Ozark Bicycle
May 23rd 07, 10:18 PM
On May 23, 7:08 am, dgk > wrote:
> On 21 May 2007 12:59:08 -0700, landotter > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >I sometimes waste a few minutes on the Target or Wally World websites
> >looking at bikes, as it's a mainstream place to look at trends.
> >Today's browse saw some pretty fun and funky beach cruisers, which are
> >a good buy at such a place if you want a real a beater for campus or
> >something similar.
>
> >Saw a couple pretty practical looking bike shaped objects, one was a
> >pretty normal trekking bike:
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/2n5sgo
>
> >And a "Cadillac" bike (giggle), with an SA 8 speed hub and drum
> >brakes!:
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/39h4gh
>
> >Woohoo! Back rest!
>
> >The Wally World site even suggests that we can use their road bike
> >series for commuting, and not just hanging in the garage! How
> >unamerican is that? That Schwinn "Varsity" they're selling looks like
> >it could actually be ridable, compared to the $79 turds they've been
> >pushing for years.
>
> >Not the place I'd get a bike, but if you live in Fife Alabama or
> >Podunk Arkansas and your community consists of a fry joint and a Wally
> >World, your choices are getting better.
>
> I just went with a friend to Target to buy a bike three weeks ago. He
> has no interest in taking up biking for commuting or touring, he just
> wanted something that he could ride through the local parks and some
> nice bike (multiuse) trails. So, we got a sort of hybrid/comfort bike
> for around $160. He could have paid somewhere around $300 at the bike
> shop I use, but frankly he doesn't need to.
This is so true. The notion that someone must go to a "bike shop" and
spend $300+ to get a "decent" bike (and then be "force fed" all those
ace$$ories) discourages people from buying and using bikes.
And, someone who starts out with a modest bike and rides through the
park, etc., has a decent chance of riding more often and further if
they enjoy their early experiences. Doing errands, commuting, riding
with friends, and so on.
>
> The bike works fine. The tires are sensible, almost slicks, which is
> pretty smart for urban riding as opposed to the knobbies. The bike is
> not overly heavy, the gears and brakes work. Will the brakes work when
> it's wet? Maybe, but we won't find out because he isn't going to be
> using it when it's wet.
>
> It's a good compromise. It isn't crap, and he doesn't need something
> that will last for 20,000 miles because he won't be riding it that
> far. He is, at least, on a bike some of the time now.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
> On 21 May 2007 12:59:08 -0700, landotter > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >I sometimes waste a few minutes on the Target or Wally World websites
> >looking at bikes, as it's a mainstream place to look at trends.
> >Today's browse saw some pretty fun and funky beach cruisers, which are
> >a good buy at such a place if you want a real a beater for campus or
> >something similar.
>
> >Saw a couple pretty practical looking bike shaped objects, one was a
> >pretty normal trekking bike:
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/2n5sgo
>
> >And a "Cadillac" bike (giggle), with an SA 8 speed hub and drum
> >brakes!:
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/39h4gh
>
> >Woohoo! Back rest!
>
> >The Wally World site even suggests that we can use their road bike
> >series for commuting, and not just hanging in the garage! How
> >unamerican is that? That Schwinn "Varsity" they're selling looks like
> >it could actually be ridable, compared to the $79 turds they've been
> >pushing for years.
>
> >Not the place I'd get a bike, but if you live in Fife Alabama or
> >Podunk Arkansas and your community consists of a fry joint and a Wally
> >World, your choices are getting better.
>
> I just went with a friend to Target to buy a bike three weeks ago. He
> has no interest in taking up biking for commuting or touring, he just
> wanted something that he could ride through the local parks and some
> nice bike (multiuse) trails. So, we got a sort of hybrid/comfort bike
> for around $160. He could have paid somewhere around $300 at the bike
> shop I use, but frankly he doesn't need to.
This is so true. The notion that someone must go to a "bike shop" and
spend $300+ to get a "decent" bike (and then be "force fed" all those
ace$$ories) discourages people from buying and using bikes.
And, someone who starts out with a modest bike and rides through the
park, etc., has a decent chance of riding more often and further if
they enjoy their early experiences. Doing errands, commuting, riding
with friends, and so on.
>
> The bike works fine. The tires are sensible, almost slicks, which is
> pretty smart for urban riding as opposed to the knobbies. The bike is
> not overly heavy, the gears and brakes work. Will the brakes work when
> it's wet? Maybe, but we won't find out because he isn't going to be
> using it when it's wet.
>
> It's a good compromise. It isn't crap, and he doesn't need something
> that will last for 20,000 miles because he won't be riding it that
> far. He is, at least, on a bike some of the time now.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -