The Bike of Doom

The same questions seem to come up a lot, whether directly or implied by comments, so I thought I’d take some time and answer them here.

The number one question. Should I buy a department store bike?
No, absolutely not! It is not my intention to encourage anybody to buy an inferior department store bike. If you have not yet purchased a bike but are thinking of doing so, I urge you to run to you Local Bike Shop where experienced people, passionate about cycling, will help you choose a bike that’s good for you and for your budget.

I’ve already got a department store bike, should I just throw it out?
No, you don’t need to throw it out. That’s what this site is about. If you already own a department store bike, you can still get some good use out of it, even thousands of miles of cycling, as long as you’re willing to invest some time in maintaining it and repairing it.

If a department store bike is not worth buying, why is it worth keeping?
You’ve already spent money on it. A department store bike can provide useful service as a get-around bike for running chores, for commuting, or even recreational rides.

You said your cheap department store bike was your favorite ride even though you own more expensive bikes. Are you crazy?
Some people say so. The truth is, I ride my department store bike more than any other bike because it’s always handy. I keep my good bikes inside, in the basement. Sometimes it’s more work than it’s worth to dig them out. As a result, I ride the Bike of Doom a lot. I’ve grown accustomed to its geometry, I know its idiosyncrasies, and I feel comfortable riding it. That’s all. I know very well that my more expensive bikes are better rides, and I much prefer riding them on long rides or really rough rides.

Do any of the people you cycle with ride department store bikes?
Only my kids. My cycling pals all ride bikes purchased at Local Bike Shops.

Your repair log shows that you spent more on replacement parts during your first year than your department store bike cost. Isn’t it silly to keep riding it?
Replacement parts only cost more than the bike because the bike was so inexpensive ($99.) In the year previous, I spent almost $400 repairing and tuning up my Jamis Coda, including one $200 replacement wheel. Comparatively speaking, the department store bike is actually cheaper to maintain and run. Since I replaced what I consider to be the problem parts on the Bike of Doom (Rear wheel, tires, bottom bracket), the bike has performed without a single repair.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to buy a used beater bike than a department store bike?
Not always. I’ve gone that route before. I purchased a used 10 speed from the Salvation Army Thrift store. It needed replacement parts that would have amounted to the same price as the Bike of Doom, and some of them were too daunting for me to attempt at the time. Not all of us are bike mechanics. When we buy a bike, we want to go for a ride.

Don’t you spend a lot of time repairing your Department Store Bike?
I do, yes. I actually started to enjoy doing the repairs. The bike became a kind bicycle repair school for me. I learned to do repairs I’d never imagined doing only a couple of years ago. I feel that owning the Bike of Doom and keeping it on the road has made me a better, more self sufficient cyclist.

I don’t want to learn to do bicycle repairs. Should I still keep my department store bike?
Probably not, but it really depends on what kind of cycling you’re going to do. If you are a weekend cyclist, taking your bike for a spin around the park on Sundays, your department store bike will probably work, trouble free other than needing lubrication, for a long time. I didn’t do the first repair on The Bike of Doom until about 1,000 Km. On the other hand, if you’re going to use it daily, you should be prepared for ongoing repairs and maintenance. If you’re not willing to do that, you’d be better to park your Department Store Bike and go to a Local Bike Shop to pick up something of higher quality.

Why can’t I just take my department store bike into a repair shop if it breaks down?
Some Local Bike Shops will help you, even if you are riding a department store bike. I have had good experiences with most of the Local Bike Shops I have patronized, and as a result I have purchased seven good bikes at four of them. (Gooch’s (twice), Gord’s Bike and Ski (three times), Olympia Cycle, and Bikes and Beyond.) Unfortunately, some bike shop owners haven’t yet figured out that today’s Department Store Bike Owner is tomorrow’s Local Bike Shop patron. Some Local Bike Shops will not even look at a Department Store Bike. If this happens to you, simply remember which Local Bike Shops treated you poorly when you owned a Department Store Bike, and do not shop there when you eventually upgrade to a better bike. The sad fact is, if they treat you badly before you’re a customer, they’ll treat you badly after you’re a customer.

If you have other questions, please feel free to ask them directly, and I’ll add them to the FAQ when I get a chance.