About 4 years ago I got a beach cruiser from the local bike shop for $350. It was the cheapest bike in the shop. People had been telling me for years "it's not worth the $ to buy Walmart bikes" but I kept blowing them off. I thought they were snobbish or something - I don't know why I wouldn't listen to them. That was the first bike I ever bought that wasn't from Walmart or the likes, and even though it wasn't a super nice one, the difference between it and a retail store bike was amazing.

Cycling actually became fun again! I felt like a kid, riding that bike. That's what led to me eventually upgrading to a road bike. I still have my beach cruiser, and I still use it. I do not feel the money was wasted by any means. It's probably the best $350 I ever spent.

The only thing I wish I had done differently was to get a hybrid instead of a beach cruiser. Three gears were definitely not enough.