A crappy road bike from target?
#1
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#2
:)
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If you are looking for a cheap and reliable bike to get around, these are not the best.
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I think you would be ok on either one.
Neither will be very nice or comfortable and parts will probably fall apart after a while, but it is all just different metals in the end.
Its pedals will turn and it will go where you point it.
Most people will never put their components through the kind of use they are meant for. Some people will spend thousands of dollars on the best materials and then ride their bikes once or twice a month for exercise.
I wouldn't want to ride either one of these in the middle of a desert when my life depended on not breaking down, but it is only meant to be a $200 bike. And if you keep the receipt, Target has a fair return policy in case something does fall apart.
with that said, if you really are looking for a bike to ride a lot, you would probably appreciate a more expensive bike. A $700 is going to be $500 better than a $200 bike. These two bikes aren't a particularly good deal in that regard.
Neither will be very nice or comfortable and parts will probably fall apart after a while, but it is all just different metals in the end.
Its pedals will turn and it will go where you point it.
Most people will never put their components through the kind of use they are meant for. Some people will spend thousands of dollars on the best materials and then ride their bikes once or twice a month for exercise.
I wouldn't want to ride either one of these in the middle of a desert when my life depended on not breaking down, but it is only meant to be a $200 bike. And if you keep the receipt, Target has a fair return policy in case something does fall apart.
with that said, if you really are looking for a bike to ride a lot, you would probably appreciate a more expensive bike. A $700 is going to be $500 better than a $200 bike. These two bikes aren't a particularly good deal in that regard.
Last edited by CCC; 02-05-09 at 03:52 PM. Reason: typo
#5
So tragically hip.
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Sometimes crappy bikes hold together better than nice bikes. My '75 10-speed from Sears still has 100% original parts.
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I rode a bikes direct motobecane mirage (i got it off ebay though) a few years ago from nyc to new orleans with a rack and panniers (before i knew anything about bikes). I had no problems, except a shot bb by the end of the trip. They still have it on bd but its the mirage sport, which is a little more expensive, but you get a steel frame instead of the aluminum on the old one. Just saying this to show a cheap bike can take a beating. https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...r_mirage08.htm
free shipping
free shipping
#7
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Landfill Fodder
I'm opposed to buying cheap, poorly made products of any kind, "just because you can." Generally, products like that make a very short detour through your garage/basement on the way to a landfill. It's not a sustainable way of living on our planet. If you really need a bike and that's all you can afford, then it might make sense, although even in that case there are plenty of used bikes available at a lower price that would probably work just as well if not better. If you need a bike, buy something of quality that will last (and by the way, that doesn't necessarily mean it has to be expensive). If you don't really need a bike, use the gift certificate to buy something you genuinely need.
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thats true. why not break the cycle and find a beat up bike on cl for 50 bucks and fix it up? That mirage I had made the fast track from some factory in china to a dumpster 6 months later. Ive learned alot about cycling the past few years since that and am finishing up an old 70s dumpster bike for about 150 bucks that is much better than the 250 cheapos.
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I bought a similar cheap bike from k-mart and i've been riding it to work for over a year now. The only thing that broke was some sprockets on the rear cassette which was probably the result of my bad shifting techniques lol. I have replaced other parts but only because i like to modify things.
#10
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Do you want it, or are you looking for someone to talk you out of it?
It's actually a simple equation:
How much will you ride?
If the answer is minimal, buy it. At the very least you're trying to do something other than buying another fossil fuel vehicle.
If you love to ride, then move on to subset 2 of this program:
Love to ride, got a good job and are just being 'cheap?' Don't be an asshat, this will not cut the mustard and will cost you substantially more in the end. Because ultimately, parts will break quickly, and anything you saved upfront will be lost in the replacement, upgrade and eventual complete replacement of that machine. Spend the added money upfront and buy something designed for long-term use. Not quick sales to the middleclass so they can feel accomplished and have something to validate themselves when they complain about being fat, still, after ALL that exercising they've done, while still eating their third cinnabon.
Love to ride, are unemployed and/or this is the cap you can spend? Consider the purchase, but also consider subset 3 of the program:
Buying used:
You are buying into a market that has been overinflated on all levels. People think their worthless **** is a diamond in the rough and you're entire tax return should cover the remorse and heartbreak of letting that 81 huffy 12 speed 'thing' go.
Someone doesn't know, hasn't heard or doesn't care about hipsterism and might be offering something of some quality in a cheaper pricepoint than you'll get for that bike new. I recently saw a decent Trek 900-series mountain bike with rack and other great options still in mint condition for $100 on my cragislist. The owner has some medical problems so he's swearing off bikes - but I passed because I bought my 3rd bike in the last year (which the bike shop STILL hasn't called about, but that's another thread) and really wanted a my Cykel addition to the stable.
