Leg injuries from youth cycling?

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yayayayay

Today I heard that junior races have teeth limits so kids don't hurt their legs. But what if for example a kid is going up a hill on an allowed gear but is on a very tough gear. Is this bad for a child's legs even if it's within the rules?

Answer
Yes, juniors have gear restrictions. In the US the maximum allowed gear development is 26 feet (the bike can go no further than 26 feet in one full turn of the cranks; gear inches are not used for the rule), though, watch for the change to 16 year olds and under coming in 2010.

The reasoning for this rule is based on myth and tradition more than fact. People often claim that using a really big gear will ruin your knees and may have one or two examples of a guy they heard about doing this. Mostly this is myth. Some will claim it helps new riders learn how to race better because it levels the playing field, as opposed the field splinting because everyone just rides as hard as they can. This would be true only with much smaller gear limits than used today. The only real reason to use gear limits is because the Europeans do and when top US juniors race the Europeans they can't win because they aren't used to using small gears. The rule has helped with this.

Regardless of the reason for the rule the reality is that it is inefficient and poor technique to simply turn a huge gear. And as you note the rule doesn't prevent anyone from doing this up a hill. It is simply more effective to be able to spin faster as it is easier and faster to accelerate, and it doesn't demand as much muscular endurance and strength (taxes your muscles less to spin fast but still requires as much cardiovascular effort). So the rule really does nothing to help riders if they don't know why (and practice) using the appropriate cadence in training (90-100 is a good average for juniors).

All of that is to say, I think it's unlikely riders would hurt themselves using a big gear, but they still shouldn't do it. Aside from some limited cases for training, it's a less effective and efficient technique than using an appropriate cadence.

what are really good rap songs that i can blast in my car with good bass?

sunnymeado

Answer
Barrington Levy - Watch Dem (Murderer) (Feat. Snoop Dogg And Mims)
Jadakiss - Til It All Falls Down
Yung Berg - Best Friends
Young Buck - Headphones
Shawnna - Hide And Seek (Feat. Twista, One Chance, And Sophia Fresh)
Shanell - Tell Me (Remix) (Feat. Jae Millz)
Menace & Young Life - This Is My Hood
Cypress Hill - Get It Anyway
Bruno Mars - Starting Today
Laws - Target Practice (Feat. Joe Budden)
Kendrick Lamar & Ab-Soul - Ignorance
Pill - Real Mutherfuckin' G's
Styles P - Get Busy (Feat. Drag-On And Chinx Drugz)
Mann - So Wavey
Young Buck - Bike Night
Bobby V - You (Feat. LA The Darkman & Willie Then Kid)
Naughty By Nature - Get To Know Me Better (Feat. Pitbull)
Eldorado Red - Pockets On Gas Light (Feat. Waka Flocka Flame)
Damani - Walk On (Feat. Crooked I)
Brutha - You Ain't The One (Feat. Twista)
DJ Webstar - I Get Crazy Freestyle
Dondria - You're The One Remix
Yung Berg & K-Young - Like a Pony
Lil Twist Feat Sean Kingston - Life Style
Boogz Boogetz Feat. Pretty Boi Fresh & Semi Auto - Party Hard
Starks feat Rekcahdam - What's Good
Skeme - OMG (Freestyle)
Kardinal Offishall - Body Bounce (Feat. Akon)
Young Buck - Nothing To Tell
K-Young - **** Wit Me
CNN - The Reserves (Feat. Raekwon)
Nipsey Hussle - Run This Town Freestyle
Killa Kyleon - Hold Up (Feat. Gudda Gudda)
New Breed - Show Out (Feat. Schife)
G5 the Jett - UFO
Carter feat Terry Kennedy (TK) - Can't Ya Tell feat Terry Kennedy
Charles Hamilton - Choices (A Wave For Alex)
The Alchemist - More Keys (Feat Havoc & Nina Sky)
Kida - The Change Up (Changed Up) (Feat. Freeway)
Redman - Gilla House Bounce
Redman - Big Girlz 2010
Ace Hood - Lil Freak Freestyle
Mobb Deep - Whole Lotta Thug
TQ - The Fastlane (Feat. Glasses Malone)
Tyga & Chris Brown - G ****
Chris Brown - Favor (Feat. Lonnie Bereal & Teyana Taylor)
B.o.B - Don't Let Me Fall
Big Boi - Shutterbug
JaBar (JBAR) - My Bonita (Feat. Dan Dan Montana)
Cory Gunz - I'm About It (Feat. Curren$y)
Mann - Kickin It Wit The Lingo Feat. Skeme And Shawn Chrystopher
Alley Boy - Show Out
DJ Suss.One - Let 'Em Lay (Feat. Maino)
Hood Diezel - Grindin' Til Tomorrow (Feat. Brisco And Billy Blue)
Gil Scott - Heron-New York Is Killing Me (Remix) (Feat. Nas)
Waka Flocka Flame - Show Out (Remix) (Feat. 80's Baby)
Pharrell - Despicable Me
J. Holiday - Girl Like These
Vado - Slime (Feat. N.O.R.E. And Imam T.H.U.G.)
Epic - Long Story Short
D. Willz Feat. Young Lott, Nio Tha Gift, Bobby Brackins & Balance - Cashed My Check (Remix)
Glasses Malone - I Get Doe
Rock City - My Whip
YG & TY$ - Shining Like A Star
Reflection Eternal - Strangers (Feat. Bun B)
Epic - Top Of The World (Feat. Farrin)
Detail - All Day All Night (Feat. Marques Houston)
Khleo (SODMG) - Feel Good music
M.I.A - Boyz (Remix) (Feat. Akon And Rock City)
The Menace & Joe Moses - Rick James
K-Young - Ur My Soul
Young Sway Hustle - Perswaysive (Feat. Ace Hood)
J-Dawg - First 48 (Feat. Slim Thug)
Sean Kingston - She Moves
Sean Kingston - Love Goes
Gorilla Zoe - Day Dreamer
Teairra Mari - Sponsor (Remix) (Feat. Red Cafe And Soulja Boy)
Miguel - All I Want Is You (Feat. J. Cole)
IYAZ - There You Are
Justin Bieber - Where Are You Now
Paul Wall - I'm On Patron
E-40 - Ya Suppose To

