zapj wrote:My opinion is more in line with Billy K than the experts. I have known many people who have bought very expensive bikes because the experts advised. The problem being those people used the bikes only when camping a few times a year and only a few miles at that. Why not buy less expensive bikes just to find out if you enjoy the activity enough and are capable to continue. As a starter I don't believe someone could be turned off to the activity just because it was a Box Bike. If they really enjoyed the concept after trial then they would buy more expensive. I would rather sell a $100 bike for $50 that try selling a $500 for $350 (craigslist is full) For every story of a derailleur disintegrating there are 10 with no problems and so on. Besides if expensive bikes don't break then why do bike shops have parts and service departments on site. The point I' making as my opinion is the advise given to a beginner could be different than to an expert but still not be wrong. Look back at Subzero statement of need, bad leg so no serious mountain biking; about a mile to work; hoping to continue for exercise with comfort (padded seat). Unless you have money to burn or want to look important start with less expensive bikes whether Box Store or used.
hmm where to start.
For those that are new here. I have been in the bike business for the last 28 years as a mechanic. I used to do sales also.. but my current boss feels I am too valuable as a wrench.. so I have not been on the sales floor in a few years.
I am a very avid cyclist, and proponent of the sport. I love cycling.. and love helping others to love it also. I have many bikes.. some very very expenisive, yet I am not jaded and need everyone on an expensive bike. I sold my Dad a $400 dollar bike.. it was all he needed.
I never push more of a bike than someone needs, and at times we used to recommend department store bikes.
We are really less apt to do that today. In the past 20 years bike shop bikes have gotten considerably better. You get much more bike for your money, today than you used to. With department store bikes, the opposite is true. [why is that]
They are not interested in providing a simple, inexpensive, serviceable product. They are interested in sales...these bicycle shaped objects are a marketing exercise. Their thoughts.. really "cool" bikes have suspension and disc brakes.. so lets put them on ours. I am not sure of current after market prices are on suspension forks.. I am not sure you can buy one for $200.. how good can a complete bike be.. that is $150?
I had a customer who was a manager of one of the box stores that sold bikes. He said they took back 50% of what they sold as defective. 50%.. and I bet there were many others just sitting in garages unused. They were not serious cyclist, but they chose bikes from us.
Department store bikes typically come in one size. People aren't. What if the box stores sold running shoes in one size, but the shoe stores would sell you shoes that fit. Do you buy shoes that don't fit.. to see if you like running?
I work on the department store stuff all the time.. often they are brand new. Bike shop bikes are assembled and adjusted. Box store bikes.. it could be the guy in clothing that built it. Some places they have an outside contractor assemble them. I was recruited by one of those companies once.. they were going to pay me $3.00 dollars for every bike I built. I would want more than that just to unbox one.
We spend an hour to 3 to properly set up a bike, and that does not include any fit adjustments we need to do. How long do you think the person getting paid $3.00 per bike is going to take?
In working on some of these bikes. some of the frames are soft enough.. that you can bent them in your bare hands. In setting up the brakes. I adjust them, tighten the hardware.. and then squeeze the levers. to make sure that the hardware that holds the cable works.. and to also to pre-stretch the cables. All to often I have seen brake levers break off in my hand!!! How would you like that to happen when you needed brakes in an emergency??
I don't know who said bike shop bikes don't break?... all things break. People that are cyclist.. and put a lot of miles on.. they where parts out... and accidents happen.
I think everyone might agree that Honda makes a more reliable car than a Yugo.. yet the Honda dealers probably have more parts on hand, than the yugo dealers.
Do department stores carry parts? almost none, and now a days some of their parts are not available... if it breaks or falls off.. you throw the bike away..
I don't ever try to make decisions for anyone.. I try to educate them and let them make their own. hmm I guess if they are looking at two floor pumps on our sales floor.. and one has proven not to be as reliable.. I would straight out tell them to buy the other.
We will often have someone that wants us to tell them which bike to buy.. I won't.. I educate and make them ride.. make them choose.
A while back a friend on here [Kerry] was looking to upgrade some parts on a 20 year old road bike.. a nice and expensive one. I begged him to go and take a new one for a ride. He was very resistant.. but finally did. He may have found the new bikes better.. but was ok with his old one. Or he might not have felt a difference [very unlikely]. He did finally do it, and found the new bike much better, and if I remember correctly he bought a new bike, for less then the upgrades would have cost.
Some people are more perceptive than others.. some feel more subtle differences. My boss is not very perceptive. It works good for him... he is perfectly happy with medium price ranged bikes. I am very sensitive.. which leaves me wanting the higher quality stuff. but it also make me a better mechanic.
For someone with a physical limitation and is unsure if they can ride.. we allow test rides. We allow test rides in all cases.. but are happy to work with people and their problems.. to see if cycling works for them.