Recently I have seen many examples of new department store bikes with cones TOO tight and some with NO grease in the bearings or anywhere else.
Most of the higher end Costco and department store bikes will last for years but they need to be totally overhauled upon purchase otherwise they will grind/seize themselves to death within a couple of seasons. Kind of puts the low end prices of a good bike shop, that checks, greases and adjusts their bikes before sale, into perspective.
Or volunteer at your local community bike shop for a couple of months, then buy a new high end Costco bike, spend 2 evenings overhauling it yourself and laugh all the way to the bank.
Chris --- reno bikes renobikeproject@gmail.com wrote:
arguably dept. store bikes suck. but just change your thinking a little. they are not a performance machine.
as long as the cones are tight enough, and the wheel straight enough to avoid touching pads, then whomever rides it will appreciate it.
its a step up from a bus pass.
and some people ride roadmasters for years. they are around. you have seen them.
i just keep them rolling and spend more time with better equipment.
noah
Chris Wells (Head Mechanic & Email Handler)
re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op 477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa
re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays (for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) AND SUNDAYS 3pm-6pm for Volunteering and Donations! :-)
Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cycle Salvation hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturday
(IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cycle Salvation will be using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re-Cycles hours in the evenings.)
info@re-cycles.ca http://www.re-cycles.ca/