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Where do you draw the line for kids riding in a stroller?

best bikes for pulling kids image

Matty

One of my biggest pet peeves are seeing parents pushing these big a$$ kids in strollers. I'm pretty sure you would think they are too big when their knees are hitting their chest or their legs are dragging along underneath the stroller, destroying their shoes in the process.
I think after a certain age, instead of a stroller, invest in one of the wagons I see some parents get.

Answer
One of my biggest pet peeves are idiots who obviously have never tried to pull a wagon for a mile with kids in it before suggesting them. Go pull a wagon for a mile with 80+ lbs in it then talk to me. It HURTS your shoulders and doesn't go over curbs or in sand worth a hill of beans. Or been stuck with a child when they lose their energy and stop walking and you have to carry them a mile. Or had kids who were long legged and were well within the size and age, but their legs dangled. And then they act like they have any clue and totally can judge parents who use a stroller.

"But the kid was big..." in a stroller most kids look big, and even big kids get tired before adults. I had a nephew who was as tall as a kindergartner when he was 2. You can't judge by height how big a kid is. "Their kid is just being lazy..." Do you want to teach kids exercise (ie parents walking for exercise)? Your best bet is to show them how far and fast mom/dad can go. Once they can ride a bike then they can keep up with mom/dad usually. Also, with a stroller you can make them walk as far as they can, then carry them home instead of having to set the bar low so they have the energy for the return walk. Strollers increase how far my kids walk.

What is the best collar/leash to get for an active boxter to stop pulling when walking and jogging?

chelys

My Boxer is very strong and pulls allot when walking and jogging especially when he sees kids in bikes( he wants to run after them) or any rolling leafs or trash in the park. I would like to know of a good collar to be able to control him better.

Answer
It sounds like your boxer is exhibiting prey drive, he is stimulated by things moving quickly and away from him. Some think that this is sufficiently dangerous that you need a serious correction to immediately stop it from happening.

There are all kinds of aversives from Cesar's Illusion collar, choke collars, haltis, gentle leaders, shock collars, etc. The most aversive are probably the prong (pinch) and shock collars. All of them have problems from whiplash in the head collars to serious damage from improperly used choke collars.

If you think this is a case of prey drive, you may want to invest in a trainer who can teach you how to use these tools properly so that you do not injure your dog either physically or mentally. If this is a case of a young dog not being trained to walk on leash, you can do the follow-me routine. Go somewhere dull and uninteresting with no distractions. Walk with your dog starting with a loose leash that forms a "U".

Whenever the leash becomes taut, you reverse direction and go the opposite way. You praise him for following you - you can provide a small treat as well. Dogs tend to ignore us if we let them and a taut leash means that they are paying more attention to their surroundings than they are to where we are.

The loose leash routine can take awhile or it can happen very quickly.

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Would a bike trailer work with a cruiser?

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Tessa

I want to get a cruiser bike, but I want to get a trailer too to pull the kids along in. Would that be a good idea, or should I get a bike with gears? I live in FL so it is really flat land.

Answer
Most bike trailers have a clamp that affixes the bike to your trailer. So, attaching a trailer will be no problem.

Pulling a trailer may be an issue, though. You'll find the additional weight of your kids will make it harder to pedal your bike. Depending on your strength and the weight of your kids this may or may not be a problem. With a geared bike you have the ability to compensate for the added weight by shifting to a lower gear.

