JonathanGennick 

I've not seen plastic in wheels, but I have seen plastic bushings as the only things holding the cranks on in bikes intended for little kids.

thompsonpost

I've never seen any plastic bushings, although, I have seen plastic pedals, I was told that if they had a bent fork out of the box, it is acceptable to bend it back into shape (shudder), often bent chain wheels which I was told to crescent wrench back into straight, not to install toe clips for fear of children getting caught in them, the brake pads never sat flat on the braking surface, and if I can think of more I'll post it. They had no clue about red grease for the stem and seat post, which I guess was due to the idea that the bike would never last or be ridden long enough to modify these parts or even adjust or upgrade them, (upgrade is much more of an oxymoron here) therefore if they got stuck in the frame, so what.

Certainly all of the components overall that we, as "bicyclists", take for granted to have the highest level of integral strength, were always questionable as to long term use and safety all around from my hands on observations. I will admit that my level of concern for the safety of people buying these bikes was significantly elevated after my short stint as a wrench for the Huffy Corporation. The requirement was to build at least 50 bikes in an eight hour shift, but honestly, with so many components not aligning correctly, etc., 50 bikes was in many cases a challenge. Everything had to be adjusted "close enough to get it off of the floor." These were all built in the Chattanooga, TN. area.

My assumption is that not one single component on the bikes would cost more than $30 to replace with equal quality components. (I know that's a weird sentence/statement, but I had never built bikes that were so hard to work on but were so simple and cheap, and I have been building for over 40 years. These are a nightmare to deal with.)

So that's about it.

To the OP, I wouldn't buy a bike ( for my own use, not for anyone generally) that was not worth at least $500 and up new (originally) and hand built in a bike shop with the sole consideration for safety. IOW, if it is for sale used for $250 but was worth at least somewhere in the $500 range when it was new, I would strongly consider the purchase for myself or anyone I know. I know this may sound elitist, but I just can't see buying a bike at a "good price" and thinking it will keep you upright without knowing everything about it. I am sure most here will agree.

Don't compromise your safety or the safety of others.

thompsonpost

Yes, I have seen that in the My Little Pony models. Basically held together with friction.

Kimmitt 

The approach I've used which has been successful is to say that:

1) Wal-Mart bikes are designed to last 3-6 months, then be thrown away. They aren't a good point of comparison, and
2) If a higher quality bike works well enough to prevent a single injury that would otherwise have happened, it's paid for itself several times over.

NormanF

A quality bike will cost a considerable sum of money. But it will last and will hold its resale value.

Do you really have to justify how much you spent on it?

If you like it and it fits, quite frankly, its no body's business what you paid for it!

cyclezealot

Each ride I check out the grooves in my Rolf's.. Fearing how I will justify to my wife a new set of 700 dollars wheels...
.One thousand dollars.. My heart goes pitter patter when I see a Litespeed.. How would I ever justify that.. She'd rather justify an exotic trip to Tahiti... How'd I explain I just raided our vacation stash..

xizangstan

A successful marriage depends on COMPROMISE. You probably a) Need to get a second job to buy what you want, or b) Let her have what she wants first, then get what you want.

I suppose there's Plan C: Divorce.

No, nevermind. In that case, she would end up with your bike and your wheels!

pwdeegan

i justified it by selling my motorcycle to pay for it, and then not buying a car, and then using the bicycle i did buy for 90% of my normal life activities including commuting to work, taking my kid to day care, grocery shopping after day care and work, and weekend club rides. with the amount i've spent on the bike in the last three years (inclusive), versus a car for the same initial capital i guarantee i've saved money *and* (the sweet ka-ching!) i'm in much better shape for it (with no gym fees) and with a daughter who loves riding around town too.

capital: $3000 (a complete retrofit Rohloff IGH setup accounts for around $1500 of this)
additional bike maintenance for three years: ~$400 (tires, lube, basic parts [e.g. chains, cables, etc.])
insurance: $0 (included in renters insurance)
gas: $0

now find me a car for $3k that will last 20 years with only routine maintenance, comes with A-list parking, and has zero-emissions (unless i eat too much cabbage).

disclaimer: we do have one shared family car, which i use only infrequently. it's a small compact from 1998, with insurance costs of about $400 a year (we have more than just basic liability), and monthly gas bills of $40-50 (30mpg and a result of my commitment to bicycling), oil roughly every four months ($30 each time), and at least $250-300 a year for some unforeseen maintenance (especially as it ages).

sure it's a lifestyle choice. we all have choices to make.

cyclezealot

Never fear. If we can afford it, she gets what ever she wants. And she'd not deny me what is really important to me. If , we can afford it..
But, many wife's in your option C. They'd likely sell your 6 K bike in a yard sale for 5 bucks , just for spite. ?

