any decent walmart bikes?
#51
Junior Member
That is a beautiful bike. If she enjoys it, that's all that matters.
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#52
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#53
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#54
Junior Member
I don't agree that they're garbage even though there are many better choices for those want to take cycling seriously.
I ride a bike that cost a few thousand dollars and I enjoy it. Not everyone needs to spend thousands of dollars to find enjoyment in the simplicity of a human powered machine.
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#55
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Pacific doesn't make Cannondale or own Cannondale.
Both Pacific and Cannondale are owned by Dorel. Dorel doesnt make Cannondale bikes either- Dorel contracts bike production out to multiple factories.
#56
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You can buy Snap On or you can buy tools at the Dollar Store. If you need seven different tools to do a small job, you cvan get them all at the Dollar Store for half what a single Snap-On would cost. If you need to do six ot ten small jobs, you might have to replace half the Dollar Store tools.
Plenty of people ride Walmart bikes within the bikes' limits and find them fine. Plenty of people buy them for kids and toss them every year or two and replace them.
Different tools at different quality levels for different jobs and different levels of demand. For someone who just wants to ride around the neighborhood and enjoy cycling, I'd recommend a $100 Walmart single-speed beach cruiser because the cost is so low, the tech level is so low, and the joy of cycling is all there.
If the rider didn't want to go too far or too fast, a cheap rigid 7-speed hybrid can work well. I had a friend who rode one---met all his needs.
For a person who planned to spend a few hundred at least---who planned to stay with cycling beyond a nightly 20-minute spin around the 'hood or a ten-mile jaunt 9on the local MUP on Saturday ... I'd advise saving a bit more money and buying a significantly better bike.
Are Walmart bikes "Trash"? No, just really cheap.
Plenty of people ride Walmart bikes within the bikes' limits and find them fine. Plenty of people buy them for kids and toss them every year or two and replace them.
Different tools at different quality levels for different jobs and different levels of demand. For someone who just wants to ride around the neighborhood and enjoy cycling, I'd recommend a $100 Walmart single-speed beach cruiser because the cost is so low, the tech level is so low, and the joy of cycling is all there.
If the rider didn't want to go too far or too fast, a cheap rigid 7-speed hybrid can work well. I had a friend who rode one---met all his needs.
For a person who planned to spend a few hundred at least---who planned to stay with cycling beyond a nightly 20-minute spin around the 'hood or a ten-mile jaunt 9on the local MUP on Saturday ... I'd advise saving a bit more money and buying a significantly better bike.
Are Walmart bikes "Trash"? No, just really cheap.
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#57
Full Member
Speechless.
#58
Full Member
You can buy Snap On or you can buy tools at the Dollar Store. If you need seven different tools to do a small job, you cvan get them all at the Dollar Store for half what a single Snap-On would cost. If you need to do six ot ten small jobs, you might have to replace half the Dollar Store tools.
Plenty of people ride Walmart bikes within the bikes' limits and find them fine. Plenty of people buy them for kids and toss them every year or two and replace them.
Different tools at different quality levels for different jobs and different levels of demand. For someone who just wants to ride around the neighborhood and enjoy cycling, I'd recommend a $100 Walmart single-speed beach cruiser because the cost is so low, the tech level is so low, and the joy of cycling is all there.
If the rider didn't want to go too far or too fast, a cheap rigid 7-speed hybrid can work well. I had a friend who rode one---met all his needs.
For a person who planned to spend a few hundred at least---who planned to stay with cycling beyond a nightly 20-minute spin around the 'hood or a ten-mile jaunt 9on the local MUP on Saturday ... I'd advise saving a bit more money and buying a significantly better bike.
Are Walmart bikes "Trash"? No, just really cheap.
Plenty of people ride Walmart bikes within the bikes' limits and find them fine. Plenty of people buy them for kids and toss them every year or two and replace them.
Different tools at different quality levels for different jobs and different levels of demand. For someone who just wants to ride around the neighborhood and enjoy cycling, I'd recommend a $100 Walmart single-speed beach cruiser because the cost is so low, the tech level is so low, and the joy of cycling is all there.
If the rider didn't want to go too far or too fast, a cheap rigid 7-speed hybrid can work well. I had a friend who rode one---met all his needs.
For a person who planned to spend a few hundred at least---who planned to stay with cycling beyond a nightly 20-minute spin around the 'hood or a ten-mile jaunt 9on the local MUP on Saturday ... I'd advise saving a bit more money and buying a significantly better bike.
Are Walmart bikes "Trash"? No, just really cheap.
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#59
Full Member
Ask anybody who works at, is affiliated with or has an emotional or financial attachment to an LBS (or the branded products sold there) and he will tell you the same. BF has a large contingent of such people who will respond accordingly to this type of allegedly innocent "question".