Also, depending on the design of your comfort bike you may not be in a good posture for efficient pedaling. (Road, mountain and hybrid bikes put you in a more efficient position with your weight more over the pedals and allowing full extension of your legs.)

Finally, if your bike does not have a front brake, I'd be pretty concerned about stopping with the added weight of your kids. A front brake provides vastly more stopping power than a rear brake. You will, of course, have the added weight of the trailer and your kids on the rear wheel, so performance may not be too bad, but when I need and want to stop, I want to have a front brake.

Hope this helps.

How is it legal for the city to come on your property and take everything you own.?

Keith

I live in a small town in Kansas and the city came in and took everything that I owned and tossed it away like trash, I had 3 pickup trailers full of iron to take to scrap yard one was hooked up to my pickup,they took my push mowers,weed eaters, iron racks full of new metal, 2 tire racks full of new and used tires, pickup tool boxes with tools, my cutting torch and cart, rotor tillers, and riding lawn mowers, trash can cart, lawn and garden tools, log splitter, pull camper used for storage, tool shed, oilfield tools and pumps, fencing and poles, firewood, wood burning heater for my house, fuel tank, ladder for shop, row boat no motor on it and fishing gear,tail gate for my truck, if it was outside they took, plus wifes garden hose, and my kids bikes, an mini bike, took my fence down and drove in the yard with big trucks and tractors, 6 sheets of new 1/4 inch steel 2'by6',

Answer
This doesn't happen without notifying you.

I'm sure the town has warned you several times of a thing such as a blight ordinance, and that if you didn't clean it up, they would.

You would have had plenty of time to haul those trailers to the scrap yard to turn them. Among other things.

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What will a cop do if he sees me riding a dirt bike on the street?

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John

I really want a dirt bike. Ive always loved motor cycles since i was a little kid. I have a friend that goes to my school and him and his friends ride dirt bikes and quads down the street and race so there not quiet. he lives in a different neighbor hood. I live on long island and im just wondering if a cop will really bother a 14 year old kid for riding a dirt bike don the street not doing anything illegal? or will he just look the other way?

Answer
Generally, cops like messing with kids.
Some cops do not care, some cops follow the law.

If they follow the law, they have to ticket you for driving without a driver's license, and a ticket for having an illegal bike on the streets. Since bike is illegal to be on the streets, you cannot legally take it home on the streets; hence the bike has to be impounded. See the question someone else had a problem: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agcrtiu.mQQt_YBLgnp2Y9QX5XNG;_ylv=3?qid=20130816192547AA5izFR

Is it weird for a 16 year old girl to ride a bike?

DotDotCurv

I don't have a car and I'm in this really small town so its easy to get around on a bike, but I never really see anyone here who rides one except for like little kids. Should I be worried about looking weird when I ride mine?

Answer
No!

In many college towns you see many children, senior citizens, and all ages in between using bikes for transportation. There are weird towns where almost no one rides.

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What were those little plastic bikes we had as kids in the 80s?

best kids bikes 16 inches image

Summer Day

They had 3 wheels like a tricycle and were low to the ground.
What were the called?

Answer
You are definitely thinking of Big Wheels. Here's an example of a Classic Big Wheel: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Wheels-16-inch-Original/dp/B0001A866O My grandmother saved up toothpaste upc's and sent for a Crest Big Wheel for me when I was a young child in the 1980s. I loved it!

Do these make good work-outs as an alternative option for lifting weights or jogging?

The_Irish_

As an exercise, I invented my own work-out routine. Several times a week, I go next to the wall, and take my arms and begin to exert my strength against the wall which tires out my body, I keep my strength exerted for a certain amount of time. Another thing instead of doing squats, I bend my legs in squat position and hold my body there until I get tired. Along with that during my day, I consume two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with two glasses of milk. At times, I go to the park and work on my pull-ups, I made it to at least eleven. I think I am doing pretty good not to mention I am going to the ninth grade so I figure I have to be strong.
Brian, you do realize peanut butter is filled with protein, correct? You may be telling the truth about running a mile under 5 minutes but I think you are only bluffing about the other stuff. Since it takes protein to build muscle, all the other body-builders would know that, the only person who doesn't seem to know is you. So in other words, if you were that strong, you'd seriously need to know peanut butter is a step. Another thing, I said nothing about losing weight, I am skinny so I am trying to build muscle and a bit of fat. (If needed.)

Answer
Anaerobics, weather you call it âlifting weightsâ, âweight liftingâ, âstrength trainingâ, âcalisthenicsâ, âusing small free weightsâ are all different ways to improve your muscle mass.

