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Old 05-14-2010, 06:15 PM
 
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Where to buy a bike in SA? At target,walmart or a bike shop? Any recommendations?
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Old 05-14-2010, 06:19 PM
 
Location: San Antonio, TX
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Find a good bike shop, there are several in town. Avoid the Walmart & Target brands...

But what are you looking for, a road bike, mountain bike, a cruiser or a hybrid?

BikeMojo is a good forum for local riders.

Cheers! M2
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Old 05-15-2010, 03:54 PM
 
Location: San Antonio
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i guess that depends on what you're looking for

my hubs got his from walmart, and mine (for my birthday) was from the bx. both are the lower quality prefabs, but are good for getting exercise. we will eventually upgrade, but for going around the block it does the job.

if you're serious about cycling or are looking for something that you are going to use a lot and keep around for a while, do go to a bike shop and talk to some experts who can make appropriate recommendations for your needs and also find the right size. a cyclist friend of mine gave me some shop recs, which i will need to find again. a few shops in sa off the top of my head are bikeworld, cyclelogic, and bikecity.

most quality bikes tend to be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple grand.
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Old 05-15-2010, 04:16 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GlorifiedMalcontent View Post
i guess that depends on what you're looking for

my hubs got his from walmart, and mine (for my birthday) was from the bx. both are the lower quality prefabs, but are good for getting exercise. we will eventually upgrade, but for going around the block it does the job.

if you're serious about cycling or are looking for something that you are going to use a lot and keep around for a while, do go to a bike shop and talk to some experts who can make appropriate recommendations for your needs and also find the right size. a cyclist friend of mine gave me some shop recs, which i will need to find again. a few shops in sa off the top of my head are bikeworld, cyclelogic, and bikecity.

most quality bikes tend to be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple grand.

I saw the thousand dollar ones... and two and three thousand dollars... wow.

Thank you
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Old 05-15-2010, 05:21 PM
 
Location: San Antonio, TX
8,399 posts, read 22,053,774 times
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With bicycles, it is a matter of getting what you pay for!

Yes, the department store ones for $99 will still work; but they are heavy and are not made with the best of components. Also, I've seen some horribly-built bikes at places like Walmart and Target, where the person who puts them together is most likely a regular employee and not a bike mechanic.

At bike shops you are probably looking at $200-300 for entry-level bikes, but these are made by more reputable manufactures (Trek, Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, etc), have much better components (shifters, derailers, etc), and you know they were assembled by folks who know what they're doing! Additionally, the shops spend the time to make sure the bike is set up to your "dimensions;" whereas you won't get any adjustments from the department stores.

Plus, if there are any problems, you can always get them fixed for free; whereas a department store most likely will just swap it out for another bike.

However, since the vast majority of people buy bikes with the best of intentions, but end up burying them in their garage or even worse leave them outside to rust to death; unless you are sure you are committed to riding I would not spend a lot for a bike. That said, a better bike from a shop still has much better chance of working better and making your rides a much more enjoyable experience; so if you are serious about the sport then getting the right equipment is the only way to go!

Bicycling is a great sport and I miss riding in Belgium where there are paths and trails everywhere. I wish San Antonio was more bike friendly but things are getting better. We've got new routes going up all over the city and a plan to link many of them, at which point it will be possible to take some great rides. It is a wonderful way to see things and I have been fortunate to bike in many places throughout the US and Europe. Fresh air, great exercise and for me, mentally relaxing...you really can't beat it!

Cheers! M2

p.s. Although I don't ride as much as I used to, I still get several mountain bike magazines and there are bikes advertised and reviewed in them that cost more than most of the cars I've owned in my life!
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Old 05-15-2010, 06:41 PM
 
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I am finding that out as I research... now how do you decide which bike shop to go to?
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Old 05-15-2010, 07:09 PM
 
Location: San Antonio, TX
8,399 posts, read 22,053,774 times
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As you can see there are numerous shops in San Antonio, I would say stop by a few close to where you live and get a "feel" for the place. If it feels like a used car lot, then smile and leave; but if they take the time to listen and answer your questions, and work within your requirements (type of bike, price range) and don't try to push you into buying a more expensive bike or a lot of gear you don't think you need, then you should be OK.

But since you asked...Cycle Logic seems to have a lot of good reviews, although I've not been there myself. Bike World also appears to be OK, as does Bike Heaven.

Honestly, I usually decide which shop to go to based on the brand of bikes that it carries. I am a Cannondale fan but their local shop is Planet Bike which doesn't have the best reputation amongst the folks on Raspa (a local mountain bike forum). I've had some minor work done there a few years back, and was happy with the results; but it's been some time since I've stepped foot in their shop.

The bottom line is that bike shops are like toothbrushes, personal preference drives which ones you'll like and which ones you won't; but you'll know what's "right" when you find it!

Cheers! M2
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Old 05-15-2010, 07:22 PM
 
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Yet another person with a wealth of knowledge! Thank you so much.... I appreciate it all.
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Old 05-15-2010, 08:02 PM
 
2,721 posts, read 4,128,059 times
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Default Walmart,

Bought one at walmart, took it back, the second one was bad after one year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LovingSAT View Post
Where to buy a bike in SA? At target,walmart or a bike shop? Any recommendations?
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Old 05-17-2010, 12:47 AM
 
228 posts, read 759,786 times
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If you have a friend who is knowledgable about bikes, I would scope out Craigslist. I'd rather get a $700 retail bike used for $300, then a $300 retail bike new for $300. The quality of the components will be noticeably better.


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Originally Posted by LovingSAT View Post
Where to buy a bike in SA? At target,walmart or a bike shop? Any recommendations?
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