Appreciating Why I Spent More Money on my Trek

[airborneranger]

Even though its only an entry level Trek 3900 Disc, I'm so happy I spent the $400 then for an $80 Roadmaster from Walmart.

My younger cousins just bought two of them from Walmart the other day and left them at my house while they went on vacation. One was already built and the other was still in the box.

The built one was a really a piece of crap. First the rear derailleur needed to be adjusted since the chain fell of the cassette. Then I tried to adjust because sometimes it would not shift properly - sometimes not shifting, sometimes skipping gears. I find out later the chain has a stuck link. It has some kind of grip shifters that when you have to constantly adjust for the front gears. You shift, then after the chain changes rings, you have to shift back a little so the chain doesn't rub. Also the rear wheel does not spin straight. Also the cassette wobbles a little when free spinning. I got tired of the bike and will tell my cousin to return it when he gets back.

I put together the boxed one and the drivetrain has some resistance. That was already enough for one day, enough for my lifetime. I never want to touch a Walmart bike again!

Probably a 15 year old bike from CL would still be better.

Sorry for the rant

 

[tandem]

My nephew also got a 24" Mongoose bike from Walmart for under $100 and it didn't shift well. It wouldn't even shift to the last 2 higher gears in the rear & the front derailleur wouldn't even shift to the biggest chainring. But after adjusting them, the bike runs great now. In my opinion it was a great buy despite the initial problems since it was his first bike and it taught him how to bike and it'll probably just last for 2 years since by then he'll be too big for it.

 

[Zippo]

ok ok, but all things considered, 80 bucks is ultimately a good deal for a new mountain bike, with gears at that. i wish my bikes cost 80 bucks - i probably spill more than that! :lol: a little bit of tweaking here and there and it should shift properly - take it as an opportunity to experiment with and learn some bike maintenance. personally i'd just make that roadmaster a singlespeed...but I know what you mean on the cheapo bike, you get what you pay for.

 

[oldschoolpl510]

i wish my bikes cost 80 bucks

I wish my derailleur cost $80.

 

[TreeTopMike]

I wish my derailleur cost $80.

:lol::beer:

 

[arkenzo]

I tried out some mountain bikes at my local Target and Walmart, right off the bat you can tell how cheap they are made. The plastic was bulky and felt like it wouldn't last much, the frame was very very heavy and the shifting was clumsy. This was a $300 full suspension bike by the way lol. I went to a few LBS and finally decided on a Specialized Hard Disc Sport 29er to replace my 15 year old Trek 6500 (built in the USA frame). Wonderful decision and it's good to know I have a proper bike to stop me from crashing head onto the side of a hill or off a cliff lol.

 

[socalchef]

Back when I was first shopping for a big boy bike I had considered a walmart bike as it was supposed to just be for commuting on the riverbed with possibly an occasional dirt excursion. I dropped $500 on an Iron Horse and almost had trouble justifying the expense, but I'm sure glad I went that route instead.

 

[Trailster]

:lol::beer:

I'm glad you two chimed in to let everyone you have derailleurs more expensive than some peoples bikes. I hope you're feeling good about yourselves

 

[Waldo]

To the OP: You're obviously learning a lot in a hurry, and it's great that you're watching out for others. That will help them get more stoked on the sport, ride more safely, and eventually feed business to out LBS's as the kids step up into better bikes. And there's nothing wrong with that Trek you got. Sure, it's not the blingiest thing going, but they are solid frames backed with great warranties, and I've seen people take entry-level Treks to places some people can't get on their $5000 boutique bikes. Don't worry about the price tag - just ride it and have fun.

 

[airborneranger]

Like Socalchef said, I too was a little apprehensive on spending $400 for a bike. The only other bike I had was a Huffy 15 years ago. I love my bike even though all I ride is easy terrain but started to think if I would be fine with a Walmart bike. But after basically rebuilding the Walmart bike (I learned a crap load though), I'm glad I did get a LBS bike. I wouldn't even bring the Walmart bike to the Fully loop.

 

[dirtsnack]

Yeah the big store bikes are what they are. Just don't make them do something that is asking to much for the poor bikes. airborneranger do your cousin a favor and turn EVERY NUT AND BOLT on the Walmart bike. I saw a guy loose a upper jockey pully on a K Mart bike and make his day with the wife a big mess. I turned his bike into a SS and told him to go to his LBS and get it fixed.

 

[sickboy433]

I'd drop 4000 on a bike in a heart beat just to piss the wife off, unfortunately my wallet keeps fighting me too. Ride what ever you got it will still put a smile on your face!

 

[airborneranger]

The walmart bikes are for my cousins so they can go places like the courts, store and the occasional leisurely ride with all the cousins (12 of us). The one bike I built is actually ok despite some nitpicky stuff. But for 80 bux, they'll be happy as well as their mom who paid for them.

 

[UEDan]

heheh, funny. My bike was $80.... used, luckily it was only 3 years old not 15.
Its a SUPER entry level Diamondback but I get you, everything you said about that bike is whats wrong with my mom's Magna.


My mom's bike is a death trap:
Mom doesn't ride mountain stuff, at all. Just local river trail(Mountains to beach trail in Irvine) Luckily I was with her that day. This was about 2 months ago.
She was going down under the bridge and I don't know what happened but she fell, I just heard her yell out behind me. She said everything just got unstable and BAM.
2 things happened.
1. She tore a tendon(I think that was it) on her right arm.
2. She hit her head.

Luckily she always insist on wearing a helmet whenever riding so that was good. noggin was okay.
But just last Wednesday she had to get surgery because of the torn tendon would not heal.

I've ridden that bike when I was trying to fix it, its crap. nothing works right.
Geometry doesn't inspire confidence.
Wheels don't inspire confidence.
Wheels are awful.
Wheels were off to one side.
Brakes ALWAYS rubbed
Derailleurs never work correctly.
Brakes can barely stop me, and I'm 135lb geared.
Rear brake handle doesn't work even oiled up.
Brake handles bend and warp when pulled.

 

[airborneranger]

So we're gonna keep one of the $80 bikes for the smaller 13 year old. What can I get for under $150 for his brother who's 5'8, 210? Try a more expensive Walmart bike like a Schwinn Sidewinder?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Men-Schwinn-Sidewinder-Bicycle/11089191

or anything from Craigslist San Diego?

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/sear...+bike&srchType=T&minAsk=0&maxAsk=150&hasPic=1