Best Kids Bikes (Special Gift ): 2014-03-30

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Bike trailers......................?

Malia

I am asking this in a few sections by the way.

How many of you mommies/daddies/caregivers have bike trailers/seats for your child/children? I am looking into getting a trailer, the kind that sits on the ground. My husband's bday is today. I see a few on craigslist.
Another question...if you do have a bike seat or trailer, do you wear a helmet when you take your little one out? And does your little one wear a helmet?

Thank you :)

Answer
you should always at least put your kid in a helmet.

Schwinn vs Instep bike trailer comparison?

hbuckley10

I would like to buy a bike trailer for my boys (3.5 & 1.5) to ride in when my husband and I go for bike rides. It looks like the Instep Rocket, Schwinn Trailblazer and Schwinn Turbo are all very similar. I would like to hear reviews of those who own these and if anyone could tell me what the major differences are between them that would be great. I've found them all for about the same price. Thank you!

Answer
Hi. I ,too, am shopping for a bike trailer and have been pricing and reviewing them all day on line! I'm torn between the Rocket and Trailblazer, which seem to pretty much be very similar. I've read that InStep is the better brand, maybe. What I've noticed about the Turbo is that it's recommended for kids over 18 months, rather than 1 year...not sure why though.

Is there a reasonably-priced (under $200) bike trailer with a decent seat for a five-year-old?

tgiln

We purchased an InStep Quick 'n' EZ bike trailer, but the seat does not have much construction to it. We have a five-year-old and two-year-old, so something a little roomier would be nice. Our budget is limited to $100-$200. I have not been able to find anything used.

Answer
yea - keep looking, my buddy bought one at Target for like $75, it is really nice. it is not really that big, but its nice. kinda makes me mad we spent $500 on the trek gobug deluxe. check nashbar.com. last i saw they had a pretty nice one. if you are patient you can score one on craigslist.com. but overall trailers are great and my kids LOVE it! also at age 5, my son used the piggybacker (the one wheel bike that attaches to the seat post of an adult bike.) then when the baby came along, i hook the trailer up to the piggybacker. now we have a long caravan of bikes. we get lots of looks and laughs and dad gets a great workout!

best beginner dirt bike?

i am 14 6 foot and weigh 200 pounds and i am wondering what kind of dirt bike i should get, i do mostly trail riding but i also do a lot of hard packed dirt roads and trails, i have ridden dirtbikes before but i have always been a atv man. i want something that wont come on to strong but will also go good when i give it to it, and i would rather a 4- stroke also. please any information on dirtbikes would be great thank you.

Answer
Well your a pretty big kid plus your still growing so you shouldn't get anything less than a 400.
My best recommendation would be a 450 trail bike. You could also get a yzf426. But don't get anything under a 400 cause it wont be able to pull someone around your size with ease plus you'll grow out of it rather quickly.

Friday, April 4, 2014

What is "Santa" bringing your kids this year?

Busy Mommy

My husband and I have decided that my kids have WAAAAAYYYYY too many toys! Plus all their aunts and uncles and grandparetns will be buying them toys. We are buying each of them 2 really nice toys and the rest of the presents will be things that they need like shoes, PJs, Socks, Camisoles...etc. What are your kids getting?

My 2 1/2 year old is getting a "Kid Tough" digital Camera and a Train Set.

My 14 month old is getting a ride on jumping zebra and a V-Smile interactive game that hooks to the TV.
Gypsy...I guess it's a video game in a way...but it's got a comtrol board on it with colored shapes, it's for interactive learning...things like shapes, colors and sounds! I do not think she will become a video game junkie because of it!
Sophie's Mom...Just the normal V-SMile, I didn;t know there was a Bailiy Bear one, sounds cute! But I already bought it and I hate returning things!

Answer
My kids are both getting brand new bicycles!!! (They're 9 & 11)

vintage huffy bicycle?

Q. I'm posting this in several categories, trying to get an ans.........I'm pretty sure it was a huffy, but I could be wrong. It had a single shock on the back (very similar to the vintage yamaha yz's) this was in the mid-late 70's. Do you know what it was?

Answer
Odds are best that it IS a HUFFY.

1st Monoshock Bicycles were 20" Downhill Racers made by Gary Littlejohn in early 1970,,late 69 actually.

