Slumming it - I bought a big box store Mt Bike.

For less than I paid for my favorite helmet. Way less than half the cost of my shoes. I know, first and foremost, I shall hang my head in shame, because said big box is exactly the kind of predatory retailer that drives out mom and pops, and gives the LBS a bad name in the eyes of the average American consumer who shops price not quality, and can't understand that cheap [censored] is a waste of $ in the long run. My only defense, it's not taking away from the LBS, because I really wasn't in the market at this time, when I am eventually, I will get a real full suspension Specialized for the LBS where everybody knows my name and they're always glad I came (better be after I bought the Roubaix from them!) It was a markdown. I spent a whopping $150 plus tax. Less than my daily Monster Zero Carb habit costs per month. It is solely an exercise in bicycle mechanics, repair and maintenance. It is disposable. Like everything in America. How long it will last, how long I can nurse it along, who knows? Mainly, I hope to learn from it. Job one will be making sure it is assembled properly and everything works. Brakes definitely need adjustment. Gotta put petals on it that are a little better ( ok, way better!). Good thing I have my Park Tool Blue Book of Bicycle Repair and my Park Tool box of tools. Add some bells and whistles, lights, might as well put on my never out of the box Sigma computer, although it's redundant with Map My Ride on my iPhone. And yes, Campy, it is [censored]! Good God Almighty, you know what they say about a fool and his money. It'll maybe last a few rides till one of the welds breaks. Aluminum frame. The cashier was some older fat guy who carried on a bit about "what a nice bike". I could hardly not laugh, and I had to resist the temptation to show off like an arrogant SOB, which I am, and whip out my phone and show him a photo of my Roubaix which costs probably what he makes a year at said big box, making $7.50 an hour cashiering. I will probably hardly ride it, it will probably gather dust. Until it dies and goes out to the curb. Good God, I am such an ass! :big-smile: