Why do people HATE New Jersey?

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KLD it.

I personally think it is a gorgeous, diverse state. Yeah we have our slummy parts, but who doesnt? People fail to see the miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, farmlads, acres of pine trees, and the Appalachin Mountains. Plus, your never, ever, more then an hours drive away from anything you want. It has 4 of the richest counties in the country, and the shopping capitol of the world!

Yet there is never any shortage of people ready to say they hate New Jersey, that it smells, it's dirty, and it's dangerous, all simply not true! I hate when people from PA try to say "we should blow up NJ and give PA a beach, it smells when ever we cross the border." (to them I like to say, because you don't know anything better then cow sh*t)

My question is, why do people hate NJ? and for those of you who talk trash about it, have you ever actually been here? or past the the highways you have travelled on?

Answer
I moved to New Jersey from Virginia about ten years ago. I was surprised at all of the beautiful countryside, the mountains, the forests, and all of the beautiful places. But in general, my experience in NJ was generally negative compared to other places.

For example, In Virginia I lived at the beach. I used to spend a lot of time at the ocean. In New Jersey, I had to pay every time I wanted to go to the beach. I was shocked when I first heard that and I'm still shocked ten years later. It's a huge turn-off when you're used to going to any beach you want on either coast without even considering a fee.

Also, the cost of living is a total shock unless you're coming from DC, Boston, or parts of California. You can easily pay $350K for a two bedroom cape cod if you don't want to commute for an hour. I had 4 kids so two bedrooms didn't cut it. And my wife raises our kids, so we had only one income, meaning $350K was out of the question, yet we needed at least 4 bedrooms, not two.

And finally, I had a hell of a time whenever I wanted pizza after midnight, people in stores and in traffic were generally unfriendly to strangers in comparison to most of the country, prices on dining, furniture, and clothing was much higher, there was no local broadcast news - only NYC, or Philly in the south, I could go for miles and never find a convenience store if I didn't know where to look, NJ vehicle inspections suck, the major highways had tolls, and for all the talk about being close to NYC culture, most people in NJ rarely ever went to a show in the city or any of the other cultural events.

I recently moved to what most NJ residents would consider a nightmare. It's a large midwestern city. I have beautiful manicured boulevards, I'm in a beautiful new house that would cost over $1 million dollars in NJ, I have more restaurants than NJ ever offered, at a much lower price, my property taxes are 1/3, I can take my kids to NFL, NBA, etc. without traffic and without hurting my pocketbook, I get almost as many national performance acts at half the cost, food is cheaper, clothes are cheaper, the school system is the best in the state, and people are FRIENDLY. Kids ride their bikes in the streets and neighbors sit out front in the evenings and share their lives. People are walking their dogs and stopping to meet or catch up with others.

For me, NJ was a stepping stone. I'll miss friends, I'll miss some beautiful countryside, but otherwise, compared to many other places I didn't find it a good place to live.

What is there to do for free in NYC?

HONEY

Ok , so I'm from San Diego and my bf is a native nyer. Yes, straight from NYC and you can't get the city out of him. However I have become increasinly antsy with NOTHING to do. Friends aren't so much an option b/c all of the people I get along with over here are guys..and the women I get along with usually live far and have kids..so they are dealing with their own stuff. So...what is there to do for free? I'm simple. I even like getting out to run an errand across town.
Heck I will even go to the park but the weather here kind of blows, no offense...so what is there to do?! PLease refrain from including things that cost money.
For instance, in San Diego, I can go hiking..go to the beach, go to balboa park, head down to tijuana (and have a blast for about $10),go up to the mountains and bring a sled and go sledding..or skiing (I don't care for skiing though), I can take a blow up raft and head over to a lake..go mountain biking...the list goes on..all stuff that is free or costs next to nothing.
Here I feel like there isn't crud to do. Even when I'm down to spend a good chunk of money..I feel like it's easy to see everything at once here. You do empire, statue, wax museum, art museums, rockefeller, etc. All stuff that's kind of boring to begin with..and then what?!??!
HELP :) Best answer gets 10 easy points. Stupid answers will get a thumbs down and be reported so answer wisely.
Thanks a lot..but NONE of that stuff is free! To go to PA or NJ I have to rent a car at $90 and pay for the rest of our activities. Also...how should I walk down in Brighton Beach when the weather sucks? LOL. I'm not talking about it being cold..but like when it's raining! Thanks though.