Calisthenics (using your own body as weight, doing pushups, squats, lunges, crunches or calves raises) are not an âalternative option" for jogging or any other aerobics activities (biking, swimming...) aimed to improve cardiovascular health. You will improve your aerobics if you strengthen your muscle with anaerobics.
You should do both aerobics and anaerobics, the latter to improve the former.


You did not invent wall push-upsâ¦you do those when you cannot handle floor pushups (if youâre an average woman/girl or a teenage boy).
You should still progress by a couple of reps each session if you eat the right high carbs meals 2 hours prior and a high protein diet, making sure you get enough rest days and enough sleep.
Each time you go back one inch from the wall, itâs another challenge and you go back down to 8 reps (use a ruler).
Then when the reps are time consuming, you go down in incline.
You can get down to 45 degree angle (desk/drawer pushups), even if youâre a teen lacking adult male hormones.

I donât get what you mean by âfor a certain amount of timeââ¦just go to muscle failure.

Donât hold your squats as youâre not engaging your quads, hamstrings and gluteus the right way. Maybe review your form if you get joints issues (knees, hips) as squats are VERY hard to perform with good form, especially if you follow YouTube videos made by nincompoops.
In fact, squats are the most unnatural body position ever when doing calisthenics, so you need counterbalance to not hurt your knees (never, ever, ever get you knee ahead of your toes, your lower leg should always be perpendicular to the floor).
You can hold on to someone or do door squats and hold on to a thin towel wrapped around each side of the door knobs (use a sturdy door) and still make sure that if you let go, youâll safely fall without bumping your head on anything (I advise beginners to put a baby mattress on the floor behind them and practice falling backward on it to make sure their head is secure).

The PB&J sandwich are greatâ¦legumes (peanuts, which are from the pea family, not true nuts but they contain healthy dietary fats) + grains (bread, make it whole-wheat) = complete protein + jelly (carbs) = a complete food sandwich with complete protein, carbs and dietary fats. Two glasses of milk (make sure itâs whole milk for kids and teens who are still growing and need the dietary fats) = 16 more grams of protein + calciumâ¦

If youâre 15yo, you can drink 4 glasses of whole milk or get some of you calcium some other ways like with other dairies (yogurts, cheeseâ¦) and from fish (sardines and salmon with bones), greens, peas, beans (kidney beans, black beans...), almonds and veggies (especially the cabbage family like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, radishes, turnip greens, collard greens). Just one serving of collard greens has 100mg of calcium (growing teenagers and pregnant women need the most calcium, like 1,300mg/day).



Good high protein food are dairies (milk, cheese, yogurts...Greek yogurts have 14 to 16 grams of protein), eggs (whites and no more than one yolk a day), meat, fish and poultry (do not eat the skin), legumes (beans, peas, lentils, including soy milk and tofu that comes from soybeans which are legumes), grains (rice, maize...called corn in the US, whole-wheat pasta and bread, rye, buckwheat, oats, millet...) and nuts/seeds (peanut butter included, even if peanuts are not nuts but are from the pea family, so theyâre legumes).
Combine legumes and grains and youâll get complete protein. Like eating a slice of bread with beans, or adding rice to lentils, or peas to pasta, or eating peanut butter with breadâ¦add jelly/jam and you get a PB&J sandwich.
Food with both calcium (for the bones) and protein (for the muscle) is the best like legumes and grains.


All the healthy teens I know are involved in sports, like playing soccer, basketball, running (track team), swimming (swimming team), playing Ultimate, learning martial arts, climbing rock and going up mountains, skiing in winter, going down rivers in kayaks, jumping on trampoline just for fun. They go to the gym to train for strength so they can improve in their sports.

Around the age or 15, they spend more time at the gym during the summer, using gym weight machines to gain 15 pounds of muscle mass (with a high protein diet) so they look big and ripped to face the beginning of the new school year with confidence. Then they lose it during the school year as they have to study to get good grades (and not spend too much time at the gym) but theyâll regain the muscle mass next summer for the next school year.

Get involved in sports. There are lots of opportunities when youâre a teen (before you become an adult with a job, responsibilities and kids).

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How do you ride a bike without training wheels?

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Linda

I am nine and I can't ride my bike without training wheels! I have not rode it in years.I really want to ride it because I don't have any training wheels and I got a brand new bike that is my favorite color. I didn't want to until I went to the park and saw my friend and I was chasing her while she rode a bike without the spare wheels. Now I really want to! I will try her way tomorrow after I get to my house, but if I can't hang on to her way i'm taking my scooter to the park. If her way doesn't work, best answer deserves a lot of credit.

Answer
Well first of all, training wheels are for little kids. I doubt they even make them in a size you would need.

But actually training wheels are obsolete. The new way to teach a kid to ride a bike is what's called a 'gravity bike' (and I have NO idea why it's called that. It makes no sense to me. But that's what they call it.) What you do is take the pedals off a bike. You lower the seat so you can put both feet flat on the ground. Then you push the bike along with your feet. They make bikes for little kids that don't have cranks or chains or anything, just two wheels and adjustable seat height.

