Hi all,
I've read posts about this before elsewhere but Im curious on opinions based on my situation. I want to shed a couple pounds and I hate running so I wanted a bike. I dont need anything fancy and my budget is about $150. People say terrible things baout bikes from Walmart but if im just riding on the street could it really be that bad spending money on a hyper bike knowing thats my budget? Like is this thing just going to break from me riding it or is it ok for very minor shit like riding it around the neighborhood?
Im about 6'2 6'3 250lbs
Check these out https://imgur.com/a/lURQef1
by BooleanBoy1
20 Comments
That’s the price of two pairs of running shoes. Do *you* think you can get a new bike for that? With that budget you better learn to love running.
You’d be much better served to buy a better quality used bike. Find a friend who rides bikes and ask for their help, or find a bicycle co-op or used bike store near you. You’ll get something much better than a BSO (Bike Shaped Object) bought new from Walmart.
Buy a used bike. I’d strongly recommend something in the $300 range used. That’s the sweet spot for entry level, decent components.
Facebook Marketplace is your friend
A Buffalo bike is $165, shipped. You’ll never wear it out. It’s a tank, so you’ll get exercise pushing it around. http://www.buffalobicycle.com/
The question for use of the bike for fitness comes down to motivation. And remember, retaining motivation is the #1 goal of fitness activities, since if you lose that then the activity stops completely.
So you’re on the supermarket bike. Over the past few months the gears start shifting poorly, and the tyres pick up every speck of glass and go flat, and now the brakes, they rub the wheel rim all the time. You’re tough, you push through. But there is less and less joy in it. One day, you just don’t.
Even if you are super motivated, well that can be worse because the bike will let you down. Let’s say that’s withthe plastic pedal snapping. Well fuxk that, you leave the bike in the shed for a few months. Then you decide to get serious about fitness again, you go and buy a replacement pedal. And it doesn’t fit. You look up pedals on the internet, there is only one size of thread on new pedals.
Now I totally understand your situation. There is no reliable second-hand market for bikes in many countries, because of past malpractice by pawn shops and theft gangs. So to shop for a bike you need to buy for yourself direct from an owner. You’re new to this and lack information, you probably don’t even know which size to buy. So your odds of buying a good second-hand bike are also low. This leads to this sub usually suggesting that people seek out a not-for-profit intermediatary — people with bike knowledge who repair used bikes and supply them to the public (or sometimes a subset of the public like women or refugees). Or alternatively, use a cycling friend who understands your situation and budget to buy direct. It’s not an ideal situation.
150$ is more than plenty for a bicycle. And ‘lesser quality’ be damned…
The first is obvious: go used. Craigslist and FB Marketplace have plenty of ads.
Next… focus on *fit* and *comfort*. The gains from miles ‘o smiles will immensely outweigh extra money spent.
With my local market 150$ will net you something kinda nice, actually. I’d focus on somthing 100$ max and put 50$ into new tubes and tires if you can find em on the cheap. Now for like…30ish dollars you’re not gonna get anything new larger than 26er but *still* new *anything* feels immensely better than store stock.
Lastly… how bad do ‘ya want it? Again… aiming at the 100$ price point I’d prepare to put a little elbow grease into your purchase but a quality steed is worth it!
It is not just a question of weight. $150 new retail bikes are really bad mechanically. Bad brakes, bad gears, bad seat, bad pedals. Go used. If you can scratch a few more dollars together, the Ozark Ridge bikes at Walmart are pretty OK. If not, and you have to go new, get a single speed.
I bout a cheap $160 Pacific mtb sport 26″ off of amazon which has the same quality bikes as walmart. It needed some adjustment with the derailleur maybe 3 times, handlebars rotating midride (new paint issue?). Other then all that it has worked fine for 6 months/65 miles so far. The bike weighs 32 pounds, but thats fine since its my exercise bike. The front suspension only has 1/2in or 12mm of play, but the bike has been very comfortable to ride on. These bikes cant be much different from the dept store bikes we rode as kids, they feel like the same quality. I can also go top speed 19mph and 12mph average speed on pavement with my 180lb self.
I got 2 nice bike used for like 120 each and they didn’t really need much work
Hey man this question has been asked many, many, many times in this sub. Take a few minutes and read what’s been said before.
Looking briefly at your profile, it looks like you’re in the Miami area. I did a Quick Look on the Miami Craigslist, and there are some decent looking bikes on there in your price range. This was the best one I spotted in my literally 3 minutes of browsing – https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/bik/d/miami-used-giant-escape-large-silver/7809989754.html
Given that it seems like you have a viable used market where you are, I’d really recommend that route over Wal Mart. Look for brands like Giant, Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, Scott, Kona, Surly, and Salsa. Look for hybrids or rigid (no suspension) mountain bikes.
Most wal mart type bikes are fine for light use if they’re adjusted properly. If you ride it a lot, it’ll eventually wear out or break, and many aren’t really designed to be fixed. Post a few used bikes from marketplace to this group, and you’ll be able to sift through a few options.
Rule 1: figure out what size bike you need and go from there. There are guides online for this.
you can buy a cheap bike from target or walmart, but they’re built by people that don’t do the proper safety checks on assembly, not torqued to spec, or forks installed backwards.
When parts will break, don’t be surprised that part replacement cost will be much more expensive as the replacement part quality will be higher than what came on the cheap bike.
properly cared for the bike can last a long time but again, when shit breaks, the cost to fix major parts can be more than what you paid at walmart.
https://preview.redd.it/s4u7e4plb3ae1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25a88d239d8d313c9ceea26887a9af5fa807c030
You can find a good bike for $150. Just accept it will be old but they are still great bikes
Get into contact with local clubs. The same people who are selling the “$300 used-but-good” bikes on Facebook marketplace may be willing to bring their price down for someone with admirable goals in the sport, and who is able to collect in their area.
Anyone who’s been around the sport long enough should have a soft spot for a newcomer with good intentions
Ive never heard a single person ever say that buy a cheap bike from walmart was money well spent; you’d be better off buying a lo-miles mid-range used bike from marketplace or CL, there are lots out there
I took a look on FB marketplace. It looks like you can easily get a Trek or a Specialized for $150 in my area. It is snow on the ground winter here so bikes might be less expensive now. I recommend a no suspension vintage mountain bike. If you have a friend who understands bikes and knows your situation have them help you pick one out and go with you to check it out. Experienced bikers see problems upon close inspection. They also see quality that you may not notice.
I wish you the very best and I hope you find a wonderful bike.
[https://imgur.com/a/lURQef1](https://imgur.com/a/lURQef1)
bikes ive identified as possibilities if you all can tell me if they’re good brands. Each is around $150 ish
Yes you could have a very bad time with a Walmart bike, b for that money you can get a very nice used bike that is better in every way.
My BSO rule states that there may be reasons why a Walmart bike may be an acceptable option, but you are not getting suspension, especially in the rear; you might get lucky and have gears.