My bike doesnt seem cheap!?

Question

I got it from walmart. Could it be a high end model from there!

Answer 1

doubtful. try a few jumps and street tricks. let us know how long it lasts. it could be a statistical anomaly!

edit--c'mon MGW! as you once noted, they're putting in "professional" shops at some stores. I also saw a $1500 full carbon road bike with 105/ultegra set-up on their website. of course, I'm guessing the carbon is not the quality of my TCR. and there are most likely some other components which come up lacking..

Answer 2

It would help to know what brand it is, but it's doubtful.  Wal Mart keeps prices down by hiring people part-time so they don't have to pay them benefits, and by by selling a lot of stuff made in China by people who are payed little for their labor.

Answer 3

UNfortunately, there are no good bikes to be had at Walmart. If you are referring to the appearance, Walmart actually requires a high quality paint job on their bikes, but at the manufacturing level this adds about 70 cents to the bike which turns out to about $6.00 at retail. If it is chrome plated the finish is even cheaper than paint on Walmart bikes.

To make up for this increase, the person who speccs the parts knocks down the quality of other parts that you don't usually pay attention to like the hubs or spokes or bottom bracket or pedals.

For example, the difference between stainless steel spokes and zinc plated versions is about 2 cents each. Multiply that by 72 and you have saved $1.44 but also reduced the durability of the bike by at least 5 years. Changing the welding from TiG to MiG and you have just saved another 50 cents but the frame is now not as strong as it could be. Same thing goes for headsets, stems and bars, seatposts, front derailleurs. These are all called "low hanging fruit" as they are the first things to get downgraded.

Get the idea? Everything costs money...if one thing is really good on a Walmart bike, then 3 things are probably really bad... but you won't know it until if fails.

EDIT: W W... I understand that Walmart is expanding their "pro" bike shops. They are even considering the possibility of stocking TWO frame sizes... 52cm and 56cm!

Answer 4

No, but if you like it then who cares?  I always liked the idea of the guy in the blue jeans and t-shirt on a wal-mart bike blowing everybody else out of the water.