Comments on: Commuting 101: Bike Shaped Objects http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Ted Johnson http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-1290249 Ted Johnson Fri, 26 Oct 2012 23:01:40 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-1290249 Given a choice between a BSO and a finicky trophy bike, I'll take the BSO -- and I will accept that the components are low quality, and that I will need to upgrade some components eventually if not immediately. We have a Motiv bike (Costco), and it's my favorite bike, but it's taken a lot of TLC to make it loveable. However, the choice is not necessarily between a BSO and a finicky trophy bike. Shanna's Surly is neither. Maybe a rule of thumb is to look at your box-store BSO prices and add $200 for the service it will need over the first two years. Compare that to a good LBS bike that won't need an additional $200 over the same amount of time. I pulled $200 out of the air. But there is an X-factor with BSOs that an informed consumer needs to acknowledge. Given a choice between a BSO and a finicky trophy bike, I’ll take the BSO — and I will accept that the components are low quality, and that I will need to upgrade some components eventually if not immediately. We have a Motiv bike (Costco), and it’s my favorite bike, but it’s taken a lot of TLC to make it loveable.

However, the choice is not necessarily between a BSO and a finicky trophy bike. Shanna’s Surly is neither.

Maybe a rule of thumb is to look at your box-store BSO prices and add $200 for the service it will need over the first two years. Compare that to a good LBS bike that won’t need an additional $200 over the same amount of time.

I pulled $200 out of the air. But there is an X-factor with BSOs that an informed consumer needs to acknowledge.

]]> By: Brrr http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-1288485 Brrr Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:58:45 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-1288485 My old $99 Huffy BSO gave me more than 12 yrs of trouble free daily use, I cannot say the same for any of the significantly more expensive LBS bikes I've owned since. High-end machines are certainly faster and lighter, but they're pretty fragile. My old $99 Huffy BSO gave me more than 12 yrs of trouble free daily use, I cannot say the same for any of the significantly more expensive LBS bikes I’ve owned since. High-end machines are certainly faster and lighter, but they’re pretty fragile.

]]> By: CoreyR http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-1177918 CoreyR Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:45:32 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-1177918 Dude, $30 per hour is a "living wage" to the bike shop mechanic? Are you serious? I have worked 11 years for the state and do not make half that, do you really think I can afford to shell out that kind of money for repairs on a bicycle? I do not know what you do for a living but, obviously, you are still not thinking like the average guy out here. When we say "we cannot afford this high end stuff," what we mean is, "WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS HIGH END STUFF!" Dude, $30 per hour is a “living wage” to the bike shop mechanic? Are you serious? I have worked 11 years for the state and do not make half that, do you really think I can afford to shell out that kind of money for repairs on a bicycle?
I do not know what you do for a living but, obviously, you are still not thinking like the average guy out here. When we say “we cannot afford this high end stuff,” what we mean is, “WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS HIGH END STUFF!”

]]> By: wv cycling http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-294714 wv cycling Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:26:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-294714 This is a list of all the BSO companies in North America. If you ever find a decrepit product of theirs... do not hesitate to contact them and let them know it is ass. http://i53.tinypic.com/25qyp2t.jpg This is a list of all the BSO companies in North America. If you ever find a decrepit product of theirs… do not hesitate to contact them and let them know it is ass.

http://i53.tinypic.com/25qyp2t.jpg

]]> By: Presta Vs Shrader http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-145319 Presta Vs Shrader Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:41:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-145319 [...] more easily adjustable systems for a while. Only to be found on cheap mountain bikes, the kinds of BSO’s that have “Cantilever Brake Technology” written on the chainstays, or, more preferably [...] [...] more easily adjustable systems for a while. Only to be found on cheap mountain bikes, the kinds of BSO’s that have “Cantilever Brake Technology” written on the chainstays, or, more preferably [...]

]]> By: Bailey http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-111421 Bailey Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:09:38 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-111421 I found a BSO ditched on the side of the road, and I know it was ditched because there was weeds growing all over it, and I fixed it up and it rides like a dream! Although it's terrible going up hill, it's the best bike I've ever found on the side of the road. . . it's the only one I've found, but it's still awesome for a free bike! I found a BSO ditched on the side of the road, and I know it was ditched because there was weeds growing all over it, and I fixed it up and it rides like a dream! Although it’s terrible going up hill, it’s the best bike I’ve ever found on the side of the road. . . it’s the only one I’ve found, but it’s still awesome for a free bike!

]]> By: Brian http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-102078 Brian Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:25:13 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-102078 I'll be the first to admit, I shied away from local bike shops for many years because it seemed so out-of-my-league and elitist. Just walking by and seeing a $2,000-3,000 road bike in the front window is enough to make me choke. I managed to find decent quality used bikes though. When I finally got into cycling for real, it was for commuting and transportation, and I managed to score a '96 Bridgestone mountain bike at a local pawn shop for $60 (I bought my wife's Fuji MTB at a pawn shop as well for $40). This year though is when I started riding daily, and have gradually added to the bike to "commutify" it... street tires, fenders, lights, new drive train... little by little as I got the money. When I bought my first road bike this summer, I browsed Craigslist and other used bike options... and finally found a used '03 KHS for $270. I don't consider any of my bikes BSOs, just entry-level bikes from quality manufacturers. The problem is unless people are serious about cycling, I'm afraid most folks won't even know where to find a good used bike... so all they know is Wal-Mart's BSOs or the $1,000+ LBS option. No wonder BSOs are so prevalent. I’ll be the first to admit, I shied away from local bike shops for many years because it seemed so out-of-my-league and elitist. Just walking by and seeing a $2,000-3,000 road bike in the front window is enough to make me choke. I managed to find decent quality used bikes though.

When I finally got into cycling for real, it was for commuting and transportation, and I managed to score a ’96 Bridgestone mountain bike at a local pawn shop for $60 (I bought my wife’s Fuji MTB at a pawn shop as well for $40). This year though is when I started riding daily, and have gradually added to the bike to “commutify” it… street tires, fenders, lights, new drive train… little by little as I got the money.

When I bought my first road bike this summer, I browsed Craigslist and other used bike options… and finally found a used ’03 KHS for $270. I don’t consider any of my bikes BSOs, just entry-level bikes from quality manufacturers.

The problem is unless people are serious about cycling, I’m afraid most folks won’t even know where to find a good used bike… so all they know is Wal-Mart’s BSOs or the $1,000+ LBS option. No wonder BSOs are so prevalent.

]]> By: Noah http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-99416 Noah Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:49:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-99416 That looks more solid. I am not familiar with those hubs so I don't know if it's a freehub or a freewheel. Some will scoff at Mongoose, Diamondback, Schwinn and the like, however they can be decent bikes if you shop out of the "toy store" price range. That looks more solid. I am not familiar with those hubs so I don’t know if it’s a freehub or a freewheel. Some will scoff at Mongoose, Diamondback, Schwinn and the like, however they can be decent bikes if you shop out of the “toy store” price range.

]]> By: J,E http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-99415 J,E Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:26:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-99415 http://www.simplythebike.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3134 http://www.simplythebike.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3134

]]> By: J,E http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/comment-page-1/#comment-99414 J,E Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:24:41 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/03/30/commuting-101-bike-shaped-objects/#comment-99414 Hii thank you for that reply, im am going to consider this bike instead insteadhttp://www.simplythebike.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3134 , do you think it is a better option? thanks Hii thank you for that reply, im am going to consider this bike instead insteadhttp://www.simplythebike.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3134
, do you think it is a better option?
thanks

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