Are Big Box Stores Promoting a Throwaway Bike Culture?
03-27-20, 11:57 AM
#51
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Eh, I'm not so sure. I have inexpensive "running style" shoes that I would not run in. When I did run I had to get my shoes at a running store to find shoes with the right amount of support for my pronation issues. I also played soccer in high school and there's a notable difference in shoe quality there as well that contribute to both comfort and performance. With anything, the further one gets into a hobby, the more one starts to notice the differences in quality between entry level and higher end.
What i said was that nobody compares K-Mart shoes to real athletic shoes.
People who play sports aren't going around scoffing at sneakers, saying how they would never stand up to the stress of pro sports, or competitive cross-country running, or whatever .... because sneakers are not serious athletic shoes. They are fashion items, or more so (as with K-mart models (which I wear) ) simply cheap and effective footwear.
Sorry but my ability to speak English seems to be shrinking.
03-27-20, 06:33 PM
#53
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Sorry for quoting your post twice, but I have a separate point to make here.
When my son was little, I thought this through and avoided big box store bikes. When he was in middle school, I signed him up for a local mountain biking club, and eventually team. (started as a club, became a team) I knew enough about bikes to talk to folks from the league and the team and ask. What is the minimum level of quality he needs to safely ride single track? The answer was, he needs a real mountain bike.
Not surprisingly, a lot of kids showed up the first week on either really old mountain bikes or big box mountain style bikes. The ones riding old mountain bikes were fine. The kids riding big box store bikes either quit within a couple of weeks, or went and bought real mountain bikes. And, I saw more than one kid walking out of the woods dragging his broken big box mountain bike behind him.
So no, I don't think folks realize how bad big box store bikes really are.
As far as the cost factor goes, I understand that but think it isn't an issue for most families. A decent kids bike can be passed down to a younger brother or sister. And you can always look for a decent used bike, if the cost of a new bike is cost prohibitive.
When my son was little, I thought this through and avoided big box store bikes. When he was in middle school, I signed him up for a local mountain biking club, and eventually team. (started as a club, became a team) I knew enough about bikes to talk to folks from the league and the team and ask. What is the minimum level of quality he needs to safely ride single track? The answer was, he needs a real mountain bike.
Not surprisingly, a lot of kids showed up the first week on either really old mountain bikes or big box mountain style bikes. The ones riding old mountain bikes were fine. The kids riding big box store bikes either quit within a couple of weeks, or went and bought real mountain bikes. And, I saw more than one kid walking out of the woods dragging his broken big box mountain bike behind him.
So no, I don't think folks realize how bad big box store bikes really are.
As far as the cost factor goes, I understand that but think it isn't an issue for most families. A decent kids bike can be passed down to a younger brother or sister. And you can always look for a decent used bike, if the cost of a new bike is cost prohibitive.
Cheers
03-27-20, 06:38 PM
#54
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I don't go to a big box store but I need a big box. Have to send a reel to reel deck.
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03-27-20, 06:59 PM
#55
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I would say absolutely. Not just the big Box stores but some of the smaller chains as well. I called up to ask the guy at my LBS about swapping out my drive train for something better he said well if you're going to do all that it might not be worth it just come on in we have some bikes with the drive train you want already on them for about 1000 bucks… that is also the guy who told me absolutely nobody uses campagnolo anymore....even with road racers, it's old style.
03-27-20, 07:04 PM
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03-27-20, 07:10 PM
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03-27-20, 09:10 PM
#59
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03-28-20, 03:59 AM
#60
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It's a difficult question. My first Huffy when I was a kid was a throwaway bike, but it awakened my interesting in cycling, and when my mom figured out that I was serious about cycling, she got me a "real" bike for my 13th birthday.