You push the bike along with your feet and learn to balance and steer. After not too long you could coast down a mild hill with your feet off the ground, you can steer by leaning without putting your feet down. Then you're ready for a real bike with pedals.

Training wheels will get you pedaling and all that, but you're not really learning to ride a bike, which has to do with balancing and steering. It's something nobody can teach you, you just get a feel for it.

The 'gravity bike' idea has resulted in kids learning to ride at a much younger age. In my day we all learned around 5 or 6 but these days I see three year olds on bikes! Which I think is great! I've never heard of a nine year old learning that way, but why not? A person your age actually has better balance than a five year old, so it should be even easier.

Riding a bike is a lot of fun! I do it almost every day. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Get a helmet, though, and expect to fall two or three times before you get good at it. It's all part of learning.

How to motivate a kid to make friendships?

KN

My kid is 7 year old. He is shy(only with strangers). He do not want to make new friends. Recently I moved to new house where all kids play together in the evening. But he do not want to go and play with them. He gets bored because he does not have any friends. So I introduced him to those kids but still he is not ready to go and play.
This is the situation everywhere. He is not ready to make new friends.
How can I motivate him or take fear out of his mind for strangers?

Answer
First just understand and accept that he is not going to jump right into friendships easily. Don't push or pressure him to do so or he will feel just that much more anxiety about it. Let him and even encourage him to watch. See if he wants to do something outside on his own, like bike ride or do some sort of project. It also would be helpful if you perhaps invite 1 of the kids over for a playdate or invite the family over for a cookout. Think about it - would you want to be the 'new' kid in a whole group or would you feel more comfortable meeting 1 at a time?

Be the friendly parent to the other kids. Even if your son isn't outside, try being present outside when the kids are playing, doing gardening or washing your car - maybe even make some brownies or something to pass out. It will ease that transition and be more casual.

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What would be a good starting dirt bike for a girl?

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Julz C

Im 15 years old, about 5'5" and im learning how to dirt bike. My dad offered a Kawasaki klx 110. Would that be a good bike to start on?

Answer
Julz,
Ignore the idiots. Kids start riding as young as 4 with PW's and the like. Girls should ride as much as guys. My little sister rides and has fun. Riding is not a "man" only thing. if you want, some of the plastics manufacturers, like ACERBIS, make pink and purple replacement plastics for the KLX.

at 5'5" The KLX would be good. Make sure he gets the regular wheeled version. If there is a "tall" wheeled version, the bike may be a bit tall. Thus it wouldn't do much for your confidence since you can't touch the ground.

The other option is the TTR110E from Yamaha. Same type of four stroke 110CC motor in a small wheeled package. The TTR110L is the big wheeled bike.

See if your dad will take you to the bike shop to go sit on them. Realistically, you only need to have 1 foot on the ground to ride a motorcycle, just like a bicycle. However, having both feet touch, even if it's the balls of your feet will help your confidence when you're a beginner.

HTH,
D

What is the difference between fixed gear and single speed road bikes?

.

The only thing I know is that you can coast on single speed, and you pedal continuously on a fixie. I haven't ridden a bike (I live in the suburbs so I mostly drive) since middle school. Only rode a road bike a couple times.

Here are a few questions:

What is the difference, feel-wise, of riding them? For example, does one go faster, or smoother than the other?

I hear fixies are dangerous but only because a lot of people who have fixies ride brakeless. Can I install brakes on fixed gear? And if so, what brakes would be best? I rode a bike as a child but it was not really a road bike, just a generic kid's bike, and I am used to pushing down on the pedals to brake.

Which bike would be better for riding in the city of Chicago? I've rode in traffic with my friends but had borrowed someone's mountain bike because I don't own one, and that was a workout trying to keep up.

Which one would be easier to maintain? I'm a beginner so my boyfriend could help me with maintenance, but I don't want to spend too much to keep maintaining my bike.

Thank you so much! All the help is much appreciated. I'm moving to Chicago in the fall and would like to start riding. Thanks!
Oh, and can I always change the gears? Like could I start off with a single speed and then once I'm used to that, if I ever want to try fixed gear, could I change the whole thing into that? As I said, I'm a beginner so I have to learn everything about bikes and I don't really know much lol.

Answer
They're both crap.

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HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE BIKE TO BUY FOR MYSELF? I'M CONFUSED ON THE "INCHES" ISSUE?

best kids mountain bikes 24 inch image

RoadTrippi

I'm 5'4 tall w/ a 32" inseam and I'm looking at bikes online but I have no clue what to size to buy. Thanks for any help I can get!

