the biggest problems with the walmart bikes seem to be related to (a) shifting and (b) weight. both of these are mitigated by turning the bike into a single speed. The safest way to do this on the cheap is to take apart the freewheel and only leave one gear (so that it won't shift up and break the axel) and use just the middle chainring in front.
The shocks on magnas and the like usually don't have much travel, so it seems to work pretty well to pull it off and replace it with an old rigid fork from the boneyard (as opposed to "real" modern mountain bikes that require a problemsolver rigid fork to not result in a dangerously steep headtube angle).
I agree that it is a good idea to rehad these bikes. The problem for a lot of orgs is that there isn't the room to store both the walmart bikes and the older, nicer, communters and mountain bikes. And those old bikes are better for the rider, and less of a nightmare to fix up.
Moreover, regarding this whole thread; I can appreciate the general sense that it is important to help everyone feel good about zer bike--even if it is from walmart--but I would still contend that by purposefully manufacturing bikes that break immediately, and are super difficult to fix when they break, these companies are perpetuating a crime against the bicycle... a crime so vast that the only point of comparison is the dasterdly deed of "carbon fiber".
Surely there is a way that we can learn to articulate a rejection of the continued manufacture of these bikes (most of which, despite our best efforts, head quickly to the landfill) without blaming our patrons for buying them. How exactly we do that depends on the individual interaction--and how busted the roadmaster actually is.
thanks-
kyle
At the Bicycle Kitchen we have started making the Wall Mart bikes work and placing them on the street. We use we them for training our volunteers and even though they are only fact similes of a real bicycle i use a Murry for polo.
One poor fellow, who's bike feel off the bus bike rack and front wheel mangled dragged his single speed coaster brake pin striped be-fendered Huffy to our shop. He said, "i have had (when offered a modern bike) those and they get stolen. I ride this everywhere. I have never had problems with it. i like it and just want to keep it." he lost the front fender and we found a new front wheel. cost him twenty bucks and he is back on the road.
Happy rollin
Jim
I like where the discussion is going on Low End Walmart bikes. To provide an interesting prospective, check out this article in Bicycling Magazine. It highlights a part of the cycling population that we not only fail to recognize, but often are oblivious to. It's kind of long but a worthy read.
_______________________________________________
Thethinktank mailing list
Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org
_______________________________________________
Thethinktank mailing list
Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org
--
If an Easyrider rides easy, then a bicirider rides bicis