Battle of the Bikes: Raleigh Technium PRE v. Kent GMC Denali (yeah, the Walmart bike)

Triathlon Forum
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This may or may not be a serious post. Regardless it’s along the lines of “Who’s hotter? Mimi from Drew Carry or Nel Carter?”. That’s not the point.

All of the bashing toward the Walmart bike made it endearing to me. I’m itching to show up to some races in a Walmart bike, and throw down the kickstand in plain view. It would also be priceless to work my rear off all winter getting my 15mph avr up to 18mph and pass a few folks while on my Walmart roadster.

Anyway, here’s the logic. I am buying a new bike in the next year. I will spend between $1K and $2K (that’s as much cash as I am willing to spend … not doing the credit card thing). As of now, I don’t have the cash to take advantage of the 05 closeouts. I am thinking that I’ll use my current bike, a Raliegh Tech PRE that has some wear (like the one pictured below, only all black) or score this Walmart GMC beut (I do think it’s purdy), use it for a coupla 1/2’s next year (maybe even my 9/10 race), and capitalize on the 06 closeouts next year. It also allows me an opportunity to use a “new bike” as motivation for improvement over the winter.

http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/bf/fb/0e_1_b.JPG

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/01/67/51/52/0001675152706_215X215.jpg

Anyway, agree/disagree with any of the following?

That sounds like good logic.

Dude you’re slow on a crappy bike no matter what

The kickstand is attractive isn’t it?

Take your $150 and wipe your rear with it … you’ll get more use out of your cash that way.

Never hurts to have a backup, or a beater.

Why did you post this? (as if we’ll ever have the chance to discuss a walmart bike again)

The kickstand is something, ain’t it?

Yes, I am trying to ask a serious question, while laughing at myself, at the same time.

2

I know my girlfriend got a el cheapo type of mountain bike at Canadian Tire. There is nothing wrong with the frame, however, the gears leave a lot to be desired. I am constantly fixing and adjusting them. They just aren’t good at all. So while the $150 may look good, it isn’t good if you are constantly frustrated with the gears…or lack thereof. If you are frustrated, you aren’t likely to ride it.
M~

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You need to sweep the garage and driveway.

4

oooh boy.

Mimi or Nel Carter? Talk about your rock-and-a-hard-place. Ummm… Not really sure what’s best, but I can definitley say I wouldn’t drop a cent on that Wal-mart POS. You’re better off training on your PRE and then rent/borrow/steal a bike for your race.

5

…and your seat is too high.

(sorry, couldn’t resist)

6

**You need to sweep the garage and driveway. **

That’s not my garage/driveway/bike. It’s a pic from e-bay … it’s one of the few Raleigh Tech bike pics I could find on the net.

**…and your seat is too high. **

Of course it is.

it isn’t good if you are constantly frustrated with the gears

The shifting on the Technium is the main reason why I am looking at other cheap, temporary alternatives … “makes a grinding sound”, and I usually have to shift down an extra gear, then up to the one I want, to prevent it from making a lot of noise. =) I’d take it to the shop, but IMO, that’s like taking a $5 rabbit to the vet for a $300 surgery. I ain’t that guy.

**You’re better off training on your PRE and then rent/borrow/steal a bike for your race. **

I have no problem with “dancin’ with who brung ya” (riding the PRE in a race), I’ll likely just miss my AG pdoium by 75+ slots. Seriously, at this point, I know the engine is what needs the most work.

7

I think the WM bike will be a waste of money. it probably won’t be built properly, the gears will probably stop working after a few 100 miles and it will certainly be really heavy. the bike you have now seems to be a better choice - drop $40-60 on taking to a shop to get the drivetrain cleaned and the cables re-set (or do it yourself) and then take the extra $100 and put it into your piggy bank for '06!

you might want to try a police auction to try and score a good beater bike. there is usually one in the fall in most towns.

8

I’ve got an old 70’s Raleigh (I think, its loaned out right now) that you can have for 10 bucks plus shipping. It’s got shimano 5spd on it. Will probably be more dependable than the walmart pos. And the look on someones face when you pass them on this will be just the same.

