what do you think of Columbia bikes?
 

I bought a Columbia mountain bike after my other bike was stolen one year ago. The shock absorbers became fused solid about 1 month after I bought it. That and a few other minor problems caused me to regret having purchased it. I took it to a few shops and almost all of the people I had spoken to agreed that it was a crappy piece of metal, one person even described it as a swing set. Only one person said it was a good bike, but he seemed to be having a laugh at my expense. Anyway, what do you think of Columbia bikes? Good or bad?

The extra "L" takes them from lowly to luxurious! :p

I fixed it, yaar.

You got it half right. The main title still shows with the double l at the top of this page and on the index page. You'll have to contact a Mod or Admin if you want it fixed.

As far as the Columbia brand goes? The only place around here that sold them was Sports Authority- which closed up shop some time back (locally, anyway). They're not in the same league as REI or Sun&Ski.

If the bike fits, was assembled properly to begin with, and serves your purposes- then it's a good bike regardless of the brand. Even the high end models that cost as much as cars are worthless if they don't fit or serve your purposes.

My older brother had a Columbia 3-speed that we bought at a toy store in the late 1960s. He rode that for years - even to work back when it wasn't fashionable. He still has it. Sturmey Archer, polished steel rims, matching fenders, sprung saddle. 45 lbs.

Given brand names have become a commodity for sale,
to use previous reputation the brand recognition gives .
rendering name dropping meaningless.
you got the bike, ride it, hate it , shop for something else..

Look past names, learn to spot quality on its own..

Makes a nice flower basket holder for my wife. Cost $5 at garage sale, complete but w/o flowers.

They are low level bikes, similar to Huffy.

I had a Columbia single-speed in the 60s. It was made in the USA, it was simple and durable. Well, except for the chain guard. Those never seemed to last long on any bike. The Columbias now are cheap made-in-China BSOs (Bike-Shaped Objects.)

Yea I bought a columbia mtb for my wife two years ago as a cheap starter bike to see if she would stick with it and ride with me (at the time I also rode an old mtb though a little better quality one). The bike has never been very good even when first bought. First off its stupid heavy, something like 45lbs, second the brakes are crap, the components on it are not very good - super low end shimano, and its drive train is the antithesis of smooth. On the plus side I think that bike could take out a car if I were to t-bone one.

If I am not mistaken the columbia mtb I bought her cost something like 350 dollars. so not uber expensive but I should have just spent the exta 300 hundred and bought here a low end specialized or trek.

Much like Schwinn, Columbia is not what it once was. The bikes are the very ideal of generic Bicycle. If they sold them in a grocery store they would simply be called "bicycle" much like the generic "crackers".

http://vintagecolumbiabikes.com/id88.html