Answer
this site has a list of free things to do in the city including walks, hikes, movies etc.. if you let the weather stop you you'll never get out and do anything...this is a walking city girl, get walking! We gave beaches, get on a train and go into Brooklyn to Brighton Beach and walk along the boardwalk into Coney Island, it's quiet and beautiful this time of year.. go shopping in the Russian stores... there are lots of neighborhoods with different things to do. and to get into Tijuana you'd have to wait on the long line through the border, so get in a car and take a trip up to Bear Mountain or the Adirondacks, go white water rafting in parts of NJ and PA, do the research on where you can bring a raft to do this...

edit the bronx zoo is free on wednesday's I believe,
The Museum of Natural History has an ice skating rink that is 10 including skate rentals...

edit: I hear you ,but you would have to spend gas in San Diego to get to where you are going right? Become a member of ZipCar here and you can rent a car for 25 bucks a day I think... No it's not free but get your boyfriend who insists on staying here and keeping you from SD (use the guilt, this is NY it works here) to cough up some dough...

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Where can you ride a kids dirtbike Glasgow?

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I am going to buy my 11 and 8 year old brothers a dirt bike for the summer. I am just wondering where would they be able to ride them without bother from the police or anything? There is a large bit of spare ground beside me would that be ok? Or does it need to be a designated area? If so any 1 know where I could take them?

Answer
There is a couple I'm sure.

Best advice is to pop over to the Yellow Pages website ( yell.com ) and do a search for Off road centres / trails riding / motocross tracks.

The most important bit to add is your postcode or you will get results from all over the UK !

Hope this helps, Good luck.

Why would you choose to home-school your child?

Funky Litt

I am a teacher in the UK, and I am interested in the popularity of home-schooling in the US as it doesn't really happen here. Could you tell me please, for what reasons would you choose to home-school? Do you think they get a better education, and in what way? Thank you!

Answer
Hello from across the pond!
I don't know much about UK schools or UK homeschoolers. I don't know why other people choose homeschool in the US, but I can tell you why my family chose homeschool. It had nothing to do with sheltering or overprotection. I had no religious motivation either. Our child had been in Head Start since she was three. We are a reading family and had read to her everyday since she was old enough to sit in a lap an listen. She was bright, vivacious, curious and intelligent. At 5 she went into kindergarten. That is when they began pushing us to drug our child. There were veiled threats. (If we refused to medicate, the school might be forced to consider us neglectful parents. We knew that a visit from a state social worker would follow.) There was refusal to seek any other solution to the schools inability to teach our child. By third grade my kid was on uppers in the morning and afternoon and downers at night to sleep. She could not read and she could not do simple math. She was not growing and was notably smaller than the other children in her class. She had perpetual dark rings under her eyes. She was terribly thin, because the medications killed her appetite. She wanted to eat, but could not. If you've seen a meth addict try to eat, you know what it was like to watch my child at mealtime. It broke my heart. Still, the teachers never stopped asking me to have the doctor up her medication. We begged for and finally demanded an IEP. Suddenly, the school began to tell us our child was making progress; we didn't need to worry anymore. Yet, at home we could tell she still had no grasp of the work that was being sent home unfinished at the end of the day. It was clear that the school just wanted my husband and I to go away. The last straw came when a note was sent home saying that all the students had been tested and out child scored as though she had only been in first grade for one month. The note contained a list of things WE needed to do to get our child up to grade level. We had had enough. It was useles to change schools. In our area this elemetary school is considered one of the best because the majority of kids score so highly on standardized tests. We decided to homeschool. My child is now completely drug free and learning. Apparently, the problem was never with her body chemistry, but with the way she was being taught. She had started to see herself as stupid before. She had been so withdrawn and sad that she never had a chance to play because from the moment she came home until the moment she went to bed, we were trying to get her schoolwork completed. She was never able to complete it in class. She's now confident and happy.
So here we are about two years later: She's put on a normal amount of weight. Her cheeks are pink and she is neither somber nor hyper. She is a normal, active child. She has discovered interests in; Sign Language, art, Shakespeare, Japanese culture, etc. Because of our flexible curriculum, she can explore these interests at her whim. This keeps education exciting, as it should be. She has a full and varied social life. Her PE consists of Yoga, martial arts classes, trampoline jumping and walking and biking with friends in the neighborhood. Where she was isolated before, now she is free to participate in a variety of community activities with a wider variety of people.
I'm rambling horribly, but anyway, that is why we homeschool.

