First ride review: Schwinn Sidewinder from Walmart 20.6 mile ride. - Page 12 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-06-2005, 10:22 AM

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:33:19 -0600, A Muzi wrote:

> Many of my service customers could probably change their own
> flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?

I can fix a flat in less time than it takes me to floss. I carry latex
gloves to avoid the dirty hands.

I don't understand when people come into a bike shop with a flat. How did
they get home or back to their car in the first place?

Not being able to fix a flat or do minor maintenance in the field is a
huge time waster.

Also doing minor repairs like adjusting derailleur stops or alignment
usually take less time than strapping the the bike to the car carrier.

Doing your own wrenching if you can is a huge time saver.

01-06-2005, 10:22 AM

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:33:19 -0600, A Muzi wrote:

> Many of my service customers could probably change their own
> flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?

I can fix a flat in less time than it takes me to floss. I carry latex
gloves to avoid the dirty hands.

I don't understand when people come into a bike shop with a flat. How did
they get home or back to their car in the first place?

Not being able to fix a flat or do minor maintenance in the field is a
huge time waster.

Also doing minor repairs like adjusting derailleur stops or alignment
usually take less time than strapping the the bike to the car carrier.

Doing your own wrenching if you can is a huge time saver.

01-06-2005, 10:22 AM

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:33:19 -0600, A Muzi wrote:

> Many of my service customers could probably change their own
> flats. But we're quick and cheap so why dirty one's hands?

I can fix a flat in less time than it takes me to floss. I carry latex
gloves to avoid the dirty hands.

I don't understand when people come into a bike shop with a flat. How did
they get home or back to their car in the first place?

Not being able to fix a flat or do minor maintenance in the field is a
huge time waster.

Also doing minor repairs like adjusting derailleur stops or alignment
usually take less time than strapping the the bike to the car carrier.

Doing your own wrenching if you can is a huge time saver.

01-06-2005, 11:09 AM

It would be interesting to see the dealer prices for both of those
bicycles - my guess is that they're close to the same. I can recall
reading in some trade industry rag (don't know which one) about LBS
guys going to big box stores to buy the new stingrays (still in boxes)
at full retail price, and then assembling them and selling them for a
markup.

SYJ

01-06-2005, 11:09 AM

It would be interesting to see the dealer prices for both of those
bicycles - my guess is that they're close to the same. I can recall
reading in some trade industry rag (don't know which one) about LBS
guys going to big box stores to buy the new stingrays (still in boxes)
at full retail price, and then assembling them and selling them for a
markup.

SYJ

01-06-2005, 11:09 AM

It would be interesting to see the dealer prices for both of those
bicycles - my guess is that they're close to the same. I can recall
reading in some trade industry rag (don't know which one) about LBS
guys going to big box stores to buy the new stingrays (still in boxes)
at full retail price, and then assembling them and selling them for a
markup.

SYJ

01-06-2005, 11:09 AM

It would be interesting to see the dealer prices for both of those
bicycles - my guess is that they're close to the same. I can recall
reading in some trade industry rag (don't know which one) about LBS
guys going to big box stores to buy the new stingrays (still in boxes)
at full retail price, and then assembling them and selling them for a
markup.

SYJ

01-06-2005, 11:15 AM

Gooserider wrote:
>
>
> Seriously, man, you need to relax. You're not taking your Wal-Schwinn off
> road for long---and my Ibex has 700x28 tires, which work just fine off road.
> It's my curb hopping commuter with fenders and a rack. Does your Schwinn
> have rack and fender mounts?

Yes it does. Has the eyelets right on the frame where i installed my
back rack yesterday. Thank you for playing. I also say out of my two 20
miles rides, 10 of them miles were offroad. No, I am not going to do 30
foot jumps on the bike or curb hop (there are no curbs within 10 miles
of my house) but I didn't buy the bike to do that.

