Once again, getting a late night necessary item or two at Wal-Mart had me checking the bicycle department like an after hours security guard wanders around a mall looking for hoodlums.
I act like things should change every time I walk into this little area, but they do not. All of the accessories look like a supply truck took a number two, expelling product all over the place in no particular order. The bicycles are a little more conservative, I didn’t see as many bastardized bikes that were made with monster coil springs and junky frame designs reminding you of old Giant Warps circa the late 90’s.
Versus what was actually in the racks:
This Schwinn was $190-something; it would be what I would choose, if I had to ride something from Wal-Mart.
What was the worst part about this trip you ask? Stems. Yes, Stems. I tried lightly turning the handlebars of ten bicycles while they were in those awkward racks, and SIX of the bikes’ handlebars moved while the wheel stayed still. This to me says that someone is not properly doing their job, and needs to to understand that there are lives potentially at risk.
Just like every time I am in the bike department, I took out my trusty pen and scribbled on whatever paperwork was on the bike. I clearly wrote
HANDLEBAR STEM IS LOOSE. DANGER.
I know this is a bit overkill for something that may only need a few twists of an allen wrench to fix, but not everyone knows that it would need to be done in the first place. Look at how many old and young drivers forget to change their motor oil and filter, and end up doing 15,000 miles with it until excessive wear causes something to not function optimally. This happens a lot more than you think…
I really wish there is more I could do. Something like write a manifesto of discontent to the store operator to show that they are possibly contributing to the 100+ reported cases a year of Mass Merchant Bike related injuries. Should I even go as far as telling them I could do a better job?
I’ll keep you posted~
WV Cycling 
Speaking of badly assembled and sketchy stems, did you see Bike Snob’s review of the (available through Walmart) Mongoose Cache “fixed speed” bike?
I agree with you about bike selection — simple is better.
Is that the one where he belted about 48 spoke wheels, and shoveled it off to his Boy Monday Intern; all while making jabs about how cool and ironic it is to see a singlespeed @ Wal-Mart in the typical BSNYC way?
Boy oh boy, if it wasn’t for the entertainment of the way he writes, I don’t think I could read two sentences without predicting what he said for every post.
[…] Backstory – https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/more-wal-mart-woes/ […]
I know this post is very old, but figured I say something about Wal-Marts bikes… I bought one last year so I can have a way of transportation since I no longer had a car, and I was soon starting to work at a new job. The bike did okay for a few mile run. I wanted to get a feel for it, instead of just taking it home and letting it sit there. I was about 4 miles away from Wal-Mart, and left a convenient store and once I started to use the brakes, they started to stop operating, and the chain constantly came off when changing gears. Even after doing some adjustments it still did not perform. Wal-Mart obviously doesn’t know bikes and they just throw them on the shelf’s hoping someone takes it.
Sending that back for a refund, I had another which was okay, but had problems, a friend had one of his fixed up and used his, till I was able to get another much lighter bike and able to ride comfortably and not worry about my chain coming off when changing gears. It’s a Triax Canyon. After looking this bike up, some do not recommend it, but it’s the only kind I could afford (Didn’t get this from Target, it was another place) It’s done good for riding, and up hills and I have to take many times to get to and from work.