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What's the best vacation for kids, specifically a 9 and 11 year old?

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Jenna K

If money wasnt an object, and I wanted to take my 9 and 11 year old on a week trip, and I wanted it to be something FUN, memorable, learning experience, as well as a bonding experience where should I take them?

Answer
Yellowstone National Park is pretty awesome for a week

Orlando or California theme parking, they are a good age for that.

A cruise on carnival or disney.

Oahu- go snorkeling, kayaking, biking tours, visit the memorial, parasailing, etc.

A river rafting or ocean kayaking expedition with a guide is a must do.

It'll all be fun if you don't overschedule, do goofy stuff, and don't stress trying to get too much done during your vacation.

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

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!!!!!!

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how do you stop brake pads from sqeaking on a bicycle?

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crazybiker

I have a brand new road bike, and after i changed the tube after a flat, the brakes started sqeaking. I thought it might be the angle that the brake pad[s] was hitting the rim, but i con't seem to fix it.

Answer
WD-40? Are you kidding? Do not use WD-40 on any parts of your bike. (WD: Water Displacer. You do not want water displacement on your bike)

Since you said you have a road bike, im assuming you use rim brakes and not disc brakes. In this case, brakes will always squeak to some extent. When the pads are worn in and there is some of the pad's material on the rim, the squeak will stop unless you break very hard, enough to skid. The squeak occurs when the cantilever brakes are not strong enough to completely stop the rim, but are in contact with the rim. They rub and create this noise. When they are rubbing on bare metal instead of metal with a thin layer of pad material, they will make more noise.

Also, you will want to keep your rims and pads dry. Dry the rims after every ride, and do not lock the brakes when the bike isn't in use. If you ride through a puddle, it could have traces of oil or gasoline in it. Therefore, after every wet ride, dab a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol and rub it onto the rims, both sides. This removes the oil.

Good luck,
Adam

What is a good "starter" bicycle for an adult female?

killernano

I haven't owned a bike since I was a kid but I'd love to incorporate biking into my workout routine. Any suggests on a good make and model? I can't afford anything fancy-schmancy! ;)
Thanks for asking questions I didn't think of. :)

I'd like to start riding on the street and work my way to trails--but nothing crazy just yet.

I'd love to spend under $300 if that's doable.

Answer
Comfort bikes are simple to use, easy to ride, and inexpensive. They have very forgiving handling, a smooth ride, and a very upright seating position. That seating position makes it easy to see where you are going.

Hybrids are a little more aggressive. You lean forward more with more pressure on the handlebars. If you like leaning forward more and going a little faster, these are good choices.

Fit is the #1 criteria you should use. The bike will be more fun to ride if it fits you. Shocks are nice, but not necessary. A large volume (balloon) tire will absorb quite a bit. I do suggest smooth tread on the tires. Knobs are for mountain bikes.

Fuji, Cannondale, Giant, Bianchi, Specialized, Trek, and Gary Fisher are all reputable brands. You can usually find a model to fit you and your needs for between $250-400.

Whatever bike you choose, just remember the bike should put a big smile on your face. It's fun to ride!

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I have been trying to find out if it is against the law to use profanity in Oregon around children?

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Lacy

My son goes to the skatepark by our house, and the high school boys have been using every cuss word in the book around him, and directly to him. They threaten him, and I am worried. I have considered not letting him go anymore, but he truly loves riding his bmx bike and razor scooter there. I want to know if there is a law against using the language that they use around the younger kids. I live in Oregon.

