support your L(used)BS
There’s been a little discussion on PFN about the concept of Dynacrap bikes, and was picked up further by a commenter there. The crux of the question is whether any bike is better than no bike, and the value of the lowest of the low-end bicycles.
Sure, it’s generally better to have someone on a bike than in a car. Comparisons are made to the car world, where there is a place for the Hyundais and Kias of the world. Here’s the thing though: automobiles are regulated top to bottom, and the absolute worst car you can buy is still miles better than the worst bike you can buy.
Department and discount store bikes are most often built by employees with little bike knowledge and virtually no stake in the durability and safe operation of the bike. I’ve spent many hours repairing and rebuilding Magnas and Pacifics and sundry other low-end bike-like things, and they are truly a waste of good metal. They are often designed to not be fixed or even adjusted, so if they work, fine, if they don’t, too bad. They can be difficult to work on even for experienced mechanics, let alone the novices that they’re most often sold to.
On the other hand, even the cheapest Schwinn or Japanese bike from the mid-’70s can often get back on the road with only some fresh grease and adjustments, maybe a new chain and tires. These are workhorses designed for many miles, before manufacturers figured out how to build them even cheaper.
The low-end bike market is truly a place where new bikes don’t need to exist. We (as a society) are still processing the leftovers from the bike boom years of the late ’70s, and those bikes can still see years of service at a low price and low maintenance cost.
Recycled bikes are a much better option. There are at least 4 good bike shops (Sibley, Express, Sunrise, One on One) here in town who carry well-made, nicely refurbished bikes for under $200 that are 10x the quality of the typical department store bike. Go visit! You’ll be surprised at some of the good stuff they have.
I completely agree. It’d be great if we could get people to think first of a sturdy recycled bike rather than buying something new but crappy out of “fear of the used.”