Target/Kmart/Big W bike or an actual bike shop?
#101
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We are discussing bikes which cost $100--$2-00 versus bikes which cost at least five times that.
And I am not really swayed by what a magazine finds ... if it contradicts my decades of experience. I tell the truth because it is part of my faith. They say what sells ads because it is their business.
My currents stable includes bikes equipped with components from Altus and Claris, to Ultegra. All of it works and works pretty well, but the better stuff works better. Some guy at a magazine can write whatever he wants.
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#102
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Yeah, super /... completely irrelevant.
We are discussing bikes which cost $100--$2-00 versus bikes which cost at least five times that.
And I am not really swayed by what a magazine finds ... if it contradicts my decades of experience. I tell the truth because it is part of my faith. They say what sells ads because it is their business.
My currents stable includes bikes equipped with components from Altus and Claris, to Ultegra. All of it works and works pretty well, but the better stuff works better. Some guy at a magazine can write whatever he wants.
We are discussing bikes which cost $100--$2-00 versus bikes which cost at least five times that.
And I am not really swayed by what a magazine finds ... if it contradicts my decades of experience. I tell the truth because it is part of my faith. They say what sells ads because it is their business.
My currents stable includes bikes equipped with components from Altus and Claris, to Ultegra. All of it works and works pretty well, but the better stuff works better. Some guy at a magazine can write whatever he wants.
I crack up when I read the mags and they refer to $2000 bikes as "entry level". It's so outside the realm of reality for anyone but their ideal advertising demo that it might as well be a joke.
#103
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Yep, these are BSOs being discussed, a $1500 actual bicycle is totally irrelevant.
#104
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#105
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Strong and cheap will not be lightweight. It will be heavier.
Lightweight and cheap will not be strong. It will be weaker and cheaper.
#106
Banned.
I wish I could find the article from a few years back. Very informative on $$ vs reliability.
#107
Banned.
#108
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The thing with the Bontrager 3-part choice is that you can expect to get at best 2 out of the 3. It is quite possible to get bicycle parts that are expensive and fragile. Or expensive and heavy. And obviously, in the case of cheap department store bikes, there are a lot of bikes and bike parts out there that are heavy and fragile.
#109
Banned.
Zappy set us up on this thread. He did a drive by post and started this thread and never again did he post . He is reading this getting a chuckle of the ping pong sessions on cheap vs expensive bikes.
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#110
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Probably disappointed then, with Iowa troll on involuntary leave, the ping pong has been pretty polite, and relatively reasonable.
#112
Banned.
Gotta love Kev Central
i am currently building up the Hyper Hydro project bike
i need to get a Cranbrook and do something with that.
i am currently building up the Hyper Hydro project bike
i need to get a Cranbrook and do something with that.
#113
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By the way ./.... expensive and light is Not fragile. The reason it is expensive is because it is hard to make it both light and strong .... when it is light and strong, it is expensive.
So, yeah .... Dura-Ace is not fragiler because it is light. And the pro peloton pretty much proves this, eh?
So, yeah .... Dura-Ace is not fragiler because it is light. And the pro peloton pretty much proves this, eh?
#114
Banned.
By the way ./.... expensive and light is Not fragile. The reason it is expensive is because it is hard to make it both light and strong .... when it is light and strong, it is expensive.
So, yeah .... Dura-Ace is not fragiler because it is light. And the pro peloton pretty much proves this, eh?
So, yeah .... Dura-Ace is not fragiler because it is light. And the pro peloton pretty much proves this, eh?
#115
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The cheap stuff has cheaper materials, which not only wear faster, but also flex more (heavier, and weaker.) So yes .... the better stuff Does last longer, and works better. Maybe no one told you that highly engineered alloys are both stronger and lighter than plastic or pot metal ....
I have never replaced any of my Ultegra or 105 gear except after extreme wear because of extreme use, (ever cassette wears out if you ride enough miles ... Ultegra wears out but also weighs less and shifts better) of because of accident damage. Just as with all the rest of the gear ... which weighs more and works less well.
Sorry, but fact and engineering all say you are wrong.
#116
Banned.
Based on my own multi-decade experience .... the better stuff lasts At least as long, stays adjusted longer, and works better from the first day onward.
The cheap stuff has cheaper materials, which not only wear faster, but also flex more (heavier, and weaker.) So yes .... the better stuff Does last longer, and works better. Maybe no one told you that highly engineered alloys are both stronger and lighter than plastic or pot metal ....
I have never replaced any of my Ultegra or 105 gear except after extreme wear because of extreme use, (ever cassette wears out if you ride enough miles ... Ultegra wears out but also weighs less and shifts better) of because of accident damage. Just as with all the rest of the gear ... which weighs more and works less well.
Sorry, but fact and engineering all say you are wrong.
The cheap stuff has cheaper materials, which not only wear faster, but also flex more (heavier, and weaker.) So yes .... the better stuff Does last longer, and works better. Maybe no one told you that highly engineered alloys are both stronger and lighter than plastic or pot metal ....