#60
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Thanks!! I am very surprised at how well it rides, I adjusted the front brakes already as they were not gripping very well but now they are fine, and for my wife who i don't think is too interested in taking cycling more serious than a nightly 20 minute or so ride around our subdivision and in our RV campground for when we spend weekends at the campground this is perfect for her. I really wanted to find an older Raleigh 3 speed to fix up for her, but she had her mind set on this Margaritaville cruiser and it's pretty nice for what we paid for it. It serves the purpose well
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#61
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The Sturmey Archer Hub? I was surprised myself and I think that is why I decided that it was worth getting for her since she really wanted it, I've taken it for a spin around our subdivision and have to admit it rides so smooth and the 3 speed shifts so smoothly. For the small amount of time my wife will be riding around the subdivision and the RV campground during the summer months this will suit her needs just fine.
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#62
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I think Viathon is the mail order brand but it was pricey, you do have other brands like Raleigh that have lower cost options that can be shipped to you if you are handy
#63
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I have several.
The bike I put the most miles on over the last 20 years is this Ragazzi, bought new for 268 DM (approx$150) at Real (a German K-Mart type chain). After putting over 50,000 mostly all weather commuting miles on it I replaced the Sachs 7 speed coaster brake IGH with a Sachs Torpedo 3 speed coaster hub which I had on hand. The bike frame is pretty beat up now and I just use it for local poor weather riding.
Sometimes I ride this Motobecane bought new from Bikes Direct for about $500 the 8 speed Shimano IGH was a little finicky to get adjusted just right to get all 8 speeds but works well now and as I am 73 the lower gear range is used more often. The rim brakes work well even when wet but are not so good in snow and a rear coaster brake would serve me better.
Sometimes I ride this Gary Fisher Trek bike with a Shimano 3 speed coaster IGH. It is a very nice bike that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago for $75. Reminds me a bit of the Raleigh Sports bike that I owned in 70's thru 90'S.
I've got others and they all serve me well and I consider all decent, many other bikes from numerous sources would also serve me well.
Bottom Line is:
Different bikes for different folks and value is best judged by the (intended) user, not the peanut gallery.
The bike I put the most miles on over the last 20 years is this Ragazzi, bought new for 268 DM (approx$150) at Real (a German K-Mart type chain). After putting over 50,000 mostly all weather commuting miles on it I replaced the Sachs 7 speed coaster brake IGH with a Sachs Torpedo 3 speed coaster hub which I had on hand. The bike frame is pretty beat up now and I just use it for local poor weather riding.
Sometimes I ride this Motobecane bought new from Bikes Direct for about $500 the 8 speed Shimano IGH was a little finicky to get adjusted just right to get all 8 speeds but works well now and as I am 73 the lower gear range is used more often. The rim brakes work well even when wet but are not so good in snow and a rear coaster brake would serve me better.
Sometimes I ride this Gary Fisher Trek bike with a Shimano 3 speed coaster IGH. It is a very nice bike that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago for $75. Reminds me a bit of the Raleigh Sports bike that I owned in 70's thru 90'S.
I've got others and they all serve me well and I consider all decent, many other bikes from numerous sources would also serve me well.
Bottom Line is:
Different bikes for different folks and value is best judged by the (intended) user, not the peanut gallery.
#64
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You can buy Snap On or you can buy tools at the Dollar Store. If you need seven different tools to do a small job, you cvan get them all at the Dollar Store for half what a single Snap-On would cost. If you need to do six ot ten small jobs, you might have to replace half the Dollar Store tools.
#65
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buy once, cry once. bso might be fair enough for going to school or taking the kids out on a slow short ride, but a better purchase is likely to provide more use.
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#66
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GMC Denali ftw! I didn't get it at Walmart but in theory I could have. It was the best $130 I ever spent on cycling.
#67
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#68
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You missed these; they only made 1000. Walmart exclusive.
https://www.velonews.com/news/road/t...mphant-return/
https://www.velonews.com/news/road/t...mphant-return/
#69
Rhapsodic Laviathan
Which is why you could find the Mongoose Deception running around under the guise of Cannondale a few years ago.
#70
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I have several.
The bike I put the most miles on over the last 20 years is this Ragazzi, bought new for 268 DM (approx$150) at Real (a German K-Mart type chain). After putting over 50,000 mostly all weather commuting miles on it I replaced the Sachs 7 speed coaster brake IGH with a Sachs Torpedo 3 speed coaster hub which I had on hand. The bike frame is pretty beat up now and I just use it for local poor weather riding.
Sometimes I ride this Motobecane bought new from Bikes Direct for about $500 the 8 speed Shimano IGH was a little finicky to get adjusted just right to get all 8 speeds but works well now and as I am 73 the lower gear range is used more often. The rim brakes work well even when wet but are not so good in snow and a rear coaster brake would serve me better.
Sometimes I ride this Gary Fisher Trek bike with a Shimano 3 speed coaster IGH. It is a very nice bike that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago for $75. Reminds me a bit of the Raleigh Sports bike that I owned in 70's thru 90'S.
I've got others and they all serve me well and I consider all decent, many other bikes from numerous sources would also serve me well.
Bottom Line is:
Different bikes for different folks and value is best judged by the (intended) user, not the peanut gallery.
