So how bad is a Big W bike, really?

[TTar]

Everything on the bike has started falling apart in the past week.

"Everything"? All in the same week?

I'm not singing the praises of this bike; it is after all a K Mart bike, but it's a step above the BSO's they typically stock.

Generic or low quality components would certainly be a big negative, but if your frame and wheels are sound, upgrading with say cannibalised parts, might still be a worthwhile exercise.

Even at a mere $150 for the brand new bike, I wouldn't recommend it, but if you're capable and willing to service and maintain it yourself, a second-hand purchase would make an okay standby.

[HappyHumber]

Look out kids... the chain stores (at least in the US) have cottoned on to the Fat Bike Fad.

Is The Walmart Fatbike Really That Bad?

[kukamunga]

Why can't those darned yanks talk in Metric!

I weighed a 24" wheeled kids Huffy Dual suspension MTB/BSO the other day - 17.6kg! My 138cm/30kg 9 year old son couldn't touch the ground with the seat at it's lowest position, and there was no standover clearance

[HappyHumber]

Why can't those darned yanks talk in Metric!

Follow the comment thread down through the article. The original author posts a link to a Google spreadsheet where's he gone to the trouble of weighing each bit... in grams What with Steven Colbert & people like this, there might be hope for that country just yet

[russellgarrard]

Everything on the bike has started falling apart in the past week.

"Everything"? All in the same week?

I'm not singing the praises of this bike; it is after all a K Mart bike, but it's a step above the BSO's they typically stock.

Generic or low quality components would certainly be a big negative, but if your frame and wheels are sound, upgrading with say cannibalised parts, might still be a worthwhile exercise.

Even at a mere $150 for the brand new bike, I wouldn't recommend it, but if you're capable and willing to service and maintain it yourself, a second-hand purchase would make an okay standby.

I push power... if I'm not grinding I'm not gaining. I eat most BSO's in -3 months

[lemmiwinks]

I bought a Preset yesterday for $20. If it wasn't for some slight marks on the braking surfaces I would have thought it was unridden

[ldrcycles]

I bought a Preset yesterday for $20. If it wasn't for some slight marks on the braking surfaces I would have thought it was unridden

No way, sweet score!

[cray-]

I'm more amazed that they regularly show up on Gumtree in the $99-$150 range, used!

Can't go wrong for $20, give it a good once over and ride it till it dies.

[ldrcycles]

I'm more amazed that they regularly show up on Gumtree in the $99-$150 range, used!

Can't go wrong for $20, give it a good once over and ride it till it dies.

That reminds me, I never got around to posting on here that my Preset wasn't getting anywhere near as much use as I anticipated so I sold it quite some time back.
Believe it or not, it went for $155 . Yes it had been switched to drop bars and had Michelin tyres but those were both things I already had on hand, all I paid for was $15 bar tape. I still miss that bike a little though.

But I am now looking at another Big W bike with lustful eyes, still $98 but gears and drop bars on this one! (Just disregard the crazy bar angle in that photo ).

[bychosis]

But I am now looking at another Big W bike with lustful eyes, still $98 but gears and drop bars on this one! (Just disregard the crazy bar angle in that photo ).

Please don't. The preset is an example of how effective a cheap and simple bike is. The above is just a very poor attempt at being a reasonable bike. Every time one of those rolls out of a factory a decent bike dies.

[Mulger bill]

[lobstermash]

Eggs-actly

Saw one of those in the flesh at BigW the other day. Their display even had that wicked bar angle going on!!!

[bychosis]

Eggs-actly

Saw one of those in the flesh at BigW the other day. Their display even had that wicked bar angle going on!!!

Must be how they fit them in the box?

[Summernight]

That bar angle gives me nightmares!

[silentbutdeadly]

That bar angle gives me nightmares!

It fosters the correct head angle and shoulder geometry in the rider to afford a slightly more effective (from an injury POV) contact alignment with the road after they travel over the bars due to some unforeseen component failure...

[Summernight]

That bar angle gives me nightmares!

It fosters the correct head angle and shoulder geometry in the rider to afford a slightly more effective (from an injury POV) contact alignment with the road after they travel over the bars due to some unforeseen component failure...

That gives me nightmares too!!!

[Nobody]

...due to some unforeseen component failure...

If you bought that bike, failure wouldn't be unforeseen.

[bychosis]

...due to some unforeseen component failure...

If you bought that bike, failure wouldn't be unforeseen.

Just a matter of which one first, they'll all go pretty quickly.

[ldrcycles]

I SOO need to buy this bike .

[Mulger bill]

I SOO need to buy this bike .

Dont forget to flip the bars over so it can have super high velosity, aeroplain inspired, wind cheatering tryatherlong handlesbar.

[silentbutdeadly]

...due to some unforeseen component failure...

If you bought that bike, failure wouldn't be unforeseen.

True. But as already pointed out...the exact moment of failure would be...and that would be 'exciting'.

Tell you what though...it does suggest that the tip finds of the future certainly won't be...especially since this seems to actually be a juniors bike...650B?

[lemmiwinks]

Well here it is, the $20 Gumtree Repco Preset:



Believe me, I know it's got a flat front tyre. Went to duck into town on it yesterday (first ride other than to the end of the driveway) and after futzing around adjusting things the valve stem broke so I took my old faithful Shogun. This morning I wanted to commute on it so I threw a mangy old 27" tube I had lying around in there but it was dodgy.

My original intention was to give it a once over, dump the bars, saddle and possibly wheels and cranks and make a nice drop bar single speed. I probably still will, but I might ride it for a while as is (must grease the tapers so the cranks don't fall off and while I'm at it I should pack the BB and loosen it off - it's tight!)

$20 is a steal (not literally - I see this dude selling a wide variety of stuff on Gumtree all the time), but I think the seller overestimated the hipster population content locally. When picking it up, the bloke said he was selling it for his mate and I asked if he was interested in riding or just thought he was going to be interested in riding but changed his mind and he said that his mate bought it to resell. Well that worked out well for him!

Gearing is crazy for around here (hilly) but would be OK on the flat. I'll see if I get used to it, otherwise Cyclingdeal Sugino 42T $50. I suppose one positive aspect of the tall gearing is that I didn't spend much time on that arse hatchet of a saddle!

[AUbicycles]

Part to throw in the rubbish bin, in order:
1 - stem and handlebars
2 - tyres
3 - saddle

I am guessing that the pedals are worrying as well.

This covers tha major parts though am not expecting the rest to be top-of-the line .

[ldrcycles]

I actually found the saddle on mine quite comfortable and still have it on another bike. The tyres I put on a bike I built up for a workmate and he's ridden that for 3 or 4 months now with no worries. I agree on the stem and handlebars though, and the pedals on mine barely spun straight out of the box, I never bothered to try adjusting them just threw on another pair I had.

[Davidrnau]

The only thing that bothered me was the saddle that the bike came with. It felt like my bum was bleeding after the ride. It was so sore that sitting down would hurt.