Supercycle shill and the Hypothesis of Doom!
by Steve ~ April 20th, 2007. Filed under: Department Store Bikes.On a recent ride Mike only half jokingly suggested that I contact Canadian Tire to tell them how well their $99 bike was doing, with an eye to becoming a spokesperson for SuperCyle. That’s not in my plan, though. I don’t really want to be a shill for Canadian Tire, or any other company. I already work in advertising. I’d prefer to keep shilling in my day job. If the Bike of Doom bombs, I want to be able to rant and rave about it. Besides, I don’t see Canadian Tire looking for SuperCycle spokesperson anytime soon: SuperCycle already seems to be the most popular bike brand in Canada, it doesn’t need by help.
On the supportive comment front, however, I do find myself enjoying riding the Bike of Doom, moreso than riding the Giant Boulder, even though the Giant is a superior bike with superior components that generally just works better. Why? It’s hard to explain. Part of it is that I feel engaged in an interesting project with the Bike of Doom, and every time I ride a different bike I start to think that I’m wasting ride time I could be using to move the BOD experiment forward. For another thing, because I’m riding the BOD so much (more than twice the kilometres that I’ve put on the Giant), I’m growing accustomed to its geometry and its idiosyncracies. In other words, I’m getting used to it, and I feel comfortable on it.
This may be the cycling equivalent of the Stockholm Syndrome, where victims of terrorist kidnappings begin to empathize, to a degree, with their captors. In my case, I’me getting real pleasure from putting the BOD through its paces. Every time the $99 bike hits the pavement and its pedals actually turn, and its wheels actually roll, I experience a little thrill. How long can this miracle continue? Ah, well, that’s the purpose of this little experiment, isn’t it, to find out exactly how well a $99 department store bike can do, and how long it can last.
I have a hypothesis, of course. It wouldn’t be a real experiment without one. Let’s call it…
The Hypothesis of Doom!
It goes something like this. A $99 department store bike will perform acceptably well as a commuter bike, cycled with reasonable care, maintained reasonably well (no more than you’d maintain any other bike), and will prove itself both road worthy and a good value.
Whether I prove my hypothesis right or wrong, I will let you know.
Related posts:
SuperCycle SC1800 Girl and Boy Versions
April 29th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Steve,
Good to see you becoming attached to your SC-1800 bike. I used to be a bike mechanic and fixed one up for nephew that the neighbour left at the corner after someone stole his wheels.
For $99, it’s amazing to get aluminum wheels, thumb shifters (far superior to cheap grip shifters), and I’m the type of person who pay extra for a non-shock fork.
There are two things that I recommend:
a) Upgrade the stamped metal front V-brake to a solid Aluminum one for more predictable feel. COst $12 at canadian tire.
Upgrade front tire, at the very least, to some sort of narrower slick/smooth tire.
ride on,
Ray
April 29th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Ray, I’ve had it in mind to upgrade the tires to semi-slicks, perhaps 1.5 inch. I know from experience how much more pleasurable and efficient that can make a ride. However, I’m curious to see how long the default knobbies do. They’ve got a reasonable bead and so far haven’t proved to be too much of a problem. Still, it would be nice to catch up to (or stay in front of) those pesky road-bike riding commuters who blow by me every afternoon…
May 4th, 2007 at 4:41 am
My wife just bought one of these at a yard sale for $40 (US Dollars) for me to use. It is a few years old, but other than low tire pressure it is in mint condition. It is a Huffy Blackwater 26″. This should be a little bit better for going off road with the kids than my old Scwinn Varsity road bike. Hope this experiment of yours goes well.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:25 am
i ride the sc 1800 and like the former mechanic, i am amazed at the aluminum rims and the excellent ride. no it is not a mirage; this is a comfortable commuter bike at a low price. in fact i have never felt a jolt on it in two years of owning.