Should I get a schwinn ranger or go to the bike store?
I am looking at a schwinn ranger 26" at target. Is this worth $189.99? I was really impressed with the frame, high end brakes, rims looked pretty decent, SRAM shifter not to quality, but can be replaced. Does anyone have any experience with or come across this bike, Its pros and cons? Also, target says they would not assemble it, I would have to get the one on display:( So would it be better for me to buy it on the internet and assemble it myself? The one online also has bar ends and water bottle holder with it, the store doesn't.
So should I go to a bike shop or take my chance with target? The bike looks decent, I'm going to be riding around the neigborhood, occasional mountains. Thanks for your time.
You'll get a better bike at the bike store. But you'll probably pay more.
As already said, Schwinn isn't as good as they used to be -- they've been bought by somebody else and now sell lower quality bikes to department stores. (I imagine their expensive bikes are still good quality, but don't know for sure -- but they're generally not for sale at Wal-Mart.)
If you buy a bike at a bike store, it was probably assembled by somebody who knows what they're doing, and they can fix it if it breaks. At Wal-Mart, the guy who assembles bikes gets like 10 minutes per bike and probably makes a little more than minimum wage. He doesn't have the time or skills to do it right.
If you're on a tight budget, getting a used bike is often the best plan. Some bike shops sell used bikes -- and they're usually well maintained. You can check your local craigslist or classifieds as well. Or perhaps the local thrift store? (Alas, thrift stores have few good bikes, but you may find something comparable to the Schwinn Ranger for $20 for example.) It's very helpful to have somebody with you who knows bikes well when looking for a used bike.
Also consider that department store bikes tend to come in one size only, and bike stores have many more sizes. How well your bike fits is VERY important in how it rides. Also, the bike store will help adjust the things on the bike that can be adjusted to fit you -- Walmart doesn't, and if you're new to bikes, you probably won't know how to do these adjustments yourself either.
If you buy a bike mail-order, you can get a bike shop to assemble it for you, and they'll do a better job than you would if you don't know bikes. Factor that into the cost, and buying online may not be such a good deal anymore.
$200 is on the low end of what bike stores sell, but they often sell a few bikes in that price range. And even the cheap ones are built by somebody knows what they're doing and tend to come with support you'll never get at Wal-Mart or Target.
Contrary to what another person said, I'd suggest avoiding fixed gear. It's OK if you live somewhere totally flat with little wind, but such places are rare. A bike with gears is much more versatile. If you want to get a fixed gear bike, make it your second or third bike -- not your first. You buy a bike to ride, not as in investment. But talk to the guys at the bike shop about it ...
If you do go with a fixed gear, make sure it has brakes! Fixed gear bikes without brakes (track bikes fall into this category) are very trendy nowadays, but they're dangerous. Stopping on one is a learned skill, and most beginners don't have it. And even if you're the fixie stopping master, a bike with a front brake will still stop 3x faster than you can.
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