My $80 walmart bike lasted 3 months. My $200 bike from a bike shop lasted years (and is still going without rust) and was totally worth the purchase. I always advise people to avoid cheap K-mart, Walmart, and Target bikes in favor of ones from their local bike shop. Especially if they're presents for their kids and you want them to last throughout their teens. The gift of a functional bike keeps on giving when it turns into a memorable nostalgic functional bike that you've had for 12 years. It's worth it.
$80, $200? Did you make a typo in these? You're lucky to get a good bike for $200. A bike I can keep for 12 years would easily cost me 500 euro (~US$625 currently), for the most basic model, probably without gears at that price.
Here in the midwest of USA, I spent $200~ for a used good bike at a local bike shop. You can spend thousands for a bike here if you want, but generally speaking at a local bike shop you can get a good durable bike for less than $500. This year I spent $350 at the same bike shop for a 1 year old used bike for my wife.
I didn't own a car when I bought my bike and I rode it most 10-15 miles most every day for 2 years. Now 5 years later I still ride it at least twice a week, and the only replacements I have needed to do is 1 set of pedals, and the usual tire stuff.
In general, if you go in a dedicated (serious) bicycle store, you should get something worth the price.
After, this is just plain logic : the more you pay, the better it will be ;)
I had a huffy bike (walmart style) that lasted 10 years of heavy riding, before it was stolen. Replaced it with a $200 restored 80's Raleigh road bike that I got by a side-of-the-highway bike shop.
Never really understood the masses that go to a shiny hipster bike shop and pay $700-1000 for a brand-new basic commuter. There are so many used bikes out there that need loving owners.
Decent bikes from the as far back as the 60's mostly use standard threading and can be easily repaired with new parts. I ride a bike from 1971, it's quite light and fast, and like any bike that's properly cared for doesn't have problems with rust. $250 on craigslist.
One of the main advantages of buying used bikes is that people actually used to build bikes properly so they last 43 years with all stock parts.
Damn. How is it that in a (generally speaking) bike-unfriendly country like the US bikes are so cheap, while in a bike-mad European country where sales per capita are probably >10 times as high prices are so much higher?
Supply chain. Entrepreneurism. More business opportunities. More tax friendly. The list can go on and on. Every European country I visit I'm amazed at the lack of department stores, and lack of overall consumerism. Where do people buy things? Where are all the stores that aren't little shops?
Another factor is to consider what's expected for a city bike for a daily commute.
It needs front and rear lights, fenders, chain guard, and likely a built-in lock. It also needs to be able to stand up to being outside in the rain for long periods of time.
While a bike in the US, used only for sunny days and by people who aren't wearing office clothes, and which is stored in the garage or basement, doesn't have the same requirements.
In the UK you can get a bike for comparable prices (here's an £80 mountain bike). Again, they'll fall apart aftera few months though. The cheapest decent bike? Hmm, personally, I'd guess around £300, but I haven't done enough research to know for sure.
If you're OK with friction shifters, you can get a used bike from the 80s for < $200 that will work well. I've got a buddy who beats me on flat stretches with his old Schwin World Sport (a really fun bike if you're looking for an old reliable work-horse). I happen to live in a very bike friendly city so they used bike market might not be as good everywhere.
I love the trickle down effect in bicycling. I got my 2001 Trek 5200 for ~ $1000. The components are a bit behind, but I'd be happy to ride the carbon-fiber frameset for the next 10 years!
Your walmart bike experience resonates with mine. Last year I bought one of those, and it lasted about 2 months. The crank literally snapped apart from the part that connects the frame to the crank. I was very disappointed.
Another point of anecdata: I paid $200 for a used Dutch bike and it has served me well over 3 years of snow,rain and locusts.(10miles biked daily anywhere from -25C to 35C).
I wear my helmet mostly because of safety, but also because it is a bit like having a towel when traveling, police think you are a serious biker and never stop you.
I swapped a bottle of home made elder flower wine for my bike. It's made by Peugeot and when I got it it had inner tubes made by Nokia. I have no idea how old it is, but it's still doing fine 8 years after I got it.
