A casual acquaintance who doesn't have much money to spare wanted a bike. I said no problem, and started to show her suitable candidates from the local classifieds site. This was not during a bike boom, so truly decent all-purpose bikes could be had in the CAD$250 price range. Once I found the dandiest little Trek mountain bike at a garage sale, older but in 100% tip top mechanical condition and the only reason the $50 price wasn't suspicious was because it was sold at a garage sale in a decent neighbourhood. As soon as I put it back (it was too small for me personally) someone else bought it.
She didn't want them. She wanted something new. I kept telling her that a new $250 bike will give mechanical problems sooner than a used high quality bike. Deaf ears. I guess when you're truly helpless as bike maintenance goes, a used bike is like a 10 year old car from shady used car dealer. Much safer to buy a small, cheap brand, new one and be assured that everything is at 0% wear.
I have a hard time understanding how much maintenance an average “once a month to go to the park” rider that doesn’t live by the beach expects to do on a bike to worry about buying used.
I have a Klein from 2000 that has never needed more than a chain and tires. It’s beat up and I don’t ride it daily, but I doubt the Walmart buyer is riding daily either. The shocks are dead but I’ve even taken it to the trails as is and I had some fun.
I’ve had a Lemond (trek) for something like 6 years that I used to daily (1.5 years, 3mi each way) and I have only changed the handlebar tape because it was crumbly. Other than that I just lube the chain if it sits for too long. I’m even on the same tires I bought it with.
A casual acquaintance who doesn't have much money to spare wanted a bike. I said no problem, and started to show her suitable candidates from the local classifieds site. This was not during a bike boom, so truly decent all-purpose bikes could be had in the CAD$250 price range. Once I found the dandiest little Trek mountain bike at a garage sale, older but in 100% tip top mechanical condition and the only reason the $50 price wasn't suspicious was because it was sold at a garage sale in a decent neighbourhood. As soon as I put it back (it was too small for me personally) someone else bought it.
She didn't want them. She wanted something new. I kept telling her that a new $250 bike will give mechanical problems sooner than a used high quality bike. Deaf ears. I guess when you're truly helpless as bike maintenance goes, a used bike is like a 10 year old car from shady used car dealer. Much safer to buy a small, cheap brand, new one and be assured that everything is at 0% wear.