Like Bontrager says: "Light. Strong, Cheap. Pick two."
-some quote I picked up perusing your fine forum.
Hey guys,
So I'm going through all the posts looking for Walmart, and there sure is a lot of hate going on for the big W.
And I agree, Walmart sucks.
However, before I wandered down to my LBS to buy a nice, decent, relatively inexpensive Kona Dew (or a HumuHumu apuapu ... love that name), I figured I'd swing by Walmart and see if it's true that you could buy a bicycle for $50.
Now, here's the thing. It weighs about 50 pounds, but thats a good thing. The frame shouldn't break. The drivetrain is crap, but if I pull off all the gears, what could really go wrong?
Brakes?
Meh. I prefer faceplants.
And If I scuff it up and paint it rusty brown, it might even look like a Monocog ... sorta.
I'm thinking this might make a darn sweet, around town SS beater I don't have to worry about. Now I know some of you guys might laugh, and say I shouldn't worry about a $400 Kona either ... but those bikes actually look nice. And to an untrained eye, ever bit as alluring as their higher priced models. Theft is a huge problem, and I haven't talked to one avid cyclist how hasn't had a few bicycles stolen.
I'm thinking a scuffed up Walmart special for $53, and a $12 single speed conversion might make a fine $65 beater.
Any thoughts on the post comparing the quality of Walmart frames today with high end frames 10 years back? That sounds like a stretch to me, but ... well ... as most frames are made in China these days, does the quality really differ from one sweatshop to the next?)
I'm not quite sure what high-tensity means in a frame, not all chromoly like in tri-moly probably but I'm just not that smart. I give more credit to the guy that can make more out of less than the one who swipes his card for the latest and greatest. Build it for as cheap as you can than ride the crap out of it.
Ya ummmmm no. I have to say that for under 50 you can find an old decent quality frame at a thrift store of ebay and spend under a hundred to build it up with used parts from the same places. I got my frame given to me and it is an old GT avalanche and it has cost me under a hundred to put it together and it a light as hell lighter than my FS mountain bike hill climber. just think of the wheel set too walmart wheel sets have a life expectancy of like 10 curb hops
As others have said, I'd be more inclined to start looking at goodwill, flea markets and garage sales for an older decent bike.
I picked up an old diamond back APEX for 25 bucks at the local flea market - stripped it cleaned it, put some new rubber and a half link chain - my neighbor still rides it occasionally
a Schwinn hardtail. Don't laugh, it really works, once it was cleaned up, but it does weigh 30lbs. Took an hour to remove all the unnecessary stuff, then added a tensioner (cost= $0), some lightweight tires I had laying around, then its off and running.
want a cheap bike? Go beat up your neighbors kid and steal his... Does more for society than supporting "W".... Oh yeah, does the bike come with an anti-lead paint inocculation??? You're gonna cut your own ears off if you ride that bike.
wow... what a hateful post?
"Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government!..." -- Dennis the Peasant
Dude. I don't blame you for shopping Wally's World. But don't buy it.
Here's my example. GT timberline I found at the salvage yard for $10.
Took it apart, sanded and painted. Converted to SS and rode it with all the original comp's for a season with no issues at all. I have since changed most of the comp's just because.
High Tensile Steel is not conductive to good health. I have seen those frames snap like twigs (sometimes, I broke them as a 12 year old, 90lb kid ) ,the bars, the wheels,the stem.The list goes on and on. Better save those $50 and check out craigslist, pawn shops, garage sales and the salvation army shops. get a real bike. Oh, and don't shop EvilMart.
I found a couple places around the web that have been documenting their experiences on department store bikes. One in particular, a Canadian Tire special keeps popping up:
I think they have about 3000 and 6000 kms on them. Parts breakage doesn't seem to be more or less than anything else over that lifespan, but I'm not sure that's really indicative of anything. My mother has been riding a department store bike for years without any problems, but I don't think she jumps curbs much.
I'll take your advice and look around in the second hand market, although I have to be honest ... I suspect most of them are dept store specials. One guy was trying to tell me his CCM was $650 new.
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