New Bike Day

[yark14]

So...

I acquired a cheap bike today. I'll eventually get a nicer one, but in the meantime I'm looking for a bike to ride the 2-3 miles to work, and for small errands in order to save on gas. Also looking to have a little fun on the trails.

Picked up a Pacific Chromium mountain bike today. The guy at the sporting goods store said it was the best one in the price range.

It rode horribly on the way home (a few miles). However, my roommate, who is a cyclist, helped me set it up. I took it to a park with great trails this afternoon. The thing worked great....for about 10 minutes.

The back tire wobbles like crazy, the chain doesn't stay on, the brakes are horrificly loud.

Its hopefully going back tonight. Either just get a refund or exchange it for a different bike.

[cnote]

Congrats. Bikes rule.

If your buddy is good with wheels, have him re-tension and true em up. Sounds like it wasn't tensioned properly at the factory. If not, probably be $20 or so to have a shop do it. Like guitars, with a bit of work on setup even a cheapie can be a ton of fun and get good use.

[superchicken_VI]

Get your money back and buy a serviceable bike off of Craigslist. There will be tons of them from brands you've heard of for less than what you bought.

[Brad Pittiful]

sounds like the sporting goods store...opened the box and put the bike together

thats why you go to a bike shop as they do everything to make the bike ride right and fit you to the bike

[trailboss]

Take the Pacific back for a refund, proceed to your nearest "real" bike shop and drop $100 or so on a used name-brand rig. I've spent much of my adult life in the bike industry and I know the Pacific corporation/folks first-hand (4 miles up the street and I usta work there...). Seriously, they are BARELY safe to ride on a flat sidewalk, for ten minutes or so. Fortunately your breakdowns were not of "catastrophic" nature while bouncing down the side of a mountain. Unlike guitars, you can "tune up" a super-cheapie, but the setup won't hold. Good luck!

[muudcat]

Cheap bikes aren't worth putting money into, parts will break and things just won't work right and if you spend more on even a used name brand ride with a solid frame you'll be more apt to ride it instead of parking it in the garage. Then you can always upgrade to better components. I'm with you tb

[KevinB]

I have to agree. A fully-suspended new bike in that price range ($100-ish) is just never going to be much good.

Get a decent used one sized for you - there are lots out there - with name brand components and the difference will be like night and day.

[mercy]

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

Get your money back and buy a serviceable bike off of Craigslist. There will be tons of them from brands you've heard of for less than what you bought.

I agree. You might even be able to find someone on CL who will go over your new-to-you, pre-owned bike and tune-it-up for 25 bucks or so.

[Slow Reflexes]

Originally Posted by KevinB

I have to agree. A fully-suspended new bike in that price range ($100-ish) is just never going to be much good...

I don't really see how a suspension is ever going to be necessary (or even marginally desirable) on any bike that will be ridden on the street. Unless you just want to have to do more exercise than on a regular bike to get where you're going...

Suspensions are a waste of energy if you're not doing something really hardcore.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

Get your money back and buy a serviceable bike off of Craigslist. There will be tons of them from brands you've heard of for less than what you bought.

^^This.

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by Slow Reflexes

I don't really see how a suspension is ever going to be necessary (or even marginally desirable) on any bike that will be ridden on the street. Unless you just want to have to do more exercise than on a regular bike to get where you're going...

Suspensions are a waste of energy if you're not doing something really hardcore.

I agree.

I googled that bike and found this...



...which is why I brought up the suspension topic. Especially on a $100 bike, you know it has to be junk, and as you say not needed anyway.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by yark14

It rode horribly on the way home (a few miles). However, my roommate, who is a cyclist, helped me set it up. I took it to a park with great trails this afternoon. The thing worked great....for about 10 minutes.

The back tire wobbles like crazy, the chain doesn't stay on, the brakes are horrificly loud.

Get your money back, or get some other sporting goods there and get a real bike somewhere else.

Anyone that would sell you a bike as sorry as this, I'd try and avoid doing business with.

How much did you spend? Certain things, bikes, rollerblades, kayaking equipment, tents; the lower priced stuff is just gonna make you miserable. If you're serious and you want to keep doing the activity, buy nice stuff used, or buy new and take a hit. There's few "$ 200 Guitar" equivalents in these types of sporting goods.

[yark14]

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

Get your money back and buy a serviceable bike off of Craigslist. There will be tons of them from brands you've heard of for less than what you bought.

Thats what I plan on doing. Problem is, I know next to nothing about bike brands. I'd like to find a "Squier Classic Vibe" of bikes. Good quality without a hefty price tag. Since my student loan payments are probably more than many of y'alls mortgages, a "Fender Custom Shop" type bike is out of the question. Problem is, everybody I talk to says "go to a specialty bike shop"....yet all those shops carry are the high end bikes way out of my budget.

Originally Posted by KevinB

I agree.

I googled that bike and found this...



...which is why I brought up the suspension topic. Especially on a $100 bike, you know it has to be junk, and as you say not needed anyway.

Actually, the suspension and frame are the best parts of the bike. However, the brakes, wheels, and drivetrain are complete junk.

[rcole_sooner]

This is my easy going, ride around the trails with the wife bike.



You could get these used for less than $500 (probably a lot less).

I swapped out the knobby tires, for road slicks. Put on a suspension post, and luggage rack.

[Slow Reflexes]

Used is a great way to get a deal.

If you must have new, BikesDirect.com will have something for half the price of the bike shop that blows the axles off whatever you find in the department store.

Downside - you have to put it together, and the bike shop will know where you got it if you take it in there later. A good shop won't give you crap about it, but a snooty one might.

[jmaul]

Originally Posted by yark14

Either just get a refund or exchange it for a different bike.

I'd highly suggest you order a Forge branded bike from Target online, or used if you can find one.

They are some of the best bang for the buck in the bike world, and the parts alone are worth more than the price of the bike.

Find yourself a target online coupon and/or sale and get to it!

[superchicken_VI]

I'm sure you can find a good used Trek, Giant, or Specialized for under $150 that fits you and will last you forever.

[yark14]

Originally Posted by superchicken_VI

I'm sure you can find a good used Trek, Giant, or Specialized for under $150 that fits you and will last you forever.

http://austin.craigslist.org/bik/3000177808.html

Which one should I get? OR...I could get both and try them out, then sell the one I like best???

Are these decent?

[superchicken_VI]

Find out the frame size of the bikes. Somewhere on the internet you can find a static fitting guide for bicycles. You input some measurements and they tell you generally what frame size to get. If either frame is within 2cm of your measurement, buy it and try it.

[superchicken_VI]

Oh, and the bars on the Trek look odd, but it might just be some bar-ends and a bad camera angle.