That's about it, in my opinion. If you can't look through that, look at your situation, wallet, and come up with the decision that's right for you - stop asking questions on the Interweb.
It's actually a simple equation:
How much will you ride?
If the answer is minimal, buy it. At the very least you're trying to do something other than buying another fossil fuel vehicle.
If you love to ride, then move on to subset 2 of this program:
Love to ride, got a good job and are just being 'cheap?' Don't be an asshat, this will not cut the mustard and will cost you substantially more in the end. Because ultimately, parts will break quickly, and anything you saved upfront will be lost in the replacement, upgrade and eventual complete replacement of that machine. Spend the added money upfront and buy something designed for long-term use. Not quick sales to the middleclass so they can feel accomplished and have something to validate themselves when they complain about being fat, still, after ALL that exercising they've done, while still eating their third cinnabon.
Love to ride, are unemployed and/or this is the cap you can spend? Consider the purchase, but also consider subset 3 of the program:
Buying used:
You are buying into a market that has been overinflated on all levels. People think their worthless **** is a diamond in the rough and you're entire tax return should cover the remorse and heartbreak of letting that 81 huffy 12 speed 'thing' go.
Someone doesn't know, hasn't heard or doesn't care about hipsterism and might be offering something of some quality in a cheaper pricepoint than you'll get for that bike new. I recently saw a decent Trek 900-series mountain bike with rack and other great options still in mint condition for $100 on my cragislist. The owner has some medical problems so he's swearing off bikes - but I passed because I bought my 3rd bike in the last year (which the bike shop STILL hasn't called about, but that's another thread) and really wanted a my Cykel addition to the stable.
That's about it, in my opinion. If you can't look through that, look at your situation, wallet, and come up with the decision that's right for you - stop asking questions on the Interweb.
#11
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I used to work at a shop that WOULD NOT for any reason work on Walmart/Target type bikes. They weren't being snobs. It's because the quality control on the manufacturing and components on those bikes is so bad AND they are assembled by folks that generally don't know much about bikes, that it's tough to get them dialed-in...if you can at all.
To the nay-sayers: Go to walmart, target, or toys r us and check out the bikes. The brakes work on only half of them.
Tune ups on high-end bikes are a snap and get harder as the quality of the components goes down.
To the nay-sayers: Go to walmart, target, or toys r us and check out the bikes. The brakes work on only half of them.
Tune ups on high-end bikes are a snap and get harder as the quality of the components goes down.
#13
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I have one and used it for a few months. It is really heavy, but it is a tank. If you know your way around a bike then buy it. I was going to use it until it broke then convert it, but it never broke.
#15
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#16
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i think bikes direct has some cheap road bikes too if u wanna look there...
#17
Lost
i think the comment about how much are you going to ride is very appropriate. if you are only going to ride a few days a month, or a couple trips a summer, than this should be adequate.
thing to keep in mind is that when something breaks it might not be easily replaceable on this bike, who knows what kind of BB threading it has...etc.
hell, i say buy it, how bad can it be? post a review when you do.
why is this in the SS/Fixed forum again?
thing to keep in mind is that when something breaks it might not be easily replaceable on this bike, who knows what kind of BB threading it has...etc.
hell, i say buy it, how bad can it be? post a review when you do.
why is this in the SS/Fixed forum again?
#18
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Use that gift certificate to buy a video or some music. Those bikes have inferior components, the heaviest aluminum frames, and when something breaks, it'll cost you more to replace it than the bike is worth. Both bikes were probably made in the same factory. If you got one of those bikes, you'd probably be like the thousands of others that have gotten them; you'll hate riding it and it'll just sit in the garage collecting dust until sold for $10 in a garage sale.
What sort of riding do you do or see yourself doing? Cruising around town? Commuting to school/work? Alleycat races and barspins? Fast roadie group riding in full spandex kit? Long distance touring on the weekends?
Are you part of this crowd?
Or this one?
#19
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If you can afford patience, you will find any number of awesome bikes at yard sales. If your ego will allow you to ride a Target bike, then surely it will allow you to ride a bike that was pretty state of the art 10-15 years ago.
#20
aka Phil Jungels
Sell the gift cert to your Mom. Take the $25 and use it for whatever........ even a Target bike if that works for you.....
p.s. With patience, you can find a lot fo really nice bikes on you local Craigslist for not much money.... I know, I sold one for $125, and see them on there frequently......
p.s. With patience, you can find a lot fo really nice bikes on you local Craigslist for not much money.... I know, I sold one for $125, and see them on there frequently......
#21
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the GMC has 2 part drop handlebars that are held together under the stem, in order for them to be able to put grip shifters on it. i like my teeth too much to ride one of those.
that said, there's a kid that does college races on one.
that said, there's a kid that does college races on one.
#23
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yes, it's true. They weld the bars back together after they cut them. F'ed Up or what?
#24
aka Phil Jungels
A good weld is as sound as the metal around it.