Answer
The Toys R Us answer hit a nerve with me.....Never buy a bike at Toys R us! those are made for kids and they couldnt be cheaper. That response is obviously from someone who knows very little about cycling too.
With a 32" inseam you could ride any road bike in a 54cm to a 56cm in most brands but not all. Every manufacturer makes similar models but not all will fit you the same. In a mountain bike a 26" wheel is the most common wheel size out there and this is NOT frame size, this is wheel only (a 24" wheel size on ANY bike would be too small for you and is a KIDS bike, with the exception of BMX 24" wheels and such)
With a 32" inseam you could even go as far as a 29" wheel size in a medium frame size in nearly any make too. I have a 30" inseam and ride a 17" in mountain and a 54cm in road. Hybrid/comfort bikes usually fit me with a 17-18" frame and even a 19" on some models.
For a cruiser, nearly anyone over 5'1" up can ride one with some adjustments. If you can place your feet flat on the ground while seated on the saddle the seat is TOO LOW!
As for the inches issue: it is measured from the top of the seat post tube down to the center bolt of the crank on the bike and this is how mountain and hybrid/comfort bikes are measured. Road bikes (racing) are measured the same way but in Centimeters and there is also the top tube length to consider when buying a road bike too. It is generally 1-2 cm longer than the seat tube length in mens bikes and less in womens bikes.

Is this the right bike for me? If not what is? Help appreciated...?

Chandler

I am 19 years old and about 5'3''. I am currently looking to get a new bike to exercise on paved trails with and ride to school and to work. I went to wal-mart just now, and being a girl, I want the hot pink bike for $135. It is the 24-Inch Mongoose XR-75 Girls' Bike if you want to look it up.

My problem though is this bike is meant for kids and is a mountain bike. I've been researching and I know I should probably get a hybrid, comfort or road bike, but I really like this bike.

Will this "mountain bike" work just fine on paved roads and grass without causing problems such as busted tired etc? or Do I need to shop around and look for a non-mountain bike? Also is it okay that it is a kids bike with 24'' wheels? or Do I need to be an adult and buy a lame colored bike with bigger wheels? Any advice is welcome and appreciated! Thanks! :)

Answer
Chandler

You buy a bike for where and how you will ride. If you will not be riding on mountain / offload trails, then a mountain bike would not be my choice. If you will be riding on roads and streets and bike paths.... Then a road bike, hybrid or drop bar 'racer' would be a far better choice. Man bikes on the roads are about 4 or more mph slower ..... If you will be biking for distanc and speed.... Again the road bike is the preference.

Soccerref

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What are bike gears and what do they do?

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neoslan

I only had one bike in life, which was a present. It was a kids bike so there was no gears I could use and stuff. But now that I have outgrown the bike, I am shopping around for a new one. I see the handlebars have this controller thing that appears to be gears or something, and I have no idea what they mean and how they work. Also, I see bikes advertised as "21-speed Bike" and etc, what does that mean?

Answer
You have led a sheltered life, haven't you.
The gears are used to make cycling easier. Higher gears are used downhill to gain speed without pedaling like mad, while the lower gears are for going uphill where you pedal faster but expend less effort.
A 21 speed bike has 21 speeds available. That one would have 7 speeds on the rear wheel and 3 on the pedal sprocket 3 x 7 =21. The 3 pedal sprocket gears are used for general speed range changing. The lowest for use in hilly country, the second for flat and the top speed range for downhill. The (7) rear wheel gears are used for uphill and downhill as I described before.

Why are the pedals on my sons bike so hard to push?

stina;)

My son has had a hard time pedaling his 16" kids bike. I even tried it out and struggled. Put air in the tires and its not the brakes. I'm at a loss what good is a brand new bike that doesn't work right? Can this problem be fixed?
We bought it new over year ago.

Answer
Is it new? Then that's normal. Just tell him to take it for a ride now and then.

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How do I install training wheels around a rear derailleur on a 20" bike?

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StanleyLiv

Just purchased Wald training wheels for kids bike (16" to 26"). The right side has a gear derailleur on it, which extends further than the axle. I can't put the training wheel bar on the axle since I don't have clearance.

Can this axle be extended out farther somehow?

Answer
There are better ways to learn how to ride a bike. Remove the pedals and lower the saddle so they can flat foot on the ground and push them self around and learn to steer. Then try coasting down a small slop with the feet down and then lifting the feet. Next replace the pedals and gradually raise the saddle.

http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bicycle

Trouble setting up the brake for a 16" kids bike?

mahjong

I have been struggling to install the rear brike for a kids bike BMX (16"). The manual is fairly useless. Lousy pictures and worse instrucitons. Can anyone help?

Answer
You can try this.

http://bicycletutor.com/part/brake/

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what dirtbike brand and model would be good for me as a beginner?

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SKILLET!