Answer
If its against the law to say profanity around minors? would that help your situation? The word Bitch can mean female dog and the word Dick can be someones name (excuse me if I offended anyone). Its not enough cause to stop from high school kids from bullying your son. Are you with him while this is happening? if not maybe you should pay a visit and stay with him.These kids may not have anything to do or go and find your son an easy target.Take a video camera and record him, possibly be a lil sneaky and tape the boys you suspect in bullying your son without them knowing or realizing it.
Although make your presence known don't be intimidated but also you shouldn't be rude, kids learn by example. If your son is uncomfortable with this idea then you need to tell him to stay home if you don't wish for him to get bullied or worse. This I say since I'm not sure how the neighborhood is like on your end.
I really cant imagine my kids not being able to enjoy the park. I hope this is short lived and resolved quickly, till then keep him company while he skates and don't leave him alone, you can be discreet about it by sitting a few feet away and taking a book and "pretending" to read.

What are the most popular expensive BMX bike brands?

perryinjax

When I was a kid a looong time ago...I am 42, the dream bike for any bmx rider was Redline. Are they still a respected expensive popular bike? They seem pretty cheap on eBay. I seem to remember they were one of the best bmx brands available when I was a kid. Is Red line still good? Also, what are the other popular BMX brands of bike and how much are the expensive ones?

Answer
for a while redline has been mostly racing bikes but now there are starting to make some great street/dirt/park bikes like the 7.1 the are still a great brand making great products

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What type of bike(s) should I buy?

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max3333

I have a 8 year old son who wants a "mountain bike" for his birthday. I would like to purchase a pair of bikes for myself and him to use. I have 15 acres of property that I would like to use these bikes on. It is mostly flat grassland but there is rough terrain and some 10 to 15-foot hills to ride over. These bikes will not be used on the street. Any suggestions on what type and brand of bikes for beginners(adult and kid)that can be purchased reasonably? For occasional use that can take a beating? Thanks for any suggestions.

Answer
For this terrain, one would suggest a "Double Boinger" or in other words, a full suspension mountain bike.

These can be quite expensive, so one may substitute a "regular" mountain bike, also called a hardtail. These have front shocks and no rear suspension, and they cost a lot less.
Make up the difference by using a springer saddle or a suspension seatpost. Either seatpost or springer saddle will cost about $20 each bike, so this method is far less expensive than a "Double Boinger" style.

At the $20 price range, the springer saddle is more reliable technology, and they were once considered a "required" part of the enjoyment of cycling. Bike shops have quite a variety and so does www.bikepartsusa.com and amazon.com. Avoid the "Web Spring" or "Mattress" variety and just go with the easy and simple two steel spring or two rubber spring sort to get some very enjoyable results.

While it is best to purchase your bikes from a real bike store, Schwinn and Diamondback will always give you usable quality bikes with name brand components at every price point. So, if you get a very cheap bike, do make sure it is one of those two brands. These can be found at Target in a limited selection of size ranges, but if you're taller than 5'10" then its off to the bike store with you. ;)
Lower priced options exist, but will cost you a great deal in repairs and lost enjoyment.

IMPORTANT: The point of sizing is to get a bike that makes you WANT to go cycling. Don't settle for less than that.

IMPORTANT: In any case, make certain that the rear derailer has the name "Shimano" or the name "SRAM" printed directly on it.

For your son. Get him as large a bike as he can stand over with at least an inch "clearance" to the top tube. It is not important if he can reach the ground from the seat, as that's not correct seat adjustment anyway--legs need to straighten fully when pedaling. Just make sure that he can stand over it and that it doesn't look like a toy.

For you, the same sizing applies, but for a different reason. Make sure that the bike is large enough to give you a comfortable reach for the handlebars.

While it is possible to re-size (UP) the $139 Schwinn mountain bike, the cost of the stem riser adapter and stronger seat post, plus installation, may inflate the price of the bike up to a bike-store-bike price, and you might as well just get the right size to start with. That's why I said that if you're over 5'10" then you really do need to go to the bike store. A Diamondback, Raliegh, or Schwinn dealer can still get you a good price.

what kind of dirt bike should I get my son?

Allison B

Looking for a decent beginners bike for my 4 year old son. Any advice on what kind to get him? I know nothing about the different brands of dirt bikes, and I don't want to end up with a piece of crap... Any advice would be appreciated!

Answer
Yes the Honda CRF 50 aka XR 50 is the most reliable bike out there. It will last for many years. The Yamaha PW 50 also works very well for smaller kids. Both have training wheel kits etc. just buy the newest bike you can afford. Do not by imported stuff from China. Make sure if buying used that to CRF 50 was not owned by a teen, many riders use the CRF 50 for a pit / play bike. My son has both of these bikes he loves his PW the best,it is a little smaller. The PW is a Two stroke oil injection, the CRF is a four stroke straight gas. The PW is one speed the CRF is a three speed. Both have automatic type clutches.