The bike I put the most miles on over the last 20 years is this Ragazzi, bought new for 268 DM (approx$150) at Real (a German K-Mart type chain). After putting over 50,000 mostly all weather commuting miles on it I replaced the Sachs 7 speed coaster brake IGH with a Sachs Torpedo 3 speed coaster hub which I had on hand. The bike frame is pretty beat up now and I just use it for local poor weather riding.
Sometimes I ride this Motobecane bought new from Bikes Direct for about $500 the 8 speed Shimano IGH was a little finicky to get adjusted just right to get all 8 speeds but works well now and as I am 73 the lower gear range is used more often. The rim brakes work well even when wet but are not so good in snow and a rear coaster brake would serve me better.
Sometimes I ride this Gary Fisher Trek bike with a Shimano 3 speed coaster IGH. It is a very nice bike that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago for $75. Reminds me a bit of the Raleigh Sports bike that I owned in 70's thru 90'S.
I've got others and they all serve me well and I consider all decent, many other bikes from numerous sources would also serve me well.
Bottom Line is:
Different bikes for different folks and value is best judged by the (intended) user, not the peanut gallery.
Who the heck is the peanut gallery here? OP wants the opinion of people on bf about WM bikes. Some of us actually have experience with those bikes and others have observations. It's extremely fair to warn people asking about them of the possible pitfalls.
You actually have a lot to contribute to this discussion as you obviously have put together a fleet of really good and inexpensive bikes. Why don't you talk about that instead of worrying so much about the attitudes of other posters? I mean this sincerely, the frustrating thing about your posts is that you are obviously way more knowledgeable about acquiring and maintaining good inexpensive bikes than I'll ever be, and I'd really like to read your advice to someone just starting out, but instead you just take repetitive snarky shots.
These threads are really people asking what the best way to get started is. LBS is one alternative, WM is another, how about discussing other options?
Heck, you could start a pretty good thread discussing your kickstand collection.
#71
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I just bought a Specialized Roll, and it makes me happy. Is it "nice?" Nah. But it is solid (I think it weighs approximately four and a half tons) and permits me to ride on some of the more-interesting surfaces in New Mexico. It was $700, which felt $200 too high, but it was just what I needed: an indestructo-hybrid that I can personalize and romp around in the woods on.
As for WalMart, I only go when I have not had enough exposure to poor people beating their children.
As for WalMart, I only go when I have not had enough exposure to poor people beating their children.
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#72
Senior Member
Walmart still = mostly garbage. You can tell that just by looking at construction. They use heavier frame tubing made out of - let's say "not as strong" materials, various unbranded pieces and parts tend to be junkier whenever the consumer isn't looking, and overall it's a heavier, clunkier product more prone to breaking. Now throw on top of that the renowned poor assembly, and there's just no way you'll find anything of quality there. And I'm not picking on WalMart, ALL department store bikes are in the same vein. Now does that mean that everything you get from a dept store will be total unusable junk? No, as others have written, you'll get a clunkier product for your money; but if you stick to unadorned basic features, you have a chance of it at least being functional and not breaking prematurely - under easy use at least.
Regarding 'internet-only' products, yes they carry some; but in every case it will be a model that is cost-reduced beyond a comparable bike-shop quality product, so you'll end up paying more for less quality. Remember their primary motive for them selling anything is profit margin, and most of their products are less expensive to replace outright than to fix.LBS,onthe other hand, tend to sell products with fairly tight profit margins - to them they may need to stay in business but not by selling junk at top dollar.
Regarding 'internet-only' products, yes they carry some; but in every case it will be a model that is cost-reduced beyond a comparable bike-shop quality product, so you'll end up paying more for less quality. Remember their primary motive for them selling anything is profit margin, and most of their products are less expensive to replace outright than to fix.LBS,onthe other hand, tend to sell products with fairly tight profit margins - to them they may need to stay in business but not by selling junk at top dollar.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 09-25-20 at 09:15 AM.
#73
Newbie
^^^ Is that serious?! The LBS owner wants profit as much as the online store owner. The later can afford less profit margin because there is no rent to run a store and the number of customer online is much greater.
My $60 21 speed pseudo MTB from Walmart has served me well for the last 4 years, as commuting/utility bike. In fact my TCR costs me much more to maintain in absolute money.
My $60 21 speed pseudo MTB from Walmart has served me well for the last 4 years, as commuting/utility bike. In fact my TCR costs me much more to maintain in absolute money.
#74
Senior Member
I think the case could be made that the higher-end bikes at the LBS come with a much higher markup than anything from Walmart or the other big box stores. Substantially so.
Last edited by Reflector Guy; 09-27-20 at 05:35 AM. Reason: fixed typo
#75
Senior Member
Any bike is better than no bike. The Walmart bikes are built well enough to comply with US regulations and to avoid lawsuits (America has nearly 60% of the world's lawyers). The paint and the coating on the wheels may not be so durable, and the nipples on the spokes may corrode more easily, but keeping the bike clean and oiled will limit these problems. I have known some odd types who have bought Walmart bikes and ridden them longer and harder than many roadies.