Back in 2020, I went on a guided trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons where a bike rental (Giant 3) from Dornans supply in Moose, WY to Jenny Lake visitors center was one of the planned activities. It was ~8mi each way and also the first time in YEARS I'd done any biking. And it was fantastic. Beautiful sights, challenging, yes, I was still out of shape, but not impossible or insurmountable. I couldn't figure out why it was so much better. Then I realized I've been riding pretty crappy bikes my whole life (sub $150 from Walmart)
5 years later after trying to get on the Walmart bike in the garage about once a season (and having it suck every time) I've been considering the purchase of a "shop brand" bike for so long but mostly getting confused by features and shocked by prices. I know it's nicer, but $500-700 always seemed like a lot to throw at something I wasn't sure I'd be totally into. Then, the other day, I'm trawling FB marketplace, I see a listing for a Trek 7.2 FX for $100 claiming to work great.
Well, that seems like a nice bike and my girlfriend did just get her bike working again too…
But, being the frugal chap I am, I decided to drag out the garage bike yet again just to try it, have it looked over, then pull the trigger.
This morning, I set out with a 7 mile path planned (wildly ambitious, I know) and hopped on the Walmart bike. It doesn't shift great, sure, there's as many guard(?) cracked around the gears, I guess, the back wheel seems to be bent and rhythmically rubbing on the rim brakes, yeah, but it works I guess, let's see how it goes. My path has an LBS 5.5 miles into the round trip and then, if they say it's garbage, I'll ride home and go get the Trek. Well, yeah. The LBS was very helpful in advising me to not bother fixing this bike since so much was worn and damaged and totally recommended jumping on the deal. And they hooked me up with a MIPS mountain biking helmet for $30 because they were overstocked!
Sweet, now just ride 1.5 miles home and figure out buying the Trek
At 6.6 miles, the right pedal broke.
Shit. I'm almost home, I'll just walk
"Hey, Sir! How much for that bike? I'll buy it from you!"
A panhandler has noticed me walking back to my house and decided he'd like my bike.
"I've got some money, I can pay you for it!" he yelled from across the street.
"You know what, you can have it!" I shouted back.
He trotted over between traffic and asked, "how much did you say?"
"It's actually pretty broken but you can have it if you want. I was going to end up tossing it probably"
He was so excited dispite the issues (which i did try to explain were going to need fixed to really be safe). I could hear him hooting as he crossed the street while I packed up the gear I was keeping in my bag.
Anyway, I was able to get the Trek and I'm so excited to get on my next ride on Friday morning!
(I'm also really proud of finishing 6.6 miles off the jump! I know it was a little slow, but hey I'm at 246lbs as of today, already down 30lbs from my start with just CICO so I'm really excited to add biking to my life as well!)
by tearsinmyramen