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When buying a new bmx raceing bike what do you look for?

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pickle

How do you know it's the right size for you? What parts are important to the weight of the bike? What brands are good? What size and tires are right for this sport.
This is for an 8 years old boy who wants to race for the first time. He's got a helmet and protective clothes. But his bike is not right because it has foot brake. I don't want to asemble and our budget is 250-300.

Answer
For an eight year old, you are looking at a mini or junior sized bike. Micro Mini will be too small. You are looking at a bike with 1 1/8" Tires.

There are complete bikes out there for around $300, but be aware that kids grow out of mini and junior sized bikes all the time, meaning that there, and you can ofen pick up a $400 bike for under $250 that has bee raced 1-2 seasons. Most bike shops could give it a good tune-up for around $50 and you are ready to go.

You are correct that a bike with a coaster brake is not a good choice.

If you are looking for areas to improve a race bike in the weight department, the wheels are the best place to make improvements - as anything that is rotating is more important that the non-rotating parts.

Good Brands? GT, Redline and Diamondback are companies with a hisotry of BMX racing and they are still producing bikes for racing today.

Mongoose, as suggested by one other poster, has not been producing competitive race bikes for a number of years. THey have some entry level bikes that woudl be OK for racing for around $200 and then the rest of thier bikes are Dirt Jump/ Freestyle Bikes. The parent company that owns Mongoose also ownd GT and Schwinn as well as some tother brands. GT is currently thier "race bike" brand.

If you do decide to go used, there are some premium brands to watch for in addition to Redline, Diamond Back and GT, there is also Intense, Supercross, Redman, GHP, Felt and a bunch of others.

Be awere that there are also very nice race bikes bearing the FMF name, and they are good bikes and components. But they are no longer produced and getting any sort of mfg's warranty, even on a new bike, will not likely be possible. But if you can get a new FMF at near used prices, it may work out well.

How would you fix the tax system?

Amercia

We obviously have a bureaucratic mess, so what are some simple steps we can take to correct it?

Answer
No income tax, just a national sales tax. I think It should be set at about 5%. I would also have a law where it can not be raised without a national referendum, expect during a congressional declared state of emergency, or a war (a real war, declared by congress). During war time or a state of emergency, it can not be raised any higher then 10%, and must be voted on every six months (continuation vote).

See right now, people hide money they are earning, legally or illegally. Most people do not pay taxes. Under the current system, it has been estimated close to 50 billion dollars a year in revenue is not collected, because it hidden.

Under this system, everyone pays. If you buy a candy bar for a dollar, 5 cents goes to uncle sam. If you buy a house for 100,000 dollars, 5,000 goes to uncle sam.

Now, once everyone is paying taxes, then maybe people will pay more attention when tax dollars are going to stupid or wasteful spending, like...

$60 billion annually wasted in health care fraud
$2 billion annually by Conservation Reserve program pays farmers not to farm
$600 million annually in food stamp overpayments.
$120 million annually in school lunch program abuse costs .
$800 million annually in veterans' program overpayments cost
$50 million annually for U.S. Postal Service selects an average of 1,125 employees daily, to sit in empty âstandby rooms", and do nothing, due to over staffing
$146 million annually in flight upgrades due to federal employees refusing to fly coach
$15 million annually by the National Institutes of Health to rent labs it cannot use
$20 million annually for prisoners getting SSI relating to their alleged disabilities
$1.4 billion in overpayments to disability beneficiaries
$112 million paid out by the IRS to fraudulent returns filed by prisoners
$423,500 stimulus funds to find out why men don't like to wear condoms
$2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job.
$1 million in stimulus funds for a genitalia-washing program in Africa
$1 million on researching gay males penis size
$400,000 research in Buenos Aires bars on gay men's risky sexual behavior
$1.44 million to study male prostitutes in Vietnam
$239,100 study of how Americans use the Internet to find love
$168,766 grant study sexual behavior of monkeys by analyzing monkey feces in Africa
$3 billion re-sanding beaches (even as this new sand washes back into the ocean).
$13 billion in Iraq aid has been classified as wasted or stolen.
$7.8 billion in Iraq aid money cannot be accounted for
$50 million in erroneous refunds to 230,000 Medicare recipients
$3.9 million by Securities Exchange Commission, rearranging desks & offices at its headquarters
$2.5 million in stimulus checks sent to the deceased
$10 million to renovate an abandoned train station that has not been used in 30 years
$100 million on unused flight tickets, Defense Department bought, never bothered to collect refunds even though the tickets were refundable
$2.8 million stimulus sent to a Wisconsin nursing home that didnât need or request it
$ 50,000 a piece for paintings of high-ranking government officials.
$356,000 to study how kids perceive foreign accents.
$900,000 in federal stimulus funds on a new bike signs in Oregon, even though the city already has similar bike signs, which it plans to leave up.
$200,000 to study of why political candidates make vague statements
$228,000 per job, saved or created, by the stimulus plan
$615,000 so the University of California at Santa Cruz could digitize Grateful Dead photographs, tickets, backstage passes, fliers, shirts and other memorabilia
$1.2 million spent trying to find out if a mother rat, if given cocaine, will abandon her babies