(Interesting to note that Pre-dates Yamaha's monoshock Motorcycles by a few years....Gary was a California /Movie Stuntman,,,& had a bike building biz)

They got real popular,real suddenly.
Then fizzled out for a while in favor of HardTailed bikes for flatter track racing.

Most of the Custom/"Boutique" Bikes were fairly scarce and the bulk of them were sorta regionally clustered in California.

BMX racing (bicycle motocross) had just began to get popular in early~to~mid '70's.
At that time,,,the Monoshock "came & went" so quickly they did not become any sorta Standard or Universal Style.

Takara from Japan made some in Mid 70's.
They sold them under their own name and under various "American" brands.

...........................
HUFFYS were probably the most common/popular of the Monoshock Bikes.
They started in '74~75 if I'm not mistaken---I'm no Bike Expert.
Big Name,Mass Marketing,Extensive National distribution network....and Low Priced compared to the "boutique" custom names.

Even so,,they were fairly scarce...
Huffy had a buncha nice 20" bikes in their line-up at the stores which were nearly 1/2 the price of a Monoshock
$20~30 Difference in List Price of $40~50 starting price range was a not only a Big Jump in comparative prices--
It was a Bunch of Money at that time!
( * That was the days of $.50/gal Gasoline
$7,500 New Lincolns & Corvettes
Minimum wage was about $1.65~1.85 or so )

A $80 Kid's bike was way more than a Week's take home pay for a LOT of parents in Mid '70's.
And it was more than most kid's could earn with a Summer Job.
It was a Retail Price Point at the bottom of the High-Dollar Custom Bike range.
Just at the edge of "Price-is-no-object" Crowd,,,most folks who could comfortably afford That Huffy could afford about Any bike available at the time.
$200~300++ Bicycles---which was "small motorcycle prices" back then.
Just my personal opinion,,,but I 'bleive that's why the Monoshock's weren't more Commonly seen.
They were kinda Expensive.

Anyway---
The most distinguishing Feature of a Huffy that nobody else had was a HUGE "HeadStock Gussest".
At the Front of the Frame where the forks attatch,,
They welded a a BIG Plate from TopTube/Backbone to Front DownTube and to Steering Head Tube.

It was about as wide as your hand,,4"~5".
No Bicycles had Headstock Gussets until BMX sport came along.
Then only gradually did Bike Makers begin adding that reinforcement,,,but were usually SMALL,well fitted plates.

The HUFFY's Shock Absorber attatched to a hole drilled in that huge gusset plate.
And they were Adjustable,,,it had several holes to mount the shock.

Also the Top Frame Tube was Arched to clear the Shock,,,which is what allowed the Adjustment of the shock by "raising" it to a Higher Hole in the mount plate for different suspension leverage.

HUFFY's Huge Headstock Gusset Plate is EASILY the most distinguishing feature.
Nobody else had anything even close to that "Design" or the sheer SIZE.
It must span near 1/4 the lenngth of the entire top tube.

If it's a TAKARA-type,,,
Their Top Tube was STRAIGHT,,,and the Shock Mount was just a narrow ,straight "strap" about 1" wide that went from Top Tube down to front Down Tube.
Takaras also had NO actual headstock gusseting.
The Top and Bottom frame tubes just Butted the headstock in traditional Bicycle style.

Beyond Huffy and Takara,,,almost everybody else attacthes their shock Directly to Top Tube via a small mount welded onto the tube.
And everything else Monoshock that I know of was "Custom" bikes/frames from the Boutique Builders.

Huffy owned old Royce Union Brands in Later Years,,but I'm not certain of their position in the 70's.
They sold Bikes also under Western Auto Brand in Mid 70's,,,but I do not know if there was a "Western Flyer Monoshock" model???

> Mid 70's Huffy was #1 Seller in USA,,and Made in USA.
>Mid/Late 80's,,,"Huffys" won some Olympic Medals.
>Late 90's they closed US Mfg'n and moved it all to China.
>Early 2000's Filed Bankruptcy ,,,got their stock delisted from NYSE
>2004~5,,US Govmnt bailed out Huffy's pension plan

**************************************************************
I'm no Huffy or Bicycle expert.

I happened to be at Yamaha when they introduced their BMX bicycle.
Before Long,,,kids were destroying the frames routinely.
And we were doing Repairs and mods which was "Identical" to HUFFY's set-up on the Frame/Headstock reinforcement.