I have never replaced any of my Ultegra or 105 gear except after extreme wear because of extreme use, (ever cassette wears out if you ride enough miles ... Ultegra wears out but also weighs less and shifts better) of because of accident damage. Just as with all the rest of the gear ... which weighs more and works less well.
Sorry, but fact and engineering all say you are wrong.
#117
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You are incorrect, as has been pointed out several times. However, if you would post some legit links to support your position, some might be persuaded. "thinner...."
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#118
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I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Acera or Alivio wouldn’t last as long...they are pretty good if a little heavier...but the Tourney that you find on $99 HelMart bikes certainly wouldn’t last 20,000 miles. I’ve seen far too many of them that have very few miles on them and are already worn out to believe that.
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#119
Banned.
I have Shimano XTR, XT, SRAM X9 and SRAM X0 on a number of bikes. All of them are long in tooth. And all fo them would compare in terms of lightness with road bike equipment. The X0 uses a carbon front arm on the jockey pulleys. You can’t get any lighter nor more delicate. All of them also happen to have multiple thousands of miles on them in all kinds of conditions. One of my road bikes with an XT on it has 20,000 miles of commuting on it and my touring bike with XTR has 10,000 miles on it. None of them are coming close to wearing out.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Acera or Alivio wouldn’t last as long...they are pretty good if a little heavier...but the Tourney that you find on $99 HelMart bikes certainly wouldn’t last 20,000 miles. I’ve seen far too many of them that have very few miles on them and are already worn out to believe that.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Acera or Alivio wouldn’t last as long...they are pretty good if a little heavier...but the Tourney that you find on $99 HelMart bikes certainly wouldn’t last 20,000 miles. I’ve seen far too many of them that have very few miles on them and are already worn out to believe that.
#120
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Spend a bit more on a bike and you’ll have a better operating bike that doesn’t need constant replacement of parts. In the long run, it’s a better value.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#121
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It's not worth upgrading a cheap department store bike with high end components. A high end derailleur + shifters costs more than an entire department store bike. If all that a person can afford is a cheap wallmart bike, how are they going to afford an expensive component which costs more than a whole bike ??
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#122
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Beaten to death .... for about the sixth time.
If all someone can afford is a Walmart bike, there it is. But I would advise anyone depending on a Walmart bike for daily transport to scour the roadsides and bike-shop dumpsters for spare parts, especially wheels, but anything else.
If all some wants is a Walmart bike ... case closed.
If someone wants to ride a bike with minimal maintenance and minimal worry for a while .... go ahead.
If all someone can afford is a Walmart bike, there it is. But I would advise anyone depending on a Walmart bike for daily transport to scour the roadsides and bike-shop dumpsters for spare parts, especially wheels, but anything else.
If all some wants is a Walmart bike ... case closed.
If someone wants to ride a bike with minimal maintenance and minimal worry for a while .... go ahead.
#123
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I think I know who the OP is a sock of.
#124
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HERE IS A DECENT INEXPENSIVE ROAD BIKE THAT YOU CAN BUY FROM WALMART, TARGET, AND OTHERS.
*************IT IS AVAILABLE IN FOUR DIFFERENT FRAME SIZES*******
17 inch/42cm frame size MODEL #42717 .........700C LADIES KENT GMC DENALI ROAD BIKE 21 speeds
https://www.kent.bike/gmc/700c-gmc-denali-1743cm
20 inch frame MODEL #42720
22 inch frame MODEL #42722
25 inch frame MODEL #42725
( MENS 700C KENT GMC DENALI ROAD BIKE ....the 22 inch frame version WEIGHS 30 pounds....................21 speeds )
https://www.kent.bike/gmc/700c-gmc-denali-20
You have four different frame sizes! There is one that will likely suit most anyone.
Many people wrongly believe that it comes only in one frame size. You will see this misinformation among web postings by uninformed individuals saying the bike is utter trash because it comes from Target/Wal-mart and not from a proper bike shop.
***THIS BIKE HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND MANY FOLKS HAVE PLACED THOUSANDS OF MILES ON THE Kent GMC Denali.
You'll also see that there has been significant chronicling on bike forums of such longterm ownership reports attesting to the durability of this really inexpensive bike.