Right now people who don't pay anything into the system can afford not to care. Once they have a stake in game, maybe well keep a closer eye on the idiots in D.C. Unless you think this was money well spent?

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Is dirt bike racing only for younger kids or can people in their 20's start in it?

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skye

I know someone who always wanted to race dirt bikes, but never got the chance. He's in his 20's now, but is that too old to get started in the sport?

Answer
NO,their are 60 yr oldes that do their first race in the 450 class. It is always better so start when your young but it depends on your skill. If its his first time riding a bike and has no skill i would suggest not racing, all he would do is get hurt and suck.

Is it legal for a 13 year old to ride a dirt bike in a residential area?

Nova Kane

Its in a neighborhood, the roads are city owned and maintained. The dirt bikes are extremely loud and the kids keep on punching the gas to make the loud noise as they ride. I live in TN. Is there some sort of legal action that can be taken up against them? Can the police ticket them and impound their bikes?
The also trespass on a vacant lot next to my house on their bikes.

Answer
Call the police. He can't ride it on public streets or sidewalks. He can't ride it on private property without permission of the owner. And he can't disturb the peace with the noise.

Another example of a parent buying something for a kid and having no clue what the rules are. Hope you get help.

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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.

Should I let my 13 year old son buy a dirt bike?

darcy

we live in the city but he has a few friends that ride them and own land not to far away. He had an accident on his push bike last year which caused a blood clot. But that was from doing jumps. i just don't want to have that quilt of him getting servilely injured again. He said he will only be doing trail riding or farm, and hes willing to pay for all saftey gear and bike.

Answer
If your kid has an interest in motorcycles it may never go away. Studies (Hurt report and others) prove that those who ride and live are the ones who start young on small trail bikes and moved up gradually through the ranks. Sadly, if you do not let him learn the right way now, he is several times more likely to suffer serious injury should he get to be 30 and then buy himself a big street bike without having the proper experience. However, with the proper training and gradual steps up in motorcycle size he has a 98% chance of riding for an entire lifetime without a bad accident.

I MADE both of my kids ride dirt bikes often at a young age under my watchful eye though neither showed any special desire to do so. I couldn't live with myself if they died on a Harley 10 years from now and I hadn't done this. Both are very capable and responsible now and show no tendency towards riding dangerously or taking silly chances. Both now enjoy it and enjoy the time we spend together doing it too.

I say go for it, but consider getting one for yourself too so you can be there to supervise for a while. At least keep a watchful eye on him for a month or 2 to make sure he isn't too much of a "show off" with daredevil tendencies. After that, turn him loose and let him spread his riding wings on the farm with his buddies.

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I am concerned about our booking to the Sunny Rose apartments in Crete (Hersonissos)

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Susi0095

We have booked to go as a family plus my Dad - two children son is 13 and daughter is 8. I have been trying to find reviews or pictures but can only find one on the watchdog site (which sounded excellent) but went on to find feedback about the Frida Apartments which are next door (attached apparently?) and that did not sound good at all and it would seem it has more twenty somethings visiting rather than families. Now worried it is going to be too noisy for the kids at night and too boysterous during th day. Can anyone help settle my concerns has anyone been with their children?