Yamaha's Monoshock Motorcycles had just appeared recently,,,,,
& their BMX Bicycles "had issues" with frame failure,
so the Huffy Bike immediately caught my attention.
Being Both Monoshock,,AND with "Factory Reinforced" Frames that Yamaha had us Motorcycle guys doing on a "custom" basis.

Yamaha SHOULD HAVE been what HUFFY was.
Or, they shoulda sub-contracted w/ Littlejohn to use their frames & sold as Premium Race BMX under Yamaha name.

I dont think anybody fully realized at the time how Hard bicycles would be ridden.

That's all I know about 'em.
If it's got a Big Wide Reinforcement Plate on front of Frame--It's a HUFFY.
They appeared in '74~75,,not Certain??
And I have no idea how long they were continued,,,I'd guess 77~78??..not too long a time.
I say that only cause "original shock bike craze" 1st had a False Start back then,,it lasted a couple years then everybody wanted hardtails again.
Monoshocks didn't become really established till a few years after that.
That's kinda weird to me,,oh well:)

Or if it's just a narrow strip spanning the frame tubes to mount the shock to,,it's a TAKARA

VALUE??
I can't even guess.
If it's in "perfect,mint condition"(which would be a Miracle),,
then it's one of those things where Value depends on Buyer's Desires.
Maybe $200??,,Maybe more?,,Maybe not Half that?

Complete and in decent condition,,,I'd GUESS maybe up to a $100 area?

Avg condition(which would be pretty Rough by now)/Modified/Repainted,,,maybe $50~75?

Frankly,,I should NOT even speculate on Value,,,thats WAY outa my realm.

But I can tell you this,,,
If you happen to have a particularly Nice example,,,DO seek out somebody who Specializes in Old/Vintage/Interesting Bikes and get a "Professional Opinion" of it's value.

As a "Rider",,it'd be worth same as any other 20" bike.
As a Nostalgic Collectible,,,,it POSSIBLY could be worth quite a bit to a few certain buyers who WANT a nice example

IF it's in really decent shape,,I'd suggest not selling without getting a solid Valuation estimate from a Pro.

Sounds GOOFY,,but there ARE Bicycle Sharks & Scalpers out there,,looking for Older Bikes from unsuspecting Sellers at Garage Sales,Resale shops,,etc.
They have channels to re-sell Desirable bikes at a good profit.
Often,,they have a List of waiting buyers for certain bikes.

Ya just Never Know,,,
and in my Opinion those Huffys DO have several aspects both Technical And Nostalgic which are common to "Collectible " classed items.

Again,,I am NO AUTHORITY/EXPERT or even very knowledgable on the subject.
CHECK with a PRO on Value,,if you're interested to know.

I'd just hate to see you "raise your garage sale price" from $10 up to $20,,,and then find out you 'd MAYBE sold a $100~200 bike that some cult/fan following is searching for.

(Doing THAT sorta Thing,,,I am TOO experienced at,,lol)

Hope any of that helps,,
Good Luck

Tandem bike with kids?

R K

I have a 8year old and a 6 year old. We like to bike but are not seasoned bikers. So far I have only taken my kids to the playground to bike but would like to go out on trails and maybe even use the bike to get to nearby places but I am not confident enough to let my kids ride on their own. I was thinking of maybe getting a triplet tandem so we can enjoy biking together without worrying about if the kids are following properly. Eventually we will get comfortable with biking everywhere and be on our own bikes..
I am wondering about my options as far as the bike itself is concerned. Is there one you use and love? I want both kids to pedal and participate. I would appreciate tips on the bike itself, getting around on a tandem and especially parking it and keeping it safe. If we take it to the library for example, do we just lock it in the normal bike stand area?

Thank you

Answer
The 8 yr. old is plenty old enough to get on his/her own bike. For the 6 yr. old - get a tag-along if you must.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/189-0587099-1815310?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=tag+along+bike

As a parent - it's YOUR job to teach them cycling safety without being dependent on you all the time. Sooner or later they'll want to be on their own. Start with these links...
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
http://bicyclesafe.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nKKq02BU

My 4 year old can't pedal a bike. Despite how hard he tries, he just can't do it, SUGGESTIONS?

