First ride review: Schwinn Sidewinder from Walmart 20.6 mile ride. - Page 10 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-05-2005, 10:21 PM

>>But the one thing I noticed, people who actually ride department store
>>bikes on this group have little problems with them.

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> There are basically three types that ride these bikes:
> 1. People who buy and never ever ride.
> 2. People who buy and ride the piss out of them commuting.
> 3. People (teenage boys) who buy and ride the piss out of them doing things
> the bikes were never intended to do.
> We get lots of #3. #2 come in once in a long time. #1 come in to have
> their bikes fixed after sitting for a couple of years, usually scoffing at
> the cost of repair. And then proceed to never ride them again.
> So generally, I'd agree.

Agreed.
And group #2 is bigger than you might think. Even when the
bike's badly worn (loose bearings, bent wheels, pads worn to
the metal) they plod to work every day without complaint.

[After repairing flat] "I see your front brake pads are worn
out. Only $7.95 for a new pair"
"I don't use that one"

And Ron's front changer from the other day.
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-05-2005, 10:21 PM

>>But the one thing I noticed, people who actually ride department store
>>bikes on this group have little problems with them.

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> There are basically three types that ride these bikes:
> 1. People who buy and never ever ride.
> 2. People who buy and ride the piss out of them commuting.
> 3. People (teenage boys) who buy and ride the piss out of them doing things
> the bikes were never intended to do.
> We get lots of #3. #2 come in once in a long time. #1 come in to have
> their bikes fixed after sitting for a couple of years, usually scoffing at
> the cost of repair. And then proceed to never ride them again.
> So generally, I'd agree.

Agreed.
And group #2 is bigger than you might think. Even when the
bike's badly worn (loose bearings, bent wheels, pads worn to
the metal) they plod to work every day without complaint.

[After repairing flat] "I see your front brake pads are worn
out. Only $7.95 for a new pair"
"I don't use that one"

And Ron's front changer from the other day.
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-05-2005, 10:21 PM

>>But the one thing I noticed, people who actually ride department store
>>bikes on this group have little problems with them.

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> There are basically three types that ride these bikes:
> 1. People who buy and never ever ride.
> 2. People who buy and ride the piss out of them commuting.
> 3. People (teenage boys) who buy and ride the piss out of them doing things
> the bikes were never intended to do.
> We get lots of #3. #2 come in once in a long time. #1 come in to have
> their bikes fixed after sitting for a couple of years, usually scoffing at
> the cost of repair. And then proceed to never ride them again.
> So generally, I'd agree.

Agreed.
And group #2 is bigger than you might think. Even when the
bike's badly worn (loose bearings, bent wheels, pads worn to
the metal) they plod to work every day without complaint.

[After repairing flat] "I see your front brake pads are worn
out. Only $7.95 for a new pair"
"I don't use that one"

And Ron's front changer from the other day.
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-05-2005, 10:24 PM

"Werehatrack" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

>
> And for purposes of comparison, I will note that a whole lot of the
> price-leader name-brand lbs bikes today are using precisely the same
> level of componentry that is present on the higher-level Mall-Wart
> bikes. My daughter's Trek 800 is equipped with kit very little
> different from the Mongoose that it's generally locked to

And the price difference was?
The Walmart bike was ~$150, and the Trek at around $200?

For that price diff, you get different sizes in the Trek, better initial
assembly, better service, better advice.

IMHO, once you move off the bottom end Walmart price point ($60-70), the
extras you get at a bike shop more than make up the small price difference.

(the bottom end bikes are merely garage wall decorations)

Pete

01-05-2005, 10:24 PM

"Werehatrack" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

>
> And for purposes of comparison, I will note that a whole lot of the
> price-leader name-brand lbs bikes today are using precisely the same
> level of componentry that is present on the higher-level Mall-Wart
> bikes. My daughter's Trek 800 is equipped with kit very little
> different from the Mongoose that it's generally locked to

And the price difference was?
The Walmart bike was ~$150, and the Trek at around $200?

For that price diff, you get different sizes in the Trek, better initial
assembly, better service, better advice.

IMHO, once you move off the bottom end Walmart price point ($60-70), the
extras you get at a bike shop more than make up the small price difference.

