Walmart hybrid bike

[shanesauce]

I want to start cycling like yesterday. I test rode a electra townie at my LBS and while it was cool in its own way I want something a bit quicker.

I am 6'2 320lb and figure I will need around a 22 inch frame and I want to stay away from super thin tires, maybe a 700x32 will suffice? Walmart has a few hybrid bikes that look okay but I wonder how long they will put up to the abuse. I don't plan on going off the main paths around here but I'm sure my weight will be a factor in how long a bike lasts. From what I have gathered a set of velocity deep wheels would be well suited for my weight.

I don't mind spending coin on a good bike but I want to hit the ground running right now and just get into it. A $100 purchase over a $500 purchase will let me get started right now.

[alsoknownasDean]

Are you open to the idea of a used bike?

A department store bike is likely to have the cheapest of everything on it.

[Eric222]

I want to start cycling like yesterday. I test rode a electra townie at my LBS and while it was cool in its own way I want something a bit quicker.

I am 6'2 320lb and figure I will need around a 22 inch frame and I want to stay away from super thin tires, maybe a 700x32 will suffice? Walmart has a few hybrid bikes that look okay but I wonder how long they will put up to the abuse. I don't plan on going off the main paths around here but I'm sure my weight will be a factor in how long a bike lasts. From what I have gathered a set of velocity deep wheels would be well suited for my weight.

I don't mind spending coin on a good bike but I want to hit the ground running right now and just get into it. A $100 purchase over a $500 purchase will let me get started right now.

While I agree that a department store bike isn't going to be great, it sounds like you just want to start biking.  If you want to get started now - go for it! Get the $100 bike.  It may not survive more than a year (I have no idea, really), but by that time you'll have a much better idea of what works for you and what you need.

Biking can get a bit crazy and there is always something better/more durable/faster/cheaper/pick an adjective.  The important thing is to find a bike that lets you do what you want.  In this case, start biking! 

NOTE:  Obligatory safety advice:  Get a helmet too!  Wear it! 

[GuitarStv]

At 320 lbs your biggest concern will be the wheels.  You will want 36 spokes minimum on the rear wheel, and a decent double walled rim (Velocity Deep V are a strong rim and would be a good choice).  Also, it's worth learning how to true a wheel/replace a spoke, they loosen up more frequently with heavier riders.

It's probably a good idea to get into the habit of raising your ass off the saddle when you go over bumps on the road.  Besides being much more comfortable for you, this will radically reduce the chance that you bend the rails under your saddle.

Get a good floor pump in your garage with a gauge and remember to check your tire pressure and pump your tires up before each ride.  It only takes a couple seconds, and should be part of your routine.  Your chance of pinch flats will be much higher due to weight, and it's annoying to constantly be changing out flat tires.

If you live in a hilly area your chain and cassette will wear a little faster than for a really light person because it takes much more power to climb.  Again, if you live in a hilly area you will need more braking power to stop, so should keep an eye on your brake pads as well.

Other than that, you shouldn't have any problems with wear from your bike.  Frames are hella strong, cranks are very strong, your bars can take a lot of abuse, and as long as you keep an eye on the stuff mentioned above you'll be out there pedaling away and having a blast.  I've known people who lost a ton of weight cycling, so it may not even be a concern for too long . . .



Final bit of advice . . . don't buy a bike at Walmart.  They tend to be made of poor components, and aren't assembled very well.  The frames are often very heavy, so even if you start upgrading things it's not really worth it in the end.  It might be a 100$ purchase, but the cheaper components will need tuning more frequently, the wheels will probably not hold up for very long, etc.

If you want to get started the cheapest way possible, look for a used hard tail older mountain bike without a front suspension.  They tend to have pretty tough wheels on them, be cheap, and you should be able to find one that's better quality than a Walmart bike for 1-200$.  If you replace the tires with some slicks (probably set you back about 40$) they'll roll pretty well on the road.  Mountain bike gearing is easier than most road bikes, so you'll save your knees when going up hills.

[MayDay]

I don't know where you are at, but around here there is one bike shop with used bikes that are very reasonably priced.  Some are odler and have been updated, some are like new.  It might be worth calling around.  Plus if oyu buy from a bike shop, and have trouble, you will get much better help than if you have trouble with a Walmart bike. 

