Bike buying advice (Walmart?)

[NutBucket]

At any rate, even assuming you get a similar quality bike at a shop for $249 or whatever I'd much rather have the bike shop assemble it than some pimple face at walmart. That, and the bike shop will usually give you a 1 year warranty which can easily be used.

 

[newbiepcuser]

What kind of riding are you going to do? If its just for the park, school, etc, then k-2, Iron Horse, GT, etc for under $200 bucks could be found easily at REI, bike shop, sports shop. If if you think you're going to do some "mtn biking", then link the trail and maybe a better recommendation can be made.

If you're going the Costco, Target, Walmart route, check craiglist crapload of those bikes on there for dirtcheap.

 

[John P]

Check the local bike shops, a good one will offer free service for a year or longer. Just tell them what sort of riding you will be doing and they should point you in the right direction. If you don't want to spend a fortune Diamondback makes some pretty good stuff that won't break your wallet. My local shop sold me a Diamondback Wildwood for just riding around with the kids. I think it was around $250 or so. It's good for street riding and light trail riding.

Diamondback Bikes

 

[FeuerFrei]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
At any rate, even assuming you get a similar quality bike at a shop for $249 or whatever I'd much rather have the bike shop assemble it than some pimple face at walmart. That, and the bike shop will usually give you a 1 year warranty which can easily be used.

Actually Wal-Mart has a guy that does nothing but assemble bikes, patio furniture displays, etc. It's a full time job.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei

Originally posted by: NutBucket
At any rate, even assuming you get a similar quality bike at a shop for $249 or whatever I'd much rather have the bike shop assemble it than some pimple face at walmart. That, and the bike shop will usually give you a 1 year warranty which can easily be used.

Actually Wal-Mart has a guy that does nothing but assemble bikes, patio furniture displays, etc. It's a full time job.

I'd still rather have the guy that assembles $5k road bikes doing my $250 cheapie. How does it being a full time job make it any better? Especially considering he or she also assembles patio furniture? The two are hardly related.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: nissan720
Just keep the receipt and take the bike back every 28 days for your cash because something will have broken by then anyway. Then purchase a new one to ride around for the next month or so.

Everytime you return one add $10 to your cash pile so you can buy the next step up.

There is no such thing as the next step up at Walmart. $100 will get you their top of the line bike and it's utter crap. Hell, replacing the brake pads and both tires on my bike would cost me more than their entire bike costs.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
You need to spend $6500 on a bike or you're just wasting your money and getting something that will hold you back from true aerobic fulfillment and spiritual enlightenment.

I went from a $5000 bike to a $6500 and it was like night and day........I clocked nearly 3 seconds faster in my 5 mile sprint time.

Also, you need the tightest possible bike shorts....I mean nothing under a 28 waist even if you're a 36. And spray Teflon on it to reduce air resistance....but only use industrial grade Teflon cause the stuff you buy from Home Depot, again, will just keep you from reaching your full potential and enjoyment.

If you're just going to ride a bike around the block once or twice a month, then Walmart is fine. If you want to be a true cyclist then you need to claw raw iron ore from the earth with your bare hands and smelt it from the molten magma of Mount Hanulalalluhala and refine the resulting metal to surgical precision using just hand tools.

Don't listen to this moron. Everyone knows that the best molten magma for frame making comes from Italy. 😉