> It must have weighed 40 pounds, the shifting was
> clunky, the brakes were fear inspiring,

Just got back from another 20 miler. My shifting is working perfectly
and the brakes are working great. Maybe he bought a clunker. I've heard
of people buying expensive road bikes only to have to return them the
next day because something didn't work right. My Mt Fury I bought was
one. It happens dude. Maybe if you spend 10 minutes on your friends bike
doing a simple adjustment for him, this wouldn't be a problem anymore.

And your 700x28c will be no match for the dirt & rock roads here. The
mud that is so often on the roads here will get your bike stuck or
wheels spinning. You'll need a 700x38c for the ones around here. Trust
me on this one. I've done it before.

And I look at this way, I still got 23 days to return my bike to Walmart
if it has a major failure. Just say you are happy with your bike and I
am happy with mine. ANd if I want to get a true road bike, I 'll
consider the Ibex. I'll give an honest report when I reach 100 miles
which will be early next week.

01-06-2005, 11:15 AM

Gooserider wrote:
>
>
> Seriously, man, you need to relax. You're not taking your Wal-Schwinn off
> road for long---and my Ibex has 700x28 tires, which work just fine off road.
> It's my curb hopping commuter with fenders and a rack. Does your Schwinn
> have rack and fender mounts?

Yes it does. Has the eyelets right on the frame where i installed my
back rack yesterday. Thank you for playing. I also say out of my two 20
miles rides, 10 of them miles were offroad. No, I am not going to do 30
foot jumps on the bike or curb hop (there are no curbs within 10 miles
of my house) but I didn't buy the bike to do that.

> It must have weighed 40 pounds, the shifting was
> clunky, the brakes were fear inspiring,

Just got back from another 20 miler. My shifting is working perfectly
and the brakes are working great. Maybe he bought a clunker. I've heard
of people buying expensive road bikes only to have to return them the
next day because something didn't work right. My Mt Fury I bought was
one. It happens dude. Maybe if you spend 10 minutes on your friends bike
doing a simple adjustment for him, this wouldn't be a problem anymore.

And your 700x28c will be no match for the dirt & rock roads here. The
mud that is so often on the roads here will get your bike stuck or
wheels spinning. You'll need a 700x38c for the ones around here. Trust
me on this one. I've done it before.

And I look at this way, I still got 23 days to return my bike to Walmart
if it has a major failure. Just say you are happy with your bike and I
am happy with mine. ANd if I want to get a true road bike, I 'll
consider the Ibex. I'll give an honest report when I reach 100 miles
which will be early next week.

01-06-2005, 11:15 AM

Gooserider wrote:
>
>
> Seriously, man, you need to relax. You're not taking your Wal-Schwinn off
> road for long---and my Ibex has 700x28 tires, which work just fine off road.
> It's my curb hopping commuter with fenders and a rack. Does your Schwinn
> have rack and fender mounts?

Yes it does. Has the eyelets right on the frame where i installed my
back rack yesterday. Thank you for playing. I also say out of my two 20
miles rides, 10 of them miles were offroad. No, I am not going to do 30
foot jumps on the bike or curb hop (there are no curbs within 10 miles
of my house) but I didn't buy the bike to do that.

> It must have weighed 40 pounds, the shifting was
> clunky, the brakes were fear inspiring,

Just got back from another 20 miler. My shifting is working perfectly
and the brakes are working great. Maybe he bought a clunker. I've heard
of people buying expensive road bikes only to have to return them the
next day because something didn't work right. My Mt Fury I bought was
one. It happens dude. Maybe if you spend 10 minutes on your friends bike
doing a simple adjustment for him, this wouldn't be a problem anymore.

And your 700x28c will be no match for the dirt & rock roads here. The
mud that is so often on the roads here will get your bike stuck or
wheels spinning. You'll need a 700x38c for the ones around here. Trust
me on this one. I've done it before.

And I look at this way, I still got 23 days to return my bike to Walmart
if it has a major failure. Just say you are happy with your bike and I
am happy with mine. ANd if I want to get a true road bike, I 'll
consider the Ibex. I'll give an honest report when I reach 100 miles
which will be early next week.