I'm not very comfortable buying a used bike, most people aren't. 

Another option is to ask all your friends if anyone has an old bike in their garage that you can borrow for a couple months while you save up.  Practically every adult I know who owns a bike, just stores it and never rides it. 

[Rubic]

Please don't buy a Walmart bike.  They're total crap and are difficult to service.

A used bike is much more sensible.  If you can't find a used hybrid, you might consider a used mountain bike and replace the knobby tires with city slicks.  I rode something similar for commuting before I got into road cycling and it worked very well for me.

[shadowmoss]

I bought a Walmart bike a few years ago.  I rode it a few times.  It got me up to speed on what I liked and what I didn't about bikes.  I ended up giving it away when I moved to another family, and the father like to use it to ride around their small town.  They are what they are.  Consider it an upfront investment to help you get out there and see what you actually need in something you will then put more money into.

[jda1984]

I'm not sure where you're located, but around here there are a number of recycle bike shops.  Typically they are run as a charity of some sort (one teaches bike mechanic skills to at risk youth over summer internships).  The ones I know of accept donations of used bikes and gear and then fix it up and resell it.  I've test ridden a few bikes at the one a couple blocks from my house and another one in St. Paul.  Both seemed to do good work.  The bikes available were decent quality bike shop brands (i.e. no newer crappy Schwinns, Mongoose, Huffy, etc.).  Depending on the quality, prices were more competitive than used at local bike shops but more than used from Craiglist.  In my area you could get a great used bike for ~$200.  Plus, if you need things to be upgraded/switched out I'm sure they'd be more friendly toward that negotiation in the buying process since they're still only selling you two wheels (you're not buying an additional one to upgrade) so they can reuse the wheel you're upgrading from on another build.

[Jack]

If you want to get started the cheapest way possible, look for a used hard tail older mountain bike without a front suspension.  They tend to have pretty tough wheels on them, be cheap, and you should be able to find one that's better quality than a Walmart bike for 1-200$.  If you replace the tires with some slicks (probably set you back about 40$) they'll roll pretty well on the road.  Mountain bike gearing is easier than most road bikes, so you'll save your knees when going up hills.

This is what you want. I'd rather ride a 25-year-old "bike-shop-quality" mountain bike than a brand new "bicycle-shaped object" (BSO) from Wal-Mart. (In fact, I do do that: my commuter is a circa-1990 Specialized Hard Rock, which I got at the local non-profit bicycle co-op for a whopping $20.)

An old no-suspension mountain bike is also particularly good for you, because their components -- including, importantly, the wheels -- are built stronger to handle hitting rocks and stuff, so they'll best handle your weight.

I hear they might have gotten better lately, but I've heard horror stories about BSOs being sub-standard to the point that the frame snaps in half due to bad welds, or something important (like the handlebars) coming loose and causing a crash because the minimum-wage idiot at the department store didn't assemble it properly.

[The Guru]

Ditto all the comments against a wallyWorld bike. First of all, if you're going that route to get started RIGHT NOW, you stand to make a mistake- like most decisions one rushes into.

Second, if you spend $100 now to upgrade later, you're never gonna recoup that original investment. seems like $100 that COULD have been invested in a better bike in the first place.

Third, I agree about the low quality of the aforementioned BSOs. Even the occasional defender I see online concedes that certain components- usually BRAKES- need upgraded sooner rather than later. Call me nit-picky, but it seems like of all the components I'd want to work properly, brakes are right on top of the list.

You didn't mention whether the bike you're considering has suspension. I doubt that a  hybrid would have rear suspension  but it might have a front suspension fork. If so it's a feature I'd avoid. not only is it unnecessary weight and one more thing to malfunction (not to belabor the point, but...especially on an inexpensive bike), the movement of the fork actually requires more of your energy to propel the bike.

I'm another fan of old bikes: all 3 of mine (1 carbon Trek road bike, a cromoly Schwinn roadie & a Schwinn ATB) are pushing 25 years old. Still getting regular and trouble free use- testimony to the benefits of buying quality.