(the bottom end bikes are merely garage wall decorations)

Pete

01-05-2005, 10:24 PM

"Werehatrack" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

>
> And for purposes of comparison, I will note that a whole lot of the
> price-leader name-brand lbs bikes today are using precisely the same
> level of componentry that is present on the higher-level Mall-Wart
> bikes. My daughter's Trek 800 is equipped with kit very little
> different from the Mongoose that it's generally locked to

And the price difference was?
The Walmart bike was ~$150, and the Trek at around $200?

For that price diff, you get different sizes in the Trek, better initial
assembly, better service, better advice.

IMHO, once you move off the bottom end Walmart price point ($60-70), the
extras you get at a bike shop more than make up the small price difference.

(the bottom end bikes are merely garage wall decorations)

Pete

01-05-2005, 10:24 PM

"Werehatrack" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

>
> And for purposes of comparison, I will note that a whole lot of the
> price-leader name-brand lbs bikes today are using precisely the same
> level of componentry that is present on the higher-level Mall-Wart
> bikes. My daughter's Trek 800 is equipped with kit very little
> different from the Mongoose that it's generally locked to

And the price difference was?
The Walmart bike was ~$150, and the Trek at around $200?

For that price diff, you get different sizes in the Trek, better initial
assembly, better service, better advice.

IMHO, once you move off the bottom end Walmart price point ($60-70), the
extras you get at a bike shop more than make up the small price difference.

(the bottom end bikes are merely garage wall decorations)

Pete

01-05-2005, 10:33 PM

> "Luke" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>>Concerning the maintenance requirements of a bicycle, it's
> a mystery to
>>me why more cyclists don't take the chore upon themselves.
> Adjusting
>>derailleurs and brakes; chain, chainring and cassette
> replacement;
>>trueing wheels; adjusting cones; etc.; these can be
> accomplished with a
>>minimal investment in tools and learning. A beauty of the
> bicycle is
>>its sympathy to the backyard mechanic.

Mike Kruger wrote:
> Time and money are limited resources. Sometimes one resource
> is more limited than another.
> I don't change the oil in my car any more, either.

Good point.
I can't efficiently change the oil in my cars either.
I pay someone else to make me an espresso a few times a day.

Each of us gets to choose what we'll undertake ourselves and
what we'll pay someone else to do.

After teaching bicycle maintenance classes for many years I
notice that few students actually do their own serious
repairs. But they are much better informed and frequently
comment on how much they enjoyed the class even years later.

Many of my service customers could probably change their own
flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-05-2005, 10:33 PM

> "Luke" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>>Concerning the maintenance requirements of a bicycle, it's
> a mystery to
>>me why more cyclists don't take the chore upon themselves.
> Adjusting
>>derailleurs and brakes; chain, chainring and cassette
> replacement;
>>trueing wheels; adjusting cones; etc.; these can be
> accomplished with a
>>minimal investment in tools and learning. A beauty of the
> bicycle is
>>its sympathy to the backyard mechanic.

Mike Kruger wrote:
> Time and money are limited resources. Sometimes one resource
> is more limited than another.
> I don't change the oil in my car any more, either.

Good point.
I can't efficiently change the oil in my cars either.
I pay someone else to make me an espresso a few times a day.

Each of us gets to choose what we'll undertake ourselves and
what we'll pay someone else to do.

After teaching bicycle maintenance classes for many years I
notice that few students actually do their own serious
repairs. But they are much better informed and frequently
comment on how much they enjoyed the class even years later.

Many of my service customers could probably change their own
flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

01-05-2005, 10:33 PM

> "Luke" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>>Concerning the maintenance requirements of a bicycle, it's
> a mystery to
>>me why more cyclists don't take the chore upon themselves.
> Adjusting
>>derailleurs and brakes; chain, chainring and cassette
> replacement;
>>trueing wheels; adjusting cones; etc.; these can be
> accomplished with a
>>minimal investment in tools and learning. A beauty of the
> bicycle is
>>its sympathy to the backyard mechanic.

Mike Kruger wrote:
> Time and money are limited resources. Sometimes one resource
> is more limited than another.
> I don't change the oil in my car any more, either.

Good point.
I can't efficiently change the oil in my cars either.
I pay someone else to make me an espresso a few times a day.

Each of us gets to choose what we'll undertake ourselves and
what we'll pay someone else to do.

After teaching bicycle maintenance classes for many years I
notice that few students actually do their own serious
repairs. But they are much better informed and frequently
comment on how much they enjoyed the class even years later.

Many of my service customers could probably change their own
flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?
--
Andrew Muzi
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Open every day since 1 April, 1971