"Since when did bikes get so unbelievably expensive?" Quality bikes have always been expensive. You can still go buy a cheap bike at Walmart as the parent post

"Since when did bikes get so unbelievably expensive?" Quality bikes have always been expensive. You can still go buy a cheap bike at Walmart as the parent post points out. "unless you're doing some very very intensive mountain biking or road racing you probably will never encounter a problem with a Walmart-class bike." Nonsense, riding a quality bike is a much better experience in every single aspect. They're lighter, they have better brakes, shifting is smoother and more consistent, they're more comfortable. You can get the exact size you need instead of a one size fits all approach. Also, one of the most important factors in a bike's reliability is how well it's assembled, and you can be sure that places like Walmart will do a terrible job.