Walmart's $149 Fixie

I guess if it gets more people riding that’s a good thing, but the Cachet sounds like a piece of crap to me. And then there’s the whole Walmart issue and my vow to disown anyone I know who shops there.

Alex, thanks for your comment. Although the the Cachet is far from a good spec, according to Urban Velo, it’s not a terrible. Far from it, actually. And although I think a lot people will agree that there’s the “whole Walmart issue,” I think young teens and pre-teens care less about that.

I would rather see a tentative / newbie biker buy this rig than an mtb “crunker” of same price range with crap shocks and shifters, etc. A single-speed makes a lot of sense for the everyday, no-fuss bike rider.

I’ve seen folks try to get into riding by buying cheap bikes many times and end up hating it because of the bad experiences related to the lack of performance by the bike – typically shifting/braking mechanisms that fail in the first few rides. A fixie might not face some of these problems but from the sounds of some of the reviews these things are not put together any better than the other hunks of junk Walmart carries. I would advise against it for this reason alone but also because I advise anyone who wants to get into cycling (whether for commuting or enjoyment) to go to their local bike shop and support their business. They will be treated fairly, sized correctly and be able to get continued service.

Stay clear of the ugly beast that is Walmart!

Bikeryak, I hear you. I’ve seen the same from my days working in bike shops. Oddly, I’ve also seen people fall in love with their department store bikes. One customer even upgraded his department store bike component by component until he had a full XTR rig connected to a $50 boat anchor of a “full suspension” frame. He was fond of saying, “I just love the frame.” That said, I’m guessing there are parts of this country and some families who will only buy bikes at department stores. And to echo Stephen, the Cachet is probably better than anything else in the same price range. It would be great if everyone supported the LBS, but sometimes that’s not possible due to economics or the fact that there isn’t a local bike shop for miles.

The only situation I see this bike makes sense is if you live in a high bike theft area and want something you can replace cheaply. Otherwise it does’nt make sense. You won’t be able to sell it used, and if something goes wrong, it will cost more to fix it than the purchase price. A better deal for this type of bike would be something with real quality like an Urbis for $550. It won’t break, and if you decide after one year you simply just don’t like to ride bikes, you can probably sell it for $400. You will be out the same $150, but you will have gotten to ride a real bike, and saved some room in the landfill.

I think it is a good thing. Speaking from experiance, a Huffy got me into cycling and now I have 2 bikes and my wife has one of significant quality.

I think its great idea. now I’ll have enough money left over to buy a courier bag, man-pris pants, cycling cap, a faux vintage t-shirt, pair of chuck taylors and 6er of PBR. I’ll have all my “gear” before my moustach even grows out!

If it helps get people a taste of a great sport/pasttime/leisure activity, then I’m all for it!

fixed speed. not a fixed gear or a single speed. meaning bike can’t go over a certain speed? this bike will sell but all those hipsters must be freaking out in their man’pri pants…..8-))

Walmart bikes are price- and audience-appropriate. They are WAY better than your childhood Huffy. The idea that people are turned off to cycling by cheap bikes is silly. They don’t pay much, they don’t get much, they don’t expect much. They don’t ride much! Assembly issues are a serious concern. I’m just SO glad this isn’t an actual fixed-gear bike and it’s not that easy to make it into one!

For my part, I’d rather see entry-level consumers on a $150 “fixed-speed” bike than a $199 faux mountain bike with worthless suspension and transmission. It’s a better buy that will breed less resentment, meaning that more of the riders will be interested in upgrading once they’ve had a taste of cycling.

As for hipsters using the bike as a lifestyle accessory, oh well…there are certainly worse things.

Best bike ever (for the money!).
I just bought this about 2 mo again and have been riding it almost daily for casual commute and excercise. With the stickers off, it is better looking than some fixie bikes i’ve researched and seen..that cost more then 6 times.

The build is solid and weight isn’t bad either..prob around 22lbs. The wheels are true. Only recommendation is upgrading the seat and maybe the handle bar (if u’re not into leaning over much). But overall, for $150…best deal in U.S. for fixie.

Pros-
looks more expensive than it is
good paint scheme (black / white)
700cc wheels and true
flip-flop hub
Price

Cons-
Need better brakes (but easily replaceable)
Weight can be little lighter
pedals is abit weak
Crank isn’t the best (but acceptable)

I can’t belive the poor pre assembly of the bike is even an issue for anyone. Who buys a bike and rides it as is? Who even buys a bike pre built anyways? Maybe I’m too deep in bmx or something but if you buy a new bike, you definitly want to take it apart and put it back together properly before riding it. Or maybe all these fixie hipsters writing about these bikes don’t own tools and don’t want to get greasy.