| Beware of BLOs say Mountain Bike salespeople at | | | | purchases and you do get the most bang for your |
| bike shops. But what the heck is a BLO? A BLO is a | | | | buck from them. But they DO NOT sell high quality |
| Bike Like Object. You see, there is a huge difference | | | | tough bikes. They are trying to go after the larger |
| between department store bicycles at Wal-Mart, | | | | percentage of potential customers, who generally do |
| K-Mart and other large retailers than the much better | | | | not know the difference.Does this mean you should |
| bicycles sold at specialty bike shops. In fact there really | | | | not buy a Department Store BLO? Well, it means that |
| is no comparison in quality or parts. Everything on a | | | | a Bike Like Object is not a rough tough Mountain Bike |
| BLO will break if used or abused, yet a real mountain | | | | and if you buy one, you will not be able to do anything |
| bike is made to be ridden tough and can endure the | | | | similar to those off-roading trail rider professionals do in |
| abuse of a serious rider.Is this a matter of competitors | | | | the commercials or in the advertisements in Bicycling |
| bad mouthing department store bikes? Well, sure there | | | | Magazines. You should know this up front. Consider all |
| is some of that too, no doubt. The Department Store | | | | this in 2006. |
| or Retail Box Stores do get a superior advantage in | | | | |