Another reason NOT to buy a Wal Mart bike..

[Mr. SR500]

One more comment. My cousin and his wife each received $200 for a bike from his parents. They have 2 kids, and while she stays home, he owns a successful business in a larger city. They have a very nice house, daughter goes to private school, and have new cars.

So I said a Trek 7100 (entry level hybrid) would be a good bike to look at. We gave one to my sister for Christmas. Comfortable to ride, well built, overall a very good value for your money. Anyway they run $325 - $350. My cousins said that was too much, they wouldn't be able to spend more then the $200 they had been given.

So for $200 they can buy a WM bike, helmet, and pair of short. But the bike will likely be a POS, and perform poorly, so how much will they really ride it.

But for another $200, they could have a nice quality bike from a shop that would take good care of them, and my guess is really enjoy biking.

These are people that could easily afford it, but I doubt they will ever get it. That is fine, but shows the mine set of some customers.

They were asking about what I got for Christmas. I just said some wheels, if I explained a new set of Bontrager Aero wheels with a PowerTap hub, they would die Mrs. spent that much on anything bike related. Better to just say some new wheels

[7rider]

So I said a Trek 7100 (entry level hybrid) would be a good bike to look at. We gave one to my sister for Christmas. Comfortable to ride, well built, overall a very good value for your money. Anyway they run $325 - $350. My cousins said that was too much, they wouldn't be able to spend more then the $200 they had been given.

So for $200 they can buy a WM bike, helmet, and pair of short. But the bike will likely be a POS, and perform poorly, so how much will they really ride it.

So, instead of putting in an extra $200 for a bike they might enjoy and continue riding, the piss away the $200 on a POS that will sit in the garage and gather dust. Wise use of their gift money!

RunningMommy will likely only ever see in her store those who are "on the fence" with respect to real vs. box bikes.