Comments on: BSO redux http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/07/28/bso-redux/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:56:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/07/28/bso-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-45032 Fritz Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:24:53 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/07/28/bso-redux/#comment-45032 I've seen that thread before; thanks for providing that link. I also see quite a few of those Denali bikes here in California. I think it's not a bad bike and even the maintenance isn't <b>too</b> horribly difficult. I’ve seen that thread before; thanks for providing that link. I also see quite a few of those Denali bikes here in California. I think it’s not a bad bike and even the maintenance isn’t too horribly difficult.

]]> By: Noah http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/07/28/bso-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-45013 Noah Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:36:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/07/28/bso-redux/#comment-45013 On a related note, check out <a HREF="http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=237231" rel="nofollow">CigTech's long-running thread about the el-cheapo $150 GMC Denali road bike from Wal-Mart</a>. He recently totalled it when he got hit. He had over 6700 miles on it since last October and the thread is REALLY long. If you read through it though, he chronicles pretty much every adjustment and tweak it needed to make it suitable. Granted, he's a mechanic and did all the work himself... It proves three things. 1) A BSO isn't always a bad bike 2) Someone who is mechanically inclined can usually fix most of the annoying things that can go wrong on any bicycle. 3) Someone who is not mechanically inclined stands to lose a lot of money getting a bike shop to do tune-ups. Over time, this could be enough cash flow to have purchased a new, decent bike with an all-inclusive lifetime free labor warranty that covers all of these minor adjustments (and often gives you a 10-15% discount on parts needed for more substantial repairs) On a related note, check out CigTech’s long-running thread about the el-cheapo $150 GMC Denali road bike from Wal-Mart. He recently totalled it when he got hit. He had over 6700 miles on it since last October and the thread is REALLY long. If you read through it though, he chronicles pretty much every adjustment and tweak it needed to make it suitable.

Granted, he’s a mechanic and did all the work himself… It proves three things.

1) A BSO isn’t always a bad bike

2) Someone who is mechanically inclined can usually fix most of the annoying things that can go wrong on any bicycle.

3) Someone who is not mechanically inclined stands to lose a lot of money getting a bike shop to do tune-ups. Over time, this could be enough cash flow to have purchased a new, decent bike with an all-inclusive lifetime free labor warranty that covers all of these minor adjustments (and often gives you a 10-15% discount on parts needed for more substantial repairs)

]]>