I am 5'10 and weigh about 125 lbs., I have rode ATV's all my life and want to start riding dirt bikes. What would you recommend? I just want to trail ride and not race or anything right now. Also, what could I expect to pay? I definitely want to buy brand new, so give me an average price I would expect to pay. Try to keep the bike somewhat inexpensive. Please only answer if you have experience. Thanks!

Answer
You see you have two conflicting concepts here.. brand new and inexpensive. Those just don't connect for the most part. Then again, maybe you're a bit rich, but I'd think you would pay anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 for a brand new Jap bike (Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha). Really I'm still thinking you should buy slightly used off craigslist.... but hey, back to what you asked. Now I don't know what size ATV's you ride or even how old you are, but since you atleast have some experience, I'd recommend a 200-250cc four stroke to a small adult. However if you are a kid (13ish-16ish) I'd say more like a 150cc. Now running on my lack of information and truth of spirit (what.. I needed an "and") I'd recommend probably the least popular answer, a new Chinese motorcycle. Now before you do the standard "dismiss those junky pieces of shit" routine, some companies know what they're doing. Look into Zongshen, Lifan, and Qlink. Specifically Qlink as they are an interesting case. They take Chinese motorcycles and put them through American Quality Control (inspections) and then test every single bike. The Qlink XP200 is a dual sport, which I guess really isn't what you're looking for (I think) but it would allow you to ride in the dark, is the cheapest that I can find prices for online at $2,599 with a free 2-year warranty and you can find parts on their website. That engine is the same as a Suzuki dr200se motor(made on the same assembly line even), so you can also find parts for that engine and use those.

Hope I helped.

What would be a good beginner's bike for an 11 year old to get?

Q. My little sister wants to get a bike that is easy to learn on, is good for people sized about 4'9-4'11, and is affordable ($100-$300). I think a single-speed freewheel would be the best place to start, but I'd like your opinions too. You have any suggestions?

Answer
You can go to Walmart and buy a crappy bike cheap or get a decent bike on Craigslist.org in your area for about the same amount.

For learning how go here:
http://www.howtofixbikes.ca/2006/07/kids-bikes-smart-way.html
http://www.howtofixbikes.ca/2006/07/from-wreck-to-ride-or-how-not-to-buy.html
and here:
http://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

Both the above sites are great for bike repairs too.

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What is the name of the bike accessory where there is a basket for kid and shopping on the front?

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qbyrnes

I was in Amsterdam and saw a bike with a wagon like attachement. It was wooden and had a little bench where kids could sit. I did not get the name of it and have been looking online for it but can't locate anything like it.

Answer
If the thing you saw was wooden, my guess is it was homemade.

However, if by "wagon like" you mean it was something towed behind the bike, then there are lots of those available, and I guarantee they're safer and more comfortable than anything made out of wood. They generally are light weight, have a full frame around them and five point harness to protect kids in a crash, have rain/wind covers, have room for one or two children plus some cargo room, and are designed for "normal riding" meaning they can go 20+mph, and don't have much of an effect on the towing bicycle. They attach to almost any bike. For examples see http://www.burley.com/ although there are other manufacturers too. While the wooden one you saw may have been cute, I'm guessing it would be heavy, uncomfortable for the kids, and completely unsafe for anything but walking speed in an area with few or no cars (especially in the US where cars aren't generally looking for bikes).

If by "shopping on the front" you mean the thing was on the front of the bike (above the front wheel), then I would say its a bad idea. Unless the bike was specifically designed to have cargo in front (very rare in the US, but more common overseas), adding that kind of weight to the front will cause the bike to steer very unpredictably. It will also expose the child to full impact with any type of crash. Even hitting a dog or curb at low speed would be a problem, since the extra weight in front would tend to pitch the whole bike forward over the bars.

I

Does eating whole grain foods really make a difference?

Sparky

I'm curious about something. Why is it that there seems to be more overweight people these days when there are so many people turning to whole grains and health food? For years people ate white potatoes, white bread, white rice, etc and were not overweight. Is it really the food or is it something else that's making this country have such a weight problem? Food manufacturers are making everything "healthy" using whole grains but yet people still battle with weight problems. Does it really matter if we eat whole grains or not? Or is it the lack of exercise or something else that's really the problem? All I know is that these "healthy" foods that are supposedly unprocessed which to me means less processing, are really expensive. Shouldn't less processing be less expensive? Is the food industry just trying to make money off of people trying to be healthy?

Answer
food nowadays has more sugar and more calories packed into every inch. the reason health food costs more is because they not only process it less, but they put less preservatives in it which makes it harder to ship, stock and sell. also think about how our culture has changed. now we eat supposedly better things, but back in the day of white everything kids had to ride their bikes to friends houses, a night of fun consisted of walking between everyone's houses to pick them up. kids played basketball after school instead of tony hawk pro skater. everyone was involved in an afterschool sport because it was soo freeking cool. now everyone can get their entertainment from doing things while sitting on their butts. sitting on butt = not burning calories.

