Are the Schwinn / Mongoose bikes sold at Wal-Mart the same quality as

[chosen one]

similar-priced bikes sold at bike shops? I'm thinking bout buying a ~ $210 Schwinn bike from Wal-Mart. I tested it out in the store and I think its a good bike. However, I haven't ridden a bike since 2003 when I got in a bike accident, so IDK if its worth the $200 or not. If I got a $200 bike from a bike shop would it be of significantly better quality?
K, I'm basically getting this bike because I need to get around campus in college. I don't plan on going mountain biking or touring or whatever, just daily / weekly use to go short distances.

Would a Wal-Mart bike suffice?

Also, can't I learn how to inspect it myself and make adjustments after I buy it?

 

[edward w]

Sorry Skeeter, you are only partially correct. The bikes in question do generally come from the same factory but that is NOT always the case. Dept store bikes are equipped with the lowest and cheapest components that are on the market. The cheapest Schwinn that we sell is $249 (Schwinn single speed cruiser) and the difference between a shop quality bike vs Wal Mart or any other is SERVICE after the sale. You get that in a bike shop and you DO NOT get it at ANY dept store! The bikes are also NOT of the Same quality in any way. That said would you rather deal with people who know about cycling or the one guy who gets picked to build your dept store bike in a hurry and gets paid by the bike so he ends up doing a shoddy job (which is generally the case) or would you rather someone build your bike that has a vested interest in your well being on a bike that has been professionally assembled and tuned correctly the first time out?.....What you tested is a bike that will work properly for some time but the bigger question is how long? Probably not long and when it does break, you get NO warranty service and your only option is to take it back, get your money back and/or get another bike that may be in worse condition then the first one....It is NOT worth spending $200 on any bike that will most certainly end up costing you double that in the first year alone. Spend about twice that from any shop and get a bike that WILL last (as long as you take care of it). There are big differences between the quality of dept store crap and shop quality even at the lowest price ranges!!! Also, check out the headbadge on the dept store mongoose bikes and note that it is round with the animal (mongoose) on it, that is dept store mongoose. The shop quality M has two "M" side by side top to top and that is a shop quality Mongoose. There is a big difference!
Mtbikr: you are correct in your assesment of the campus bike thingy....On that I dont disagree but on the same token you can still get a shop quality bike for nearly the same price as the mid level bikes sold at wal mart and still have a decent bike for not alot of money and service after the sale too! Here is one that I would recommend: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1061106_-1_24500_20000_28506 take a look at this and let me know what you think? Nearly any bike can be stolen and that is the chance we take in college. Register ANY bike you get with the Nationalbikeregistry.com to better your chances of recovery if it is stolen!