MCC Daily Tribune

So you want to buy a bicycle...

Where should you purchase your bike? Any serious bicyclist will tell you to steer clear of Walmart, Target and the like. I am not certain that I agree with them on this. While it is true that you will get a better quality bike from a bicycle store that specializes in bicycles, you will also pay more for that quality. An inexpensive bicycle is a good way to test the water to see if you will become a bicyclist. Keep in mind, though, that you will soon want to upgrade to a better bike if you do take to riding. Probably a better course of action would be to purchase a used bike over buying a cheap new bike. Supply and demand can be a huge factor, too. Check garage sales, craig's list, and Facebook Marketplace for used bicycles.

I bought my first bike (actually my dad bought me my first bike) from Western Auto in South Town Plaza. It wasn’t a bicycle store. That bike lasted for many brutal years. Brutal years for the bicycle, years of pure riding bliss for me. That bike took everything I could dish out at it and kept on coming back for more. Don’t let some bike snob tell you where to get your bike. Many a good bike can even be found on the side of the road. People today throw out all kinds of things that have a lot of use still in them. When it comes to buying a new bike, higher price usually corelates with a lighter bike. Often times, the cheaper bike is more durable – like bullet proof.

Always remember that a $2000 bike you ride every day is cheap transportation while a $50 bike that never leaves your garage is an expensive waste of space. It is all about perspective.

Kevin Simmons
Communications and Network Services
05/12/2022