just the other day, I stopped at a cross walk and watched a family of 5 ride their bikes in front of me:


classic talking points.

1. all of them were on POS department store brand bikes

2. both parents did NOT have helmets so when mommy or daddy dies from a hit to the head, he/she leaves 3 kids wondering...

3. 2 of the 5 bikes had extremely low PSI in the tires

4. right away, my trained eye caught that the fork on daddy's bike was on backwards *** it was plain as day, you could see the V-brake was on the back side of the wheel instead of it being at the front of the bike. and of course with the fork on backwards, he also has super twitchy steering ... he doesn't notice the feet with hit the tire with just the slightest turn?

5. 2 of the kids had their helmets on incorrectly -- with it tilted way back. lotta good that'll do em.


I really wanted to jump out of the car and at least tell the guy his fork was on backwards but traffic was too heavy. ug, it was picture perfect reason why you should never buy bikes from a department store --- Kmart, Target, WalMart, all of them --- countless times I have seen bike assembled incorrect (not to mention they're complete crap).

 I can see your pain, I cringe every time a supermarket bike comes into the shop for being "fixed", I end telling the people that they need to replace most of the stuff (at least the brakes) because they simply don't work.

 I fixed your bike twice but, it's still a Piece Of Shit.

 dude... last day a new bike came to the shop with a flat tire, I just hoped to god that it had no air in it and was all. the POS had basket, fender, rear drum brake, and those aid wheels I cant remember the name my face was worth more than words. those POS give so much work nothing works on them as much you do they are still a piece of shit. arrrghh rant over haha perks of being a shop mech

 NO kidding ---- I was just out talking LuLu for a run... as I was riding along and mulling over whether or not to put a nice King headset on my bike.. I stopped to adjust the settings.. family of 4 ride by and, no joke, dad's bike is a DiscountMart store Schwinn with the fork on backwards. i had to laugh... 1. the headset I was thinking about has more street value than that guys whole bike. 2. yet another POS assembled incorrectly. not saying I'm an elite rider and I poo-poo cheap bikes... I have had several extremely basic bikes... betja that guy has a set of golf clubs that cost more some of my bikes..

 hahahahahahahahaha!!!!...I bet your right...his Ping Zings are prolly in the A/C'd house!!!

 I see what you talking about, I'm not a elite biker, and have had my ass lend to me by people on far more basic/old bikes.
That is a serious nice headset! Serious question what is the thing with super expensive headsets? Have just used basic cheap ones.
Non bikers know shit about them and don't care about bikes.

 ha ---- yeah, on my personal bikes, I never used anything other than Chris King, higher end Cane Creek and sometimes I'll toss a nice FSA headset on any random bike I own. one thing for sure, it has to have sealed bearings. King is a bit over kill and so are the Cane Creek 110 series but one things for sure --- they're rock solid for years upon years. I have a King headset that's at least 15 years old. The ano has faded a little but it's still smooth as silk.

 well then you buy security of it lasting a long time! yeah I just use sealed bearings only maybe would go back to loose ball if I get shimano hubs. they seem nice then and worth the price. maybe some day will get some haha