Looking4He

My son is a normal active, healthy 4 year old. He watches kids his age, ride their bikes. He just can't seem to get started with the pedaling process. I really want to help him, I just don't have a clue how to get him started. And honestly, it frustrates me because I can't help him. Can someone please help me, help him?

Answer
I assume his bike has training wheels. Kids have a more difficult time pedaling in the upright position, and I also just discovered they have a really hard time learning to pedal if there is a back break on the bike (it breaks when they pedal backwards). You might try to find a tricycle with no breaks to let him learn on (or a hot wheels). My husband and I were also surprised to find they make 10inch starter bikes (at toys r us) with no back break. The reason we figured it out is because our 2.5 year old got on and started pedaling, but when we put her on her sister's bike she couldn't pedal. The reason was because she needed to push backwards on the pedals first to get her feet in the postion where she had enough leverage to push forward. If the bike breaks when she pushed backwards she could'nt get her feet in the position to pedal forward. He will get it, just give him time and don't be afraid to try a trike, hotwheels, or beginner bike with no breaks (only on safe areas of course!).

Kids bike. (4-5yrs). Schwinn, TREK, Elektra?? Suggestions?

gringa0316

Want to get her a nice quality bike. A 16" is most appropriate, as she is on the taller side. This will be her 1st "big kid" bike- we are graduating from her tricycle; a bit overdue since she had outgrown it over a year ago. Advice, suggestions, Thanks!!

Answer
Just as with an adult - ANY of the major brands from a real bicycle shop will be good bikes. Fit, & feel will be more important than brand name. Don't surprise her with a new bike. Have her come along & look at as many as possible in various shops. She will still be surprised & thankful.

What kind of bicycle should I buy?

pete

I went into a bike shop in hoboken and he only sold Specialized bikes bc "the were the best" he said. Are they really good bikes? Now I haven't bought a bike since I was a little kid so I am sure Im out of the loop when it comes to new styles and technology. 99 percent of the time I will be riding it on concrete for some cardio and MAYBE I'll take it on some trails once in awhile. Should I get a mountain bike? How much should I spend? I don't want a POS nor do I intend on racing in the tour De France. Any and all input is greatly appreciated as this is a hobby I miss and would love to take up again.

-pete

Answer
Strictly salesperson talk. Specialized bikes are good to great. But there is NO "best" bicycle or "best" bicycle brand name...period! If you compare the components on various bikes of the same type and within the same price range, they will ALL use similar & sometimes the EXACT same components from suppliers such as Shimano, SRAM or SunRace. If one company were the "best" they would have an unfair advantage over the competition.

Test ride several brands. Just go with your gut feelings & which bike shop you think will provide the best after-the-sale service. ALL bicycle shops provide at least one FREE after-the-sale check-up/tune-up under warranty as the bike gets settled in. Some shops may do this for a year. One shop near me does this for LIFE!
http://bigshark.com/about/policies-and-shipping-pg11.htm
Free tune-ups for LIFE!

I'd look into a hybrid. Some now call these "fitness bikes". Always look for double wall rims and a "cassette" rear cog, not a "freewheel".
http://sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

http://www.diamondback.com/insight-2-pavement-performance-hybrid
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.2/11500/55831/#specifications
http://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/absolute_21
http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/fitness/cadent-ft1-13/

Etc., etc., etc. Many companies to choose from.

What bikes have shifting gears?

Dude, are they mountain bikes or BMX bikes?

Answer
mt bikes
roadbikes
hybrids
comfort bikes
cyclocross
lots do

ones that don;t
kid bikes
penny farthings
track bikes
fixies
single speed bikes
unicycles
kid trikes
boneshakers
bmx

wle

bikes and motors?

Q. is it possible to put a leafblower or weed wacker motor onto a pedal bike if so can you please tell me

Answer
Actually, YES. One of the best hybrid bike fabricators/adapters in the industry resides in Aloha, OR, and is the crew chief for the NAY KID Speedvision Viper Race Team, Fred Lux. You can email him at: fred@cindilux.com, or go to GOOGLE and type in Cindi Lux and go to the race team web site, where you can email him from there.

best beginner dirt bike?

