Anyone poor and riding Walmart bikes?

[Bike Chick]

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.

Awesome post! That certainly put a smile on my face.

No, you will not get booooed off of here for riding a Wal-Mart bike. My first "adult" bike was bought 7 years ago at a little bike shop in a nearby town that specializes in cheap bikes. I think he carries Schwinn and GT and is the only wrench in a 50 mile radius. It was a $200 mountain bike and I bought it to try to loose weight after I quit smoking. I thought I had bought a "really nice bike" that I couldn't really afford but my justification was that $200 was what I had saved from not buying cigarettes for 3 months. Little did I know that I would get bitten by the bike bug!

Fast forward 4 years and the $200 bike was replaced with a road bike and was hanging in the shed gathering dust. I gave it to a friend's daughter who was going to college. She rode it all 4 years of college then took it to California for graduate school. She sold it for $50 before she came home after graduation so I'm guessing it's still in California.

Enjoy riding, happinesshill, that's all that matters and welcome to TE!

[tulip]

I agree that you might want to look for a used bike. However, a beginner might not know what to look for in terms of condition. In that case, you might want to go to a local bike shop that sells used bikes. Many cities have such bike shops, and some cities have bicycle coops that sell only used bikes. If you buy it from a bike ship, it is more likely to have been thoroughly looked over and repaired than if you buy it off of Craigs List.

[warneral]

Welcome! I"m glad you've found the love of bike riding! I'm on haitus until the snow melts in wisconsin, but I still love coming here

[Blue_Fedora]

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.

Awwwww.... this made me positively misty

[ClockworkOrange]

Nobody worries about what bike you have, TE is a great site, I feel like it's my faraway family, 'cos I can come on here and ask the most ridiculous questions and always get an answer.

Love your post TxDoc

My first bike at the age of around ten was second hand and my current bike that I have now had 11 years was a hand-me-down from my son and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Homeschooling mom to six children OMG and you have time to play out? BTW your son sounds a love, when you both go off cycling and he considers you. Hopefully you will feel your asthma and back problem is slightly easier the more you ride, it has definitely helped me.

(Sorry to go slightly off topic)

[happinesshill]

Thanks all for the comments. Wow! Awesome stories!! Yeah, I homeschool during the day and when hubby gets home in the afternoon, I hit the road with my son. He is a good kid!

I just really wish it wasn't so cold. I miss riding. I'm just waiting for some nicer days (won't be long now and spring will be here in TN) I noticed that the longer I rode, the easier breathing became (Plus, I think some of it was the bike itself, hauling a big, heavy mountain bike) Hopefully the new bike will help that. It seems so much lighter. Luckily, my husband is very into bikes and has worked on them, built them and fixed them up all his life. He hasn't been big into expensive bikes, just always worked with what he had. So he can go over my bike and make sure it's good and fix it up good for me (new seat, grease the joints good, etc.)

[Susan126]

Welcome Happinesshill!

[ciao_bella]

This is a great post Happinesshill, thanks for starting it. When I first started hanging around this forum, I felt a little intimidated by the knowledge of the women on here and the high level bikes they had. But I soon realized that this is a very helpful bunch of ladies, and everytime I posted a question, even ones I thought were stupid, I received great advice and a lot of encouragement.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all the responses you have gotten here.

Welcome!

Ciao

[smilingcat]

We are not fascinistas at all. Its great that you are out riding and ENJOYING!!

I rotate through my bikes when I go out riding. One is more for nolstagia sake but I still love that bike. The bike was manufactured by Bridgestone, the tire company. It has to be 20 years old or older!! Components are from that vintage. Brake handle and shifters are separate. And I love riding the bike. I don't feel the urge or the need to keep up with those on spiffy bike with all the racing stuff. I get to enjoy my ride without the distraction!!

Enjoy your ride, enjoy reading hundreds of interesting posts here.

smilingcat

[shootingstar]

I bought a Norco bike when returning to cycling at 32 yrs. ..an unexpected purchase..but it took me on several long bike touring rides each ranging from 500 kms. to 1,100 kms., was also my commuter and fitness bike.

I gave it away to a sister after riding it regularily for 12 yrs. But kept it around for another 2 yrs. before selling it after buying and riding a 2nd bike more regularily.

I still borrow to ride it from a sister when I visit her in Toronto.

[Grog]

I bought a Norco bike when returning to cycling at 32 yrs. ..

Norco makes great bikes!

[Bike Writer]

I love the title of this thread and your gutsy and forthright style. I ride a Schwinn that I bought used on craigslist and I am pretty certain it came from a department store, maybe Target. I wanted something to give me a non impact exercise workout and I always loved bike riding in my youth and as a young adult but fell out of the patten of bike riding until recently. I also was raised on Schwinn's and had several of them over the years.

Anything with wheels that go round and round, a set of handle bars to hang onto and a seat to watch the world go by is a ticket to freedom and the great outdoors. It's your passport to a most lovely time.

That cheapie little bike has taken me to parts unknown and I've put loads of miles on it this summer and even signed up for an organized ride and showed up just as proud as punch with this bike among hundreds of fancy roadies. I've had the most adventursome summer in many years on this bike and it makes me feel like a kid again. I love my bike.

Txdoc I second that motion to vote this the best ever post! It made my day.

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.

[happinesshill]

Thanks everyone and thanks to you (bikewriter) for that lovely post. Bike riding has been so freeing for me. It isn't about the workout (but that part's great) It really has helped me with some issues I was having about my parent's divorce and hard times I was going through. Whenever I got on that bike, it felt like something spiritual was happening to me. When I got off my bike, I was ready to go again. I was never done riding. I always thought of my "next" ride, where I'd go...what I'd see. I have to say, with my son along, we have had some really interesting times and some great adventures. It's so fun to share it with him.

I don't know what I mean...but I'm sure I don't have to explain. You all know.

[emily_in_nc]

I don't know what I mean...but I'm sure I don't have to explain. You all know.

You are absolutely right. It's magical. We get it. It's sad that so many others do not, but that's one of the main reasons I love TE.