Is an inexpensive bike worth the price?

Posted on 13. Apr, 2009 by Tony Arranaga in News

A technician at Sun Cyclery in Phoenix assembles a new set of wheels

UPDATE: Picture of my new bike and a list of bike month events (bottom)

Rows of bicycles 50 deep, all of them with varying designs of trendy rounded cruiser frames, matte finishes, and all black urban tires.

“This is so me,” I remembered saying to myself as I reached for the price tag.  “Or not,” as I walked away.  The grand total? More than $2,000 – TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS!  Are down payments on a house that much?

Whether it’s a pimped out street cruiser or the sleek racing style, there’s a growing market for the bicycle.

I’ve been shopping around for one, and with April being Valley Bike Month, I decided there was no better time than the present to get me a new set of wheels.

But TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS???  Even the more affordable but still expensive five to six hundred dollar one is a bit steep.

However, I refused to give up.  I went to four stores in Phoenix and Tempe.  I discovered new bicycles can fetch anywhere from $169.00 to the one I mentioned above.  I briefly thought about increasing my budget and dig deeper into my pockets until I got to bike shop Sun Cyclery (7th St and Bethany Home) in Central Phoenix.

Manager Joe Delong says you can buy a good new bike on the cheap.  The 3 G cruiser (above) will cost me about $282. (Price includes good tubes for the tires, a light, and a tune up)

The other brands may charge more but all you’re getting is the brand name,  fancy paint, and maybe specialized aluminum parts.

Whatever the price, the bike is not only rolling, but flying out the doors.  Delong says he’s adjusted his inventory because of the economy.  The bike biz appears recession proof, and consumers want hip at a great price.

“They want something inexpensive that they don’t have to worry about,” Delong said, who noticed a 20 to 30 percent increase in sales over numbers from last year.  The cruiser is one of the hottest bikes, especially here in Phoenix.

“People are starting to realize it’s not that hard to get around downtown,” Delong said as he started to ring up my purchase on the register.  “The light rail has really created a buzz with bikes.”

I pick up my beauty on Tuesday.  Do people put horns or bells on their bikes?  Of course not, that’s so stupid.

But I am putting the Queen of Hearts and a Joker in between my spokes!

To learn about Valley Bike Month events, click here.

UPDATE:  HERE’S MY BIKE!

Tags: Valley Bike Month