How do I pick a freestyle BMX bike?

argh.pirat

What brands are respected freestyle BMX bikes? I thought Mongoose where cheap kids bikes but they're everywhere. From what I can tell I should be looking for one that's 20". I'd like to ride street and vert for now and am looking for something under $150.

Answer
20" has a lot of possibilities... it would take a while to find one under 150, i would expect to find one under 200. go on danscomp.com , they have a lot of bikes. heres 2 under 200
(red looks better even though they dont have full pic for #1) http://www.danscomp.com/101140.php?cat=BIKES http://www.danscomp.com/101466.php?cat=BIKES

Should I just wait and save up more money for a new bike?

Zora N.

I have been asking tonnes and tonnes of questions here about potential bikes to buy; it seems that any bike that I like (or is within my price range, for that matter) is complete and utter crap (nicely said by one of the users here). I really didn't want to spend more than $275. But I have picked up a few tips from what I've learned here. All in all, it **seems** to me that the best bike I can afford is at least $500.

If you're wondering my purpose, I need it to bike to school and work (basically use it 1-2x EVERY day). I would use it on pavement road... and would probably end up riding an average of 2 miles per day. I'm also female (as you may have already guessed) and 160cm.

I realise very much that I am ignorant on these things, so I do request that you have a tiny smidge of mercy on me and not be mean :P
Thank you so so much!
@intrepidfae - Oooh in all my rush to buy a new bike, I didn't even consider used bikes from Craigslist. Good option, thanks :D
_______________________________________________
IF this rant is too long, here is the summary:

I want a good bike to use everyday. Only have $275. Should I wait?

Answer
OMG Zora, You have indeed learned something. Congratulations. I am not kidding and don't take it as condescending or patronizing. It is just such a rare happening around here. Most of the time, people tend to do exactly the opposite of what they are advised and then wonder why things don't work.

Knowing the purpose of the bike helps a lot. Now I understand that you need a reliable, dependable bike for commuting but only for 2 miles a day average. That opens some doors or at least softens the demands on the bike a bit. For a 2 mile commute "almost" anything will do but not just any piece of junk. You still want it not to break constantly on the way to work and I don't think that you are interested on getting the tools out a lot. For me, getting grease under my nails is ok, I do that for fun... when I am not at Y!A.

Back to your question. I still think you need to buy from a real bike shop. You will need the warranty, the after sale adjustments and the free tune ups. As well as help with flats and other issues that happens a lot. You see, there a few well known, first tier brands like Trek, Giant, Specialized and a few more that make great bikes but even the basic models will be a bit over what you want to pay. Then there are the second tier that are just almost as good but don't have the name recognition even if some have been around for ages. Kona, Motobecane, Raleigh, Fuji, Diamondback, and many more. You find those in the Local Bike Shop, LBS, for a fairly good price although some are only available on line which is not a good option for you at the time.

And then is the used bike option. Out of the 20 or so bikes I ever owned, only 4 were new. If you go used, get a used bike from the LBS. Clist is not for you. You wouldn't know what to look for, what kind of components. How much wear and tear is there. Most Clist bikes are asking 3x what they are worth and you will have to spend some money in repairs in the first month, maybe even several hundreds. some people find real treasures in Clist, but those people know what to look for and may take months. If you buy from a bike shop, you can trade up later, especially if they know the bike condition.

Hey, I can rant too. Feel free to ask.

The first link show my wife's new bike, 7.6 intended for longer rides and 200 mile tours. Even the 7.1 in that FX series will be a nice bike.

The second link is to an online store. Do not buy from there as you will need to do some assembly, use it for reference. You want a hybrid bike (not step through) with 700 tires, double wall aluminum rims. Make sure it has a cassette and freehub and not the old technology freewheel which is weaker. That should be enough to get you going. I sincerely think that you will out grow that bike and maybe will need a road bike later on.

Even a Diamondback wouldn't be a bad choice. I have one since 1989 with over 10k miles.

What kind of bike should I get?