Steely Dan

i'm not married and without children, so i'm 100% financially independent. if i want something and i can afford it, then that's all there really is to it, regardless of whether the object of my desire is 5 bucks or 5,000 bucks. absolutely no justification to anyone else is required.

BarracksSi

I was single and financially independent, but now have a fiancée and will be married at the end of the month... so I won't be as independent as before.

However, a financial plan that she's come up with involves a second savings account that we'd both contribute to. Then, after a year, we'd empty it out and split it 50/50, spending on whatever we want. She even said, "You could use that for another bike if you'd like."

I love her...

cyclezealot

She sounds like a peach.. This being married stuff and not having enough trust in each other to pool your finances just seems like a bad start..

electrik

Don't worry, you can still have half her stuff anyways - if you want. The second account is probably just trouble in most people's hands. YEs, this probably means your sweety also.

thompsonpost

Yeah buddy. "Pre-nup" says you doubt what you are getting into from the start.
Please, no flames. My wife and I are absolute best friends. She is a smokin' babe on all levels.

electrik

I think pre-nup is good idea for those already married once.

slowandsteady

Because you prefer to be sitting on a quality gear assembled by a competent mechanic when you are barreling down the hill at 40+ mph.

thompsonpost

Yeah, I agree. If you don't understand it the first time, better cover your ass afterwards.

Had my wife asked me for a "pre nup", both of us being past 50 and never been married, I would have backed away. Saw ray.

nanan

I see it this way...

2007 VW GTI, ~$30,000, currently has 25k miles on it so it has cost me roughly $1.2/mile just for the car, not counting fuel, insurance, etc.

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 650r, $7,500, currently has 12k miles thus cost of ownership has been $0.625/mile, again not counting insurance, fuel, and two sets of tires at almost $600 a set.

2008 Trek 7.3 FX, $500, currently has ~5k miles and thus cost of ownership is $0.10/mile, again not counting stuff like tires, chain, new front rim etc.

Overall my bike has been one of the cheapest toys I have owned and even at 1/4 of the cost of the next bike I will be getting here next month(2011 Specialized Roubiax), at $2000, it would still be dirt cheap in terms of cost.

slowandsteady

Cycling(assuming a $1,000 bike) pays for itself in three years due to decreased medical expenditures due to increased fitness.

https://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles...hcare_overhaul

Sixty Fiver

My 1999 Trek 7500 was bought used for $120.00 and I did a lot of work to upgrade the bike and used some pretty choice parts and calculated that if I paid someone to do the work and had to pay full price for my parts would have been looking at a $1000.00 bike but got some good deals on those as well. My brakes and wheels / tyres compromise most of the expense as they are worth $600.00 (and are worth every penny).

Have ridden it so many miles that it should be paying me every time I ride it now.

The same things applies to some upgrades... better wheels cost more but will deliver improved service and last a lot longer so when you amortize their price against second rate wheels they also pay for themselves pretty quickly.

Retro Grouch 

How to justify buying a $1,000 bike?

Just tell them that you didn't want to spend the money that it takes to get the "good stuff".

Sixty Fiver

A successful relationship is based on cooperation and understanding of each other's needs.

My Girl (a total babe) and I both love cycling and this is what brought us together and she supports my dreams and endeavours to open a bigger shop and become a full time shop owner and frame builder... she said she would not mind working extra hours at another job to support us as the business develops and grows.

We dream together... and she does expect that at some point I will be building her a custom bike of her own in addition to the tandem she requested as an engagement gift (which I am building now).

Yes... she is perfect.

garage sale GT

It isn't so, though. Some of them will hold up to regular commuting for a few years then be good enough to sell, albeit with some replaced parts, which are simple and readily available.

Hulley

My wife and I recently got into cycling. She is VERY cheap. I took here to several bike shops to test rides bike. She starts looking at $450 bikes. I have her ride the same frames but better group to get her thoughts. Long story short, she buys a Giant Defy Advance carbon with 105, I get a Scott CR1 Team. You can definitly tell the difference in a quality bike and my wife hasnt ridden in 25yrs. She has ridden EVERY day since she has gotten the bike. We went for a 20 mile ride today, not bad considering she got her bike 3 weeks ago.

thompsonpost

Yep, in .005% of the cases.