Increase in Bicycle Parts and Accessories in Mass Market Retailers

Just got back from a two week road trip vacation and we brought the
bicycles and did some rides in Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho.

On occasion I needed some replacement parts (a derailleur cable) and
accessories (bottle cage to replace one destroyed in a crash in a
tunnel) and was surprised to see just how much some large stores (Fred
Meyer and Walmart) have expanded their selection of bicycle stuff. Now
it's beyond the usual Schwinn and Bell accessories with stuff from Zefal
and even jerseys and shorts, and panniers, as well as some common parts
that'll at least keep you going until you can buy higher quality
replacements at a bike shop. It's great to be able to be able to buy
parts in a strange city at 10:00 at night when you arrive!

The Trail of the Couer d'Alenes is wonderful, as is the Route of the
Hiawatha, though you have to pay to ride the latter, and bring powerful
lights.

On Aug 10, 3:34*pm, SMS wrote:
Just got back from a two week road trip vacation and we brought the
bicycles and did some rides in Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho.

On occasion I needed some replacement parts (a derailleur cable) and
accessories (bottle cage to replace one destroyed in a crash in a
tunnel) and was surprised to see just how much some large stores (Fred
Meyer and Walmart) have expanded their selection of bicycle stuff. Now
it's beyond the usual Schwinn and Bell accessories with stuff from Zefal
and even jerseys and shorts, and panniers, as well as some common parts
that'll at least keep you going until you can buy higher quality
replacements at a bike shop. It's great to be able to be able to buy
parts in a strange city at 10:00 at night when you arrive!

The Trail of the Couer d'Alenes is wonderful, as is the Route of the
Hiawatha, though you have to pay to ride the latter, and bring powerful
lights.

I'm glad you found some bike accessories at Walmart. I checked out
their website, and was also surprised to see some bike accessories
made by reputable companies.

Still, they carry brands totally new to me:
*I thought Smith & Wesson only made guns, but they also make bikes.
[http://www.walmart.com/ip/Smith-Wess...d-18-Mountain-
Bicycle/12016717]...Apparently these are police bikes, so I'll give
Walmart *a little* credit...
* Triace [???]
* Trifecta single-speed FOLDING TRIKE [http://www.walmart.com/ip/
Trifecta-Single-Adult-Folding-Tricycle/882975]. I don't trust folding
bikes, let alone folding TRIKES!!!

Cullen

On 11/08/10 2:51 PM, Cully J wrote:
On Aug 10, 3:34 pm, wrote:
Just got back from a two week road trip vacation and we brought the
bicycles and did some rides in Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho.

On occasion I needed some replacement parts (a derailleur cable) and
accessories (bottle cage to replace one destroyed in a crash in a
tunnel) and was surprised to see just how much some large stores (Fred
Meyer and Walmart) have expanded their selection of bicycle stuff. Now
it's beyond the usual Schwinn and Bell accessories with stuff from Zefal
and even jerseys and shorts, and panniers, as well as some common parts
that'll at least keep you going until you can buy higher quality
replacements at a bike shop. It's great to be able to be able to buy
parts in a strange city at 10:00 at night when you arrive!

The Trail of the Couer d'Alenes is wonderful, as is the Route of the
Hiawatha, though you have to pay to ride the latter, and bring powerful
lights.

I'm glad you found some bike accessories at Walmart. I checked out
their website, and was also surprised to see some bike accessories
made by reputable companies.

The web site is very different than what's carried in the stores. Fred
Meyer had an even better selection than Wal-Mart.