Answer
We have just returned from a 2 week holiday to the Sunny Rose Apartments. We are a couple in our late 20's. I must say, we were also concerned as we couldn't find any reviews of the apartments, only reviews about the Frida, all of which were based upon teenagers and large groups of twenty somethings. This made us worry as it didnt sound good and we were expecting 2 weeks of hell!
Luckily, we were pleasantly surprised! Yes, the Frida apartments are close by but if you stick to the Sunny Rose, you will be fine. The Frida has its own pool so this is where you are more likely to find the youngsters, but the pool at the Sunny Rose is much more relaxed and whilst we were there, you would find couples and families. It was never overcrowded and we always managed to get a sun beds. Also, there are fantastic views of the sea and the mountains. We didnt even bother going to the Frida pool. Although it was slightly bigger, it was a lot noisier!
We never had any problems with noise at night. Our apartments were situated by the road and quite close to the Frida bar. You will find it can get a little noisy with scooters and quad bikes, but as long as the balcony doors were shut, it was fine.
The rooms are really clean and the maid service is excellent. We couldn't find any pictures either but dont worry, it is a lovely place.
The apartments are in a village called Piskopiano, not directly in Hersonnisos. Although Hersonnisos is only a 10/15 walk, i would avoid going there at night as it is very lively and where all the youngsters go. As you have children, it would be fine to go early but when we went, by 11/12pm it gets quite crazy!
At night, i would recommend you go to the other villages close by, Old Hersonnisos and Koutalafari. These are a 5/10 min walk and have such lovely restaurants with fantastic sea views. These villages are very relaxing, with many couples and families. We ate at a different restaurant every night and never had a bad meal. The food is great!! They are really traditional Greek villages with a relaxing atmosphere.

I hope this has helped you and i am sure your holiday will be brilliant.

Buying a new Bike, HELP!?

Jem III

I loved to ride on bikes when I was kid. After looking at bikes' reviews, I remain unsure which bike I should buy. I live in West Virginia where there's some bike trails.. there will be some dirt and road to ride onto. There's a bike shop nearby and she says Trek 3500 would be good buy, selling at 369.99. Would this be good deal? I'm hoping to ride every morning starting soon as I am addicted to workouts! Would this bike be good to start with or should I buy better one or other brand - money wisely? Any suggestion would be great. Thank you.
If I decide to buy Trek 3900 or Hardrock (better bikes = more money) will it be worth it? Or it wouldn't matter as that much?

Answer
Jeremy, Welcome back to mountain biking! We've got a strong community to support you. A little bit of information about what makes a mountain bike functional: What is required to make a "real" mountain bike, are double wall rims, and a cassette type rear hub, each created for strength and durability. To tell you the truth, the Trek mountain bikes start producing these on their bikes at the 4300 model, which would also upgrade you from the "alpha white" frame to the "alpha black" frame, saving you a bit of strength. If you are looking into the 2011's, ALL of the Hardrock models are equipped to serve you on the trails, if you look at a 2010, you'll need to get a Hardrock sport or above. I don't know if I'd feel terribly safe on a 3500. Trek is a very nice bike company, but when they try to compete at the lower end, they scramble a bit to toss together a bike with low end components, as their frames take up most of the price of what they are working with. I would recommend a 2011 Hardrock base, which retails for $420. The 3500 is simply not built with a similar quality. Also, maybe do a search for a 2010 giant rincon, which has all you require, plus a fork with a lockout and disc brakes. I mention this over the 2010 hardrock sport disc simply because I've seen it sold for less. Their forks are a tad bit better than the trek's and specialized as well.

BUT, with those requirements set, FIT it the biggest thing. Go in and give them a test drive, make sure your legs are almost straight on the down push of your crank to keep optimal power transfer and geometry.

Again, good luck!!!

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What is yours kids daily shedule for going back to school?

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??????????

My kids go back to school today.

I want to now what your daily shedule is not what day your child went back.
Like what time wake up,go to school,eat dinner stuff like that.