9

I say go for it… save your pennies and put a zipp disc on it next year.

Seriously though, maintanence issues aside, I doubt that it’d make a huge difference in your times (as long as the fit was right). However, there will always be next year’s close outs, and just like computers, or any other changing technology, you have to dive in at some point, and live with the fact that something better will come along. Depends what you’d be happy with I guess.

10

TripleT…

Don’t even blow a buck-fifty on that thing. Your bike was likely a decent ride at some point. The WMT bike never was, never will be. They’re cheap for a reason.

I say hang tight and wait for when you can do it right (or right enough).

11

You might throw in the Dawes line marketed on Ebay for a triple threat shootout.

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http://www.duathlon.com/data/classifieds/images/1480.jpgI actually did something like that last year. I bought this bike 2 years ago at Toys R Us for $99. I slapped on some aerobars and my trispokes and used in a couple of races. My times were not much slower than with my Cannondale tri-bike.

Then I did what bought it for turned it into my commuter bike.

After 500 miles, the low budget bottom bracket seized and I switched it with an old Ultegra one I had in my old parts bin. Other than that after 3,000 miles it still works fine. It was a great way to spend $99 and not have to worry if it gets stolen.

13

Before my first ever tri, I went out and spent $1000 on Fuji Aloha, based on a friend’s advice. So here I am, crusing along at what I think is a decent speed (17-18mph), when I get passed by a fat guy on a mountain bike! I eventually got better, the main reason I got rid of the Fuji was that it was 650.

I checked Walmart’s website, out of curiosity. The shipping weight shows 29 pounds. Before I got a new road bike this year, I rode in groups on a 15 year old Trek that was close to 25 pounds.

Get the tune up, it would be money better spent. If you want to spend a couple of bucks, do what I did, get a new saddle. I put an Arione on the Trek, guys used to joke that I was riding a $15 bike with a $150 saddle.

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**the bike you have now seems to be a better choice - drop $40-60 on taking to a shop to get the drivetrain cleaned and the cables re-set (or do it yourself) and then take the extra $100 and put it into your piggy bank for '06! **

That seems reasonable. I have Barnett’s Bike book and am using that as a guide to learn how to do minor repairs and cleaning, etc.

Jim, when you get it back, shoot me a PM. If I don’t have a 2nd bike by then, I’m in.

Thanks for the advice folks.

I’ll give my bike a good thorough cleaning friday, a 4h brick (3ri-1r) saturday, and see if that helps with the drivetrain. If not, I may see if I can get it into a shop (closest one is an hour away) before my race. The bike was free from a BIL, so I haven’t spent a dime on it outside of clip-on aero bars.

I’ll also wait a month or so and see if I am really considering the Walmart bike or if I was considering it b/c folks were pickin’ on it. Afterall, it doesn’t have stars on it like Don’s does.

15

The shifting on the Technium is the main reason why I am looking at other cheap, temporary alternatives … “makes a grinding sound”, and I usually have to shift down an extra gear, then up to the one I want, to prevent it from making a lot of noise. =) I’d take it to the shop, but IMO, that’s like taking a $5 rabbit to the vet for a $300 surgery. I ain’t that guy.

Invest in some tools and a book (“Zinn and the art of road bike maintainance” is my favorite). Adjusting gears is not rocket science, no triathlete should turn a bike in for:

  1. changing tires

  2. cleaning and relubing a bottom bracket

  3. Truing wheels

  4. Adjusting shifting and braking systems

  5. changing cables

The only thing you really need a shop for is stuff, which you do very seldom and where the tools are very expensive.

A well adjusted deore/105 shifting system beats a badly adjusted XT/DA hands down. Even Tiagra works well, only Sora IMHO should be ditched quickly.

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will do triple threat. I was gonna build a fixie with it, but the frames too big for me. I’m thinking of going fixed om my commuter for the winter and the rebuilding it in the spring.

17

I commute with a fixie on a dirt trail, it really beats me up. On the road its great though …

18

It would be huge if you bought the Wal Mart bike an put a pair of Zips on it. Disk on the back and 404 on the front.