Department Store Bikes - Great and Terrible (why Bike Shop Bikes are Expensive)

Being bike-crazy I often entertain myself on rainy days or after the kids are in bed by visiting bike forums. One of my favorites, MTBR, has as section I like frequent - Beginner's Corner. The majority of peoples' questions fall into two categories: getting help choosing upgrade parts, or getting help choosing between bike models. Sometimes, the person is pounced on by seasoned bikers chastising them for not choosing "real" bike brands, especially if one came from a department store. The self-proclaimed expert rarely offered reasons why they are so terrible. Then everyone goes away mad, not educated.

Department Store Bikes... the Givens

First, I have to say I don't hate Department store bikes. They do have their purpose - to be someone's first bike. But I do also agree with the "experts'" reasons (that are often poorly articulated) that these bikes are not the highest quality. I believe the main reason the for the chastising is the seasoned guys and the newbees are coming from different places. The seasoned folks eat, sleep, and live bikes 24-7. They often ride many hours a week, often on extreme terrain - rocks, jumps, high speed. The new owner is probably not going to be hitting these next-level trails any time soon (hopefully). Riding a department store bike in these areas can be, well, deadly and the old guys are not afraid to say that. While it is said with the best intentions, it is very deflating to an excited new owner.

So why are these bikes so dangerous? Why so unworthy? Well, they aren't... under the right conditions. These bikes are perfectly fine riding the neighborhood or local greenway. But, department store bikes are build to hit a price point, not difficult trails. Being "entry level" means everything about this bike is a compromise to keep the price low - cheaper materials, designed with less concern about tolerances, minimal R&D, assembled by non-professionals. Other than the last point, these "shortcomings" are not bad, just not right for the kind of riding the majority of MTBR guys do. High-end bikes have years and often millions of dollars of research to allow them able to withstand harsh trail conditions. They often use exotic materials like titanium and carbon fiber making them strong and light.

All these special materials not only mean extra strength but also better fit. The tighter tolerances of the machined parts of a derailleur, compared to one made from cheap stamped-out parts, mean shifting will be crisp, and it will stay tuned longer. Is this worth twice (or 10X) as much money? That debate is for another article.

Other things I have learned (and what MTBR guys should be/are saying):

Let's face it, Mountain biking, heck, any hobby, is expensive, especially if you insist on the highest quality, or you want to make major upgrades. There is almost no way to have high quality at a low price. So, if you expect to do big stunts (safely), expect to pay big bucks.

So, you still want to mountain bike and you don't have a lot of money? Spend as much as you can afford and don't question your decision. Let's face it, if you can only afford $200, that's all you can afford. Ride it and don't take it past its, or your, limits.

And resist thinking you can upgrade a cheap bike. Sure, the small stuff, like pedals and saddle, can be changed, but nothing expensive like the fork. A fork swap is an expensive and much more complex process than it seems, especially on an older bike.

What to do is you only have a few hundred dollars? 

There are a couple options to be able to stretch your bike-budget.

Buy a Used Bike
There are couple ways to find preowned bikes. The biggest place to look is Craigslist. Here you can purchase a couple-year-old bike at much less than new. But keep in mind, bike parts wear out, especially mountain bikes. If you have an experienced bike friend, bring them along to help assess if it is a gem or junk.

If you have a little more money, ask your bike friend if he or any of his friends have a bike for sale. These guys will know bikes and will more than likely maintain their bike... something you likely won't know from a Craigslist purchase.

Buy an "Old" Bike
Next up the price chain is buying a new bike from a bike shop that is last year's model. Bikes, like cars, have trouble selling if they are not the newest model. When the 2018 models are arriving, 2017 or even leftover 2016 models will be discounted. Some shops will even dicker on the sticker price a little.

So, get the best bike you can afford, ride it often, save your change for the next bike, and don't listen to people tell you that "you should have paid $2000." Oh, and be safe!