.) and get anything else you might want/need (pump, rack, fenders, lights, etc).

you might wanna try contacting neighborhood bike works in philly, or urban bike project in wilmington.

both are non-profit bike shops that do a lot of hands-on-your-own-bike lesson type stuff. i dunno if they sell bikes outright, but either of them should have some staff/volunteer who's willing/able to help you find a non-department store bike that's gonna treat you well.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html

Click on your city
Then click on "bikes" under "for sale"

I have been.. but I'm not sure what to look for.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/bik/661282307.html

I found that. Is that any good?

It looks very promising from the description. You should go check it out and see how it fits. You want to be able to stand over the top tube with at least few cm, and you want your leg to be just short of fully extended when the pedal is all the way down. Reach is all about what's comfortable for you, I'd say.

$5 and up . . . any thrift store.

Cons:
-Tourney rear derailleur, mountain bike gears on a road bike will have you maxed out in no time
-There is a 99%chance that you will need to take it to a LBS and get a full tune up on it, so add at least $40 to the price
-I am sure there are more down sides to it but they do not list any real details about the bike

I have been looking through the Wal-Mart bikes lately (to cut up for a trike project I have) and by far the biggest drawback seems to be that many of their offerings are only available in one frame size.

Yes the components are low-end but you could upgrade any particular part that didn't work well--but you aren't going to easily alter the frame size.
~

You should go on craigslist.

here is the review of the Denali:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=Review+GMC

The main reason people laugh at it is that they managed to put grip shifts on a road bike.

I have a Raleigh 5 speed just like this one and it is my favourite by far. I commuted 18 miles (RT) a day for almost a year on it, and two weeks after I acquired it I rode it in the MS Bike Tour (100 miles in 2 days). I LOVE this bike!! I also grab it for all my errand running, because the gearing is just perfect for moderate hills and loads, and it is nice to ride upright. It's no sprint bike, but once up to speed it's really easy to settle in and cruise.

Save your money until you have enough to buy an entry level bike at a bike shop.

WalMart bikes are not made to ride for extended times. The frames aren't bad but the wheels and other components will break after a relatively short period. Doing repairs to a low end bike like that is like reupholstering your Yugo.

Craigslist is fine if you know what you are looking for. from the two threads you have started, it appears as though you don't. You might get lucky on CL or you might end up wasting money.

ShadowGray,
What "size" are you? FWIW I rode the pure T crap out of Raleigh 3 speed for years (197? model, paid $25 for in 1982)...still have it over 25 years later and it is still ridable. FWIW you will have 2 main issues with a Walmart bike. 1) You will need to go over it with a fine tooth comb, and basically do a complete overhaul prior to riding it. 2) They only come in one size...for the most part.

Quite often good used bikes are available at an LBS. I have bought several that way.

Aaron:)