On the other hand, my cheap, Pep Boys Huffy bicycle was a much better bike than many of the bikes sold in department stores today. A few years ago I bought a brand new Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, which set me back about $400. I was happy with the overall appearance of the bike, it looked much like the Schwinns of my childhood. But it turned out to be a pile of crap. The first problem was that the cheap aluminum used in the wheels was quickly galled by the brake pads. Bits of aluminum from the wheels embedded in the brake pads, and caused horrendous grinding when stopping. I was often filing down the brake pads to get the aluminum debris out. Next, the finish on the bike began to go bad. The straps around the pedals, the chain ring, and crank arms began rusting less than a month after I got the bike home. The paint on the fenders, which looked good when I bought the bike, began to suffer from orange peel. The spring on seat popped though the carrier, so the seat became lopsided (and I am not overweight). I couldn't believe how badly this bike was made.
On the other hand, my cheap, Pep Boys Huffy bicycle was a much better bike than many of the bikes sold in department stores today. A few years ago I bought a brand new Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, which set me back about $400. I was happy with the overall appearance of the bike, it looked much like the Schwinns of my childhood. But it turned out to be a pile of crap. The first problem was that the cheap aluminum used in the wheels was quickly galled by the brake pads. Bits of aluminum from the wheels embedded in the brake pads, and caused horrendous grinding when stopping. I was often filing down the brake pads to get the aluminum debris out. Next, the finish on the bike began to go bad. The straps around the pedals, the chain ring, and crank arms began rusting less than a month after I got the bike home. The paint on the fenders, which looked good when I bought the bike, began to suffer from orange peel. The spring on seat popped though the carrier, so the seat became lopsided (and I am not overweight). I couldn't believe how badly this bike was made.
03-28-20, 10:23 AM
#61
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I don't completely disagree big box bikes are crap. I partially disagree. Every so often, if you're in the right big box store at the right time you may be lucky enough to find a halfway decent bike. Unfortunately for me, I haven't seen a decent bike in my neighborhood Wallyworld store in about 5 years. Tar-jay seems to be a little better. But, not much. The big box stores that specialize in sporting goods seem to sell a few decent bikes.
03-28-20, 05:10 PM
#62
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"Are big box stores promoting a throwaway bike culture?"
Maybe not everywhere, but where I live, the answer is a definite yes.
Each year we have 30,000, plus or minus a few college students from mid-August to mid-May each year. Many of those that ride bikes buy at Dick's and Walmart, and they abandon those bikes at the end of the school year. A small percentage end up being sold at the police auction, but most of the abandoned bikes are retrieved by several individuals who refurb them and then donate them to children and teens who otherwise would not be able to own a bike.
But yes, there is a throwaway culture in progress.
Maybe not everywhere, but where I live, the answer is a definite yes.
Each year we have 30,000, plus or minus a few college students from mid-August to mid-May each year. Many of those that ride bikes buy at Dick's and Walmart, and they abandon those bikes at the end of the school year. A small percentage end up being sold at the police auction, but most of the abandoned bikes are retrieved by several individuals who refurb them and then donate them to children and teens who otherwise would not be able to own a bike.
But yes, there is a throwaway culture in progress.
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Current bikes: Unknown year Specialized (rigid F & R) Hardrock, '80's era Cannondale police bike; '03 Schwinn mongrel MTB; '03 Specialized Hard Rock (the wife's)
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Current bikes: Unknown year Specialized (rigid F & R) Hardrock, '80's era Cannondale police bike; '03 Schwinn mongrel MTB; '03 Specialized Hard Rock (the wife's)
Gone away: '97 Diamondback Topanga SE, '97 Giant ATX 840 project bike; '01 Giant TCR1 SL; and a truckload of miscellaneous bikes used up by the kids and grand-kids
Status quo is the mental bastion of the intellectually lethargic...
03-28-20, 11:48 PM
#63
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That's what I do if the bike is worth it. Contrary to popular belief; some, a scant few can be made nice. Still... a single speed cruiser is going to be the best thing to just ride. I really want the Columbia Rambler to hit ky.