Answer
Now MY schedule in the school year which luckily starts wednesday is:

4:30am-I wake up
4:45-5:00 I eat breakfast, Pack the kids' lunches
5:00-Take shower
5:15-Iron the younger kids clothes
5:20-I call my younger kids school to notify that they are both coming in
5:25-Make sure my 5 & 4 year old have all their supplies & lunches in their bags.
5:30-I go for a Jog around the block
5:45- I return from the Jog
5:50-Prepare my 13 y/o breakfast
6:00-13 year old wakes up
She does her stuff in the bathroom
6:05-She comes out, eats breakfast
6:15-She takes a shower,gets dressed,combs hair
6:20-She takes her vitamins,all of her allergy & breathing medicine
6:25-She rides her bike to get her powered up
6:30-Her ride arrives,she's at school
8:45-9 y/o wakes up, Eats breakfast, then bathes
9:00-9 year old gets picked up by bus
9:30-5 year old & 4 year old wakes up
9:35-9:55-Girls eat breakfast, watch T.V
10:00-5 year old girl goes in bath, 4 year old watches Cartoons
10:15-5 year old girl gets out, gets dressed, put her hair in pigtails
10:30-4 year old goes in bath
10:45-4 year old gets dressed,does hair
11:00-Girls get picked up by Bus
11:15-I drive to work
2:00-I return from work
2:35-13 year old returns
2:45-4:00-13 y/o does homework, depending on amount
3:00-9 year old returns from school, i help him with homework
3:15-5 & 4 year old return, i help them with homework, they have snack
3:20-5 & 4 year old goes and play in playroom
3:30-9 year old usually finishes homework, goes into playroom
3:35-I help 13 year old with any homework
3:45- My 5 year old gets picked up to go to Cheer Practice
4:00-13 year old usually finishes homework
4:15-She goes to friends house until 5:00
5:00-I call 13 year old to come home,5 year old returns,I start to prepare dinner
5:30-Eat dinner
6:00-Kids relax in their rooms,I clean up
6:30-9 year old boy takes his medicine
6:45-9 year old boy goes into playroom, plays a game
7:00-5 & 4 year old go into bed
7:15-13 year old reads book, plays a game with 9 year old
7:30-9 year old goes into bed
8:00-13 year old goes into bed
And i have peace from there.That took a little while, but my kids actually chose this, they dont do it exactly on time,but usually around this time. Luckily, school starts wednesday.

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

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

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How good is Trek 800 bike for adult just to ride around for recreation?

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4Rd

I have the one from 1995 or 1996, and my girl friend keep telling me to "get rid of it" and "buy a new one". Then she flashes off her new Trek bike she just bought last year.

I do not see why I should get rid of my bike and buy a new one when I still enjoy my bike. It looks quite new as I have not ridden that much. She say its for kid's bike size 26" tire....

Should I listen to her ?

Answer
Your girlfriend doesn't know what she's talking about. Back in '96 that bike sold for $294.99. Not exactly cheap for 14 years ago. If you like it - ride it - enjoy it. Kid's bike tires run in the 12" 16" & 24" sizes. Once into 26" wheels, bikes are measured by frame size & will fit anyone from 5' tall to 6' 6" tall.

What can kids ages do to help out the community and the environment when they don't live in a neighborhood?

Kelly

If I am 12, almost 13, and I have an older sister (14) how can I help out the community and the environment if I don't live in or around a neighborhood!! HELP please!!

Answer
You mean you live on a farm? You have no neighbors at all? The nearest town is miles away? And you are home schooled and therefore never interact with other kids?

I suspect not.

NetAid has programs specifically for students in North America who want to help in the developing world. NetAid is now a part of MeryCorps
http://www.netaid.org
Many kids get involved with NetAid as individuals, then start a group at school to get other kids involved.

TakingIT Global is another resource for young people in the USA who want to do something to affect the situation positively in developing countries
www.takingitglobal.org/

http://www.change.org can help you know what causes are out there and how you can get involved with them.

You can also type in your city or zip code into:
VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org
Idealist, http://www.idealist.org
CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com
Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org
http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/
ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

You can also look for ways to change your own family's practices regarding the environment: do you compost? do you have a garden? do you use your own cloth bags when you go to the grocery or other shopping instead of paper or plastic? have you replaced some of your light bulbs with energy-saving ones? do you put on a sweater when you are cold instead of turning up the heat? do you turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth? do you ride your bike or walk or take mass transit instead of always riding in a car? do you turn off the TV when you aren't watching it? do you unplug things when they are not in use?

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