Toys'r'Us - The Renaissance of the Road Bike is complete

Rumpo

Shopping in my local Toys'r'Us store with my son yesterday evening couldn't resist having a quick look at their bikes and was pleasantly surprised to see a road bike amongst the mountain bikes.
Badged as a Triax,aluminium frame,14speed Shimano gears (levers on the down tube) all for £129.99.
Obviously you get what you pay for but as a commuter seemed quite okay.

Down the Road

Why?

And absolutely awful to ride I am certain.

And what a quality bike shop as well.

Rumpo

my subject title was supposed to be tongue in cheek!
having said that, the point I was trying to make was, that now that all shops(not just bike shops) that sell bikes now include road bikes the road bike really has truly returned.For the last 10-15 years the mountain bike has seen the only bike available to the casual/leisure cyclist but now there is a real alternative.
Turning to the toy'r'us bike itself not the lightest,best handling bike I grant you (and probably badly assembled) but with a little fettling would make a decent enough commuter.
I imagine it's no worse (and quite possible alot better) than the 10 speeds I grew up riding back in the 70's

Smokin Joe

They probably keep the price down by using a lower grade of carbon fibre.

limitandbeyond

Hi Rumpo,

I get your point that its good news that cycling's profile is so high that bikes are available everywhere. Irrespective of whether they are any good or not.
I wouldn't worry too much about Down The Road, I have read a few of his inputs, they appear to be vitriolic towards anyone, suggesting buying cycling gear from anywhere other than the LBS, guess he must work in a bike shop.
Probably doesn't realise that as well as drooling in the windows, we all spend a fair amount of our hard earned in our LBSs, I know the 3 in my town are all happy for my business. I guess everyone on a forum has a right to their opinion.
Keep on pushing

Steve

dsmiff

I saw the bike in toys-r-us and was also surprised to see a road bike amongst the mountain bikes, they also do a 650c version for kids.

Maybe Woolworths will start stocking road bikes in future?????

What really amazes me is the road bike my Dad brought for me over 25 years ago cost well over £100 (5 speed puch), what do people really expect when they are paying roughly the same now. Bikes haven't got that much cheaper, I think they just build them to a lower price point.

Incidentally my dad still uses that bike! (he's only small!)