You can say that the Kent GMC DENALI has a cult following of thousands who praise it's value and durability. They also praise the simplicity of which one can make
upgrades which can increase both durability and the competitiveness in road riding and triathlon use. Now, an old fashioned heavy (30 pound) inexpensive bike WILL
PLACE YOU AT A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE GIVEN THE STOCK 48/38/28 front crank, and the weight, but it is relatively easy to change the FRONT CRANK To higher grade old style alloy 52/40/30, since this bike is old fashioned technology, so there are many alloy front Crank Wheels etc that can be swapped in from thirty year old bicycles. All of this can likely be accomplished by someone at home with some fairly inexpensive tools sourced from the web/ebay. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND USING THIS BIKE TO COMPETE IN TRIATHLONS, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A FRIEND OF MINE WON THE CLEMSON TRIATHLON IN JULY 2019 IN HER AGE DIVISION ABOARD A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED KENT GMC DENALI 21 SPEED ON THE STOCK 700C WHEELS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TRIATHLON THAT SHE HAS WON WHILE RIDING THIS KENT GMC DENALI !! She enjoys the challenge of winning while riding the KENT GMC DENALI, even though she does own some superb bikes that are probably more appropriate for Triathlon competitions!
https://bikemunk.com/gmc-denali-review/
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...i-bicycle.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...li-review.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...ners-bike.html
https://www.bicycle-guider.com/gmc-d...d-bike-review/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXUw5J9mWIw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytpXRe8-hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xidKFK1TIIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLbgf1vq6BY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPgrn1jXmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZT49JO2J3E
*************IT IS AVAILABLE IN FOUR DIFFERENT FRAME SIZES*******
17 inch/42cm frame size MODEL #42717 .........700C LADIES KENT GMC DENALI ROAD BIKE 21 speeds
https://www.kent.bike/gmc/700c-gmc-denali-1743cm
20 inch frame MODEL #42720
22 inch frame MODEL #42722
25 inch frame MODEL #42725
( MENS 700C KENT GMC DENALI ROAD BIKE ....the 22 inch frame version WEIGHS 30 pounds....................21 speeds )
https://www.kent.bike/gmc/700c-gmc-denali-20
You have four different frame sizes! There is one that will likely suit most anyone.
Many people wrongly believe that it comes only in one frame size. You will see this misinformation among web postings by uninformed individuals saying the bike is utter trash because it comes from Target/Wal-mart and not from a proper bike shop.
***THIS BIKE HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND MANY FOLKS HAVE PLACED THOUSANDS OF MILES ON THE Kent GMC Denali.
You'll also see that there has been significant chronicling on bike forums of such longterm ownership reports attesting to the durability of this really inexpensive bike.
You can say that the Kent GMC DENALI has a cult following of thousands who praise it's value and durability. They also praise the simplicity of which one can make
upgrades which can increase both durability and the competitiveness in road riding and triathlon use. Now, an old fashioned heavy (30 pound) inexpensive bike WILL
PLACE YOU AT A SEVERE DISADVANTAGE GIVEN THE STOCK 48/38/28 front crank, and the weight, but it is relatively easy to change the FRONT CRANK To higher grade old style alloy 52/40/30, since this bike is old fashioned technology, so there are many alloy front Crank Wheels etc that can be swapped in from thirty year old bicycles. All of this can likely be accomplished by someone at home with some fairly inexpensive tools sourced from the web/ebay. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND USING THIS BIKE TO COMPETE IN TRIATHLONS, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A FRIEND OF MINE WON THE CLEMSON TRIATHLON IN JULY 2019 IN HER AGE DIVISION ABOARD A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED KENT GMC DENALI 21 SPEED ON THE STOCK 700C WHEELS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TRIATHLON THAT SHE HAS WON WHILE RIDING THIS KENT GMC DENALI !! She enjoys the challenge of winning while riding the KENT GMC DENALI, even though she does own some superb bikes that are probably more appropriate for Triathlon competitions!
https://bikemunk.com/gmc-denali-review/
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...i-bicycle.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...li-review.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...ners-bike.html
https://www.bicycle-guider.com/gmc-d...d-bike-review/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXUw5J9mWIw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PytpXRe8-hc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xidKFK1TIIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLbgf1vq6BY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPgrn1jXmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZT49JO2J3E
mine lasted a little over 500 miles
#125
Newbie
Even Mr. Cheap (that's me) doesn't ride the cheapest bikes
Hey guys,
I have a quick question.This might sound like a stupid question so bear with me kk ._.' I've started to get into cycling but I'm not sure which bike to purchase from. I know that department store bike are extremely cheap but what actually makes them different from bike store such as Giant or George Bike shop? Is it the materials that is the used? or the quality (most likely quality) but what makes them better quality than the department store?? The bike I'm hoping for are bikes that can travel on grass and gravel and it's for endurance so I'm using it to ride long miles.
Any answers and recommendation on where to purchase the bike from? Department or Bike store?
Thanks guys
Appreciate a lot if you reply!
Zappy
I have a quick question.This might sound like a stupid question so bear with me kk ._.' I've started to get into cycling but I'm not sure which bike to purchase from. I know that department store bike are extremely cheap but what actually makes them different from bike store such as Giant or George Bike shop? Is it the materials that is the used? or the quality (most likely quality) but what makes them better quality than the department store?? The bike I'm hoping for are bikes that can travel on grass and gravel and it's for endurance so I'm using it to ride long miles.
Any answers and recommendation on where to purchase the bike from? Department or Bike store?
Thanks guys
Appreciate a lot if you reply!
Zappy
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