Mini Mi

And by bike, I mean bicycle. I haven't had a bike in years, and the last I had as a kid, was a 10 speed, I think. Maybe, maybe not. It was just a simple bike, straight handlebars, with front and back brakes. That's what I want now. The STRAIGHT across handlebar kind (not the ones that curve back), front and back brakes, and one that I can use for a nice ride in the park. I looked online, and I don't want a "cruiser bike", or whatever it is. To me, I think that would not take hills well. And I live in a hilly area!! My bike experience: I probably maybe only had a five gear bike, yet I never switched the gears. I never understood when to use them. So if I have that, I wouldn't care either way. I want a bike that has the strength to go up hills, and is just a fun, basic bike for rides in the park. OH!! And I don't want some pricey bike. Something under $200, maybe $100-$200. You know, a KMart bike! Anywho, what would you guys recommend?

Thanks!!
Jake B: Yup!! I think you're right. After looking around (I was lazy, that's why I asked this), I found out that a bike looked just like I had remembered! A mountain bike, is what it was. Thank you!

It's purple too, my fave color!! And under 100 bucks. ;)

Answer
ANY mountain bike ;P

(They fit absolutely all of your descriptions perfectly)

Thursday, April 3, 2014

how old are most kids when they learn to ride a bike ?

billdeana2

Answer
My kids didn't learn how to ride a bike without training wheels until they were 7 years old. I think that may be older then usual. I think most kids learn at a younger age. Maybe 5 years old. Either way I feel it is individualized from one child to the next. Exposure is the best policy. Make sure that you have a bike available for the child to ride. Alot of parents will start off with training wheels and that helps a whole lot. The bike should be in proportion to the childs body. Some kids are shorter then others and they need to beable to reach the ground while sitting on the bike. If they can sit on the bike with their feet flat on the ground then that is a great size for the child. Most importantly the child has to want to ride the bike and the child has to be ready before taking the training wheels off. Don't ever rush the child to do something he or she isn't ready for. Do get ready to help the child on and off the bike and be the supporter while the child is trying to ride it. Patience, Patience and more patience. There really is no hurry when it comes to riding a bike like everything else in life they will do it when they are ready. Also, make sure they are using a helmet and sometimes you can buy knee and elbow pads. Either way praise, praise and praise again. Alittle time here and there will help build the childs confidence. Good Luck teaching the child to ride their bike. Once they learn it will be almost impossible to get them off their bike. SMILE You will spend lots of hours sitting on your chair in the front yard watching your child ride their bike. The law is that a chld rides with the traffic when riding a bike and walks against the traffic when walking. Teach your child the hand signals so that a car will know when they are turning. Also, at first I taught my child to pull over to the side and stop when a car came because I was affraid they would swirve off in front of the car. Saftey is first.

When your (almost) 7 year old hears all the other neighborhood kids running around, riding bikes and swimming,?

dingelbury

does he ever get sad that he's inside doing laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, making your lunch and trimming the dog's toenails?

Answer
If you squint, a riding lawn mower is very similar to a dirt bike. And what 7-year-old wouldn't want to rip around in his yard in a HUGE, bladed, really slow dirt bike?

How heavy this GMC Denali Boy's 24-Inch Road Bike?

Friend

Hi,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GU68S2

I ordered this bike online from Amazon.com, for my 9 years old boy. I looked at several different options like Trek KDR 1000, FUJI ACE 650, Felt Kids Road. I am not sure how tall my son would be in next 2/3 years. So spending $675-800 for 2/3 yesrs may not be wise.

At the same time this GMC Denali Boy's is only $150 very inexpensive, cheap bike too. I want to know, is it a piece of Iron Tank, heavy junk or really have light weight 7005 aluminum frame?
Or it is a Heavy Iron Tank MTB with Dropped Handle bar to fool proof as Road Bike?
Dear W W, I appreciate your word "rather I save for anoce bike' then to buy a gurbage at cheap! I thought this million time because I love Road Bike. I a bikist I did not wanted to buy this Iron Tank. On the otherhand, a 9 years old boy hardly will understant Road Bike is not for abuse and street jumping like MTB. Yes, I have the same plan to get a GT,Felt or Trek in next year or so for my son. I personaly ride Trek Road.
Dear W W, I appreciate your word "rather I save for a nice bike' then to buy a gurbage at cheap