03-29-20, 06:25 AM
#64
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Oftentimes it’s all folks can afford and they and or their kids ride the piss put them. They have their place. Growing up I had two bikes, both my dad snagged from the police department’s lost and found - I didn’t know this until I got older. Loved and rode the hell out those bikes. I’d sit in school and daydream about tinkering with them when I got home. A boy’s bike was his castle!
Last edited by Dr.Lou; 03-29-20 at 06:31 AM.
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03-29-20, 07:03 AM
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"Are big box stores promoting a throwaway bike culture?"
Maybe not everywhere, but where I live, the answer is a definite yes.
Each year we have 30,000, plus or minus a few college students from mid-August to mid-May each year. Many of those that ride bikes buy at Dick's and Walmart, and they abandon those bikes at the end of the school year. A small percentage end up being sold at the police auction, but most of the abandoned bikes are retrieved by several individuals who refurb them and then donate them to children and teens who otherwise would not be able to own a bike.
But yes, there is a throwaway culture in progress.
Maybe not everywhere, but where I live, the answer is a definite yes.
Each year we have 30,000, plus or minus a few college students from mid-August to mid-May each year. Many of those that ride bikes buy at Dick's and Walmart, and they abandon those bikes at the end of the school year. A small percentage end up being sold at the police auction, but most of the abandoned bikes are retrieved by several individuals who refurb them and then donate them to children and teens who otherwise would not be able to own a bike.
But yes, there is a throwaway culture in progress.
Cheers
03-29-20, 08:24 AM
#66
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Correct, not every family can afford a $1500 mountain bike for their kids. Chances are that is what the family car costs.
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03-29-20, 09:07 AM
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No one has said that kids have to have $1500 mountain.
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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!
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03-29-20, 09:17 AM
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I would say absolutely. Not just the big Box stores but some of the smaller chains as well. I called up to ask the guy at my LBS about swapping out my drive train for something better he said well if you're going to do all that it might not be worth it just come on in we have some bikes with the drive train you want already on them for about 1000 bucks… that is also the guy who told me absolutely nobody uses campagnolo anymore....even with road racers, it's old style.
03-29-20, 09:30 AM
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Most kids don't need a $1,500 mountain bike unless they are seriously into single track, in which case they might. One reason why mountain biking isn't really a poor person's sport.
03-29-20, 09:43 AM
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If you picked up a thow away bike and bought new parts to fix it, it may not be worthwhile. If you pick up several throw away bikes, and swap parts, so you have a good bike or two, it is worth it.
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03-29-20, 11:01 AM
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03-29-20, 11:34 AM
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i commuted for a long while doing this. it takes a lot of time and energy scavenging, and also one has to live in a community where a lot of bikes are discarded.
03-29-20, 12:43 PM
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If I rode by a bike on the way to work, I couldn't grab it. If I was coming home from doing laundry and grocery shopping, I might be loaded down .... because if you are on a bike, transporting another bike home can be a challenge. And if that other bike is not functional (say, everything on the bike is good but the wheels) then how do you get the thing home? i guess if you have a trailer .... but if i could have bought a trailer i could have bought a cheap bike.
And what do you do if there are Two good but beat-up bikes at the end of a driveway several miles from home? it would be an hour walk to get one, but a very short bike ride, and time is always limited ... plus someone else could nab them. But if I ride out there, now I have to somehow transport two bikes on a third bike.
Yeah, scavenging bikes takes a lot of energy. I did it for a couple years .... try it or take my word for it.
03-29-20, 01:02 PM
#75
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I saw Schwinn at Sea Otter last year and I was bewildered. They actually have some decent midrange stuff... but it really does look like they just went to china, bought some ready-made frames and threw some half decent components on them. That’s still better than big box stores, though.
The distinction between a ready-made frame and one that is custom made, is academic, once you get into quantities of more than a few thousand. A maker probably wants to "own" a design, so it can be moved from one supplier to another if needed.