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What would be the most affordable bike to get that is safe to put a 2 year old on the back?

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Paula G

Hey There - we are looking to get a couple of bikes to ride around white rock lake with our 22 month old son. We are novices - so we just want something decent, but doesn't need to be the tour de france. Also - what is the best seat for the baby to get? Thanks!

Answer
You do not put a child of 22 months on a bike!!! Are you out of your mind?

OTOH your child can ride WITH you on almost any bike with age appropriate compatible equipment

The child goes on/in the equipment, the equipment attaches to the bike/bikes you choose.

Got it?

Generally speaking if/when your child is old enough to hold his/her head up WITH an infant helmet the progression is usually this:

infant to toddler - best solution is a child trailer. Your kid is sheltered, somewhat protected, sheltered from the sun, and if YOU take a tumble the trailer stays upright!! This will let you go from novice to experienced while your child is safe.

A trailer can go on almost any bike. Some will convert from trailer to jog/stroller.

Check with your local bike shop.

DO NOT BUY AT A BOX STORE. Your LBS will show you how to attach it safely and use it and what bikes will be compatible.

Toddler to lets say maybe 4-5 depending on kid. Some manner of rear mounted child seat. Who knows what will be available by the time the fruit of your loins reaches that age. Same principle, go to your LBS and have them show you how to safely attach it to your bike.

BTW in all this and at all stages GET A HELMET FOR YOUR CHILD and you too. Makes no sense for the child to survive and you to be relearning the alphabet. ;-)

5-9 or so depending on child: tag-along trailer. Like a tandem in principle attaches to your bike. Your child can pedal ... or not. But gets the feeling of participating and helps Mom/Dad move along. You know where said child is (behind you). Said child is not likely to hit me or veer all around the trail unless you do that too ;-)

9 and up plus or minus depending on your child, their interest etc now you may be talking ride with their very own bike or some equip a tandem with crankset the right length for said kid (which can be adjusted as your kid grows)

Have fun out there!!!!!!

Why do the cops let some kids ride their 4 wheelers on the streets and without helments?

jean ann j

Concerned people that see kids going as fast as they can without helments on, on four wheelers, call the police. The police come out and just look and do nothing. Also the kids suddenly go into their houses.

Answer
Yeah, you're in the wrong section. This is a Cycling section. 2 Wheels with pedals.

Cops don't always let this by, but in some cases they do. I've seen multiple 5-8 year olds ride a bike without a helmet in a park which is right across a police station. Now some cops just don't always bust people when they see something wrong. I once road on a sidewalk to get through a intersection on my bike and a police officer just starred and took a grin at me. He knew i saw him, yet i still didn't get a ticket.

If you are so concerned, maybe you should just call and make a complaint the next time you see them

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water pipes freeze, will my idea work...?

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todd5524

I rent a half shabby apartment, and the water pipes freeze when it's really cold. I thought about actually buying some of those long foam insulators ( the ones they use on kids bicycle handlebars ) and just work them around the pipes in the basement. I just thought it would be so much easier to apply than regular insulation that gets wet from condensation etc. would it work ?

Answer
It would most likely work, but you have to make sure the hole in the middle of the insulation is the same size as the outer diameter of the pipe. If there is space between the insulation and the pipe, that air will still drop, and potentially allow your pipes to freeze, inside the insulation. Your best bet is to buy the 6' lengths of insulation, at your local hardware store. There are different types, one is scored with a precut line, that you split open, and install around the pipe. This type requires that you use an additional tape to wrap the insulation. The other type is split, with adhesive applied to the edges. Upon installing it on the pipe, you peel the cellophane protector, and the glue from both edges, keeps the insulation in place. These come in different sizes, for different types of pipe. Make sure you buy the correct type for the pipe that you have. When installing this type insulation, cut angles, so you can completely cover all the pipe. Insulating the pipes, and not the joints, will increase the chance of a rupture at the exposed joints. Good luck to you, and stay warm!

is it legal to have kid seating at bike back in california?

jian l

if yes, what is the hardware requirement? and what is
the safety tips to carry a kid in bicycling?

Answer
A kid seat on the back of your bicycle is legal in California and a helmet is required. However, I strongly recommend against those seats. They make your bike top heavy and if you fall, your child falls with you. Your best bet is to buy a trailer to attach to your bike. They have roll cages and if your bike falls over, the trailer hitch has a pivot attachment which keeps the trailer upright. Also, if the trailer does happen to fall over, the roll cage (and helmet) will protect the child. Yes, trailers cost quite a bit more but ask yourself: Are you willing to sacrifice your child's life to save money?

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