Anyone poor and riding Walmart bikes?

[happinesshill]

Will I be "Boo'ed" out of the forum for this post?

I have to say that I *KNOW* Walmart bikes probably suck in the grand scheme of bikes. I don't know anything, at all, about cool bikes! I just know what I can afford and I can only afford $200 bikes right now. To me, that's a good chunk of change. I wish I could be fitted for a bike and have my dream bike.

But for now, it's this Schwin City Series bike. I like it. It's so much better than my old clunky mountain bike. Actually, it wasn't a bad mountain bike...I had gotten used to it...until I tried the new one at Wally World. I don't do any off-roading riding really...I mostly stick to the road. So this new bike is more suited for that and rides so smooth and fast, compared.

Anyone else in my boat and riding a bike like this? Don't be afraid to "come out" and talk. I feel so alone on the forum with so many cool bike owners talking all this lingo...I don't have a clue what any of you are talking about! LOL

[Biciclista]

no you won't be boo'ed out. but if you start having problems, check craig's list, better (used) bikes can be had for the same price.

welcome to TE...

[indysteel]

Everybody is welcome here, regardless of what type or brand of bike they ride. So, you need not worry because you have a Wal-mart bike. My hat goes off to you for sticking to your budget; there's absolutely no shame in doing that, especially in the age of plastic.

Every year we welcome new riders to TE and, regardless of what they ride, there is a learning curve with the lingo. If you have questions, feel free to ask. There's a subforum specific to "New Riders," too.

So, welcome to TE!

[Atlas]

You're riding a bike and that's the important thing. If you find you have some spare money it's not a bad idea to take it into a bike shop and have them look over it. My sweetheart is a bike mechanic and the biggest issue with department store bikes (which he works on a lot) is they aren't lubed or built right. It's not totally necessary, but not a bad idea either.

What's most important is you have fun.

[Cataboo]

I second looking for a used bike when you want to maximize the amount of value you get for your money.

I know there was someone else on here who was putting in some serious mileage on her huffy - I can remember her avatar picture, but not her name.

The important thing is that you're out and riding your bike, no matter what type of bike it is - a walmart bike that gets ridden is way better than an expensive bike shop bike that doesn't get ridden.

[MomOnBike]

Boo you? For getting on a bike and riding? Around here?

No, no and no.

We don't do that.

End of discussion.

[arielmoon]

Welcome to TE!

Good for you for getting a bike in your budget and getting out and riding!!

Stick with it and come here often to learn from the wonderful people here!

[Owlie]

Oh no, we won't boo you. You're riding a bike.

[janmanuel]

Where are you in TN? I'm in east TN...I've had good success finding used bikes at a couple shops in and around Knoxville.....

[indysteel]

Where are you in TN? I'm in east TN...I've had good success finding used bikes at a couple shops in and around Knoxville.....

She mentioned in another thread that she's from Western TN; about an hour from Memphis.

[Koronin]

Welcome. My road bike is a used Trek 2000 I bought at a local beach bike store this past July.

[Catrin]

Welcome! We do not boo women riding bikes. Never. Ever!

This is a great forum, and it is rather addictive

[Artista]

This is a great forum, and it is rather addictive

"Addictive" is an understatement! I have to get my TE fix at least twice a day because I learn & laugh soooooo much reading this forum

ETA: In fact, reading this forum is what gave me the idea to buy an older bicycle & update it. I ended up with a much nicer bike than I could have afforded had I purchased a new one. And, I got a like-new saddle of my dreams at a great price from another TE'er on the trading board.

[TxDoc]

Will I be "Boo'ed" out of the forum for this post?

Nope
Actually the title of the thread brought back some memories and made me smile...
Several years ago when I entered specialty school, I was in a world pretty much new to me where I had to learn how to live on a budget.
I figured that living close to the hospital and spending about a year car-free was a good way to build some savings for the next few years and start over. I went to WalMart and purchased the cheapest bike available that would fit me. I think it was something like $ 44 at the time, and believe me I had to save for it.
It was black, had a big decal 'roadmaster' and looked like a hardtail mountain bike or something of that kind. Granted - I grew up in Europe with Bianchi and Campagnolo, so I had no idea what a mountain bike would look like and much less I knew how to use a flat bar bike.
By average cyclist standard, it was for sure one ugly bike - but it took me back and forth to the hospital and anywhere for almost a year, night or day, rain or shine, sometimes with loads of groceries or with a few huge and heavy pathology books in the backpack.

A year later life was normalizing, sort of, I purchased a car and a used Bianchi that I knew how to ride and put the Wally-World bike in the garage and pretty much forgot about it.
At some point, we had someone remodel our outside stairwell, and for a couple of weeks we had workers all around the house. One day, moving tools in and out of the garage I re-discovered the Wal-Mart bike. One of the carpenters looked at it and said 'oh I wish I had a bike to ride to work in the morning instead of waiting for the bus'. I put some air in the tires and gave him the bike. Next thing you know, he was riding around the block with the happiest smile.

So yeah, it may have been one ugly cheap walmart bike - but it made life better for at least two people, and maybe more if he will also pay it forward someday. Making two people happy - that's a lot of good work done by just one bike.

[hebe]

Nope <little snip>
A year later life was normalizing, sort of, I purchased a car and a used Bianchi that I knew how to ride and put the Wally-World bike in the garage and pretty much forgot about it.
At some point, we had someone remodel our outside stairwell, and for a couple of weeks we had workers all around the house. One day, moving tools in and out of the garage I re-discovered the Wal-Mart bike. One of the carpenters looked at it and said 'oh I wish I had a bike to ride to work in the morning instead of waiting for the bus'. I put some air in the tires and gave him the bike. Next thing you know, he was riding around the block with the happiest smile.

So yeah, it may have been one ugly cheap walmart bike - but it made life better for at least two people, and maybe more if he will also pay it forward someday. Making two people happy - that's a lot of good work done by just one bike.

This has just made me all goo-ey on the inside. You've just reminded me that the very first bike I had, that I wobbled along rail-to-trails on before moving away and losing my nerve, was eventually donated to a help the homeless projectwho were delighted to receive it. Bikes have such an amazing instrinsic value regardless of their actual monetary worth or reputation.

To happpinesshills - no-one here will judge you. Whatever you ride, the chances are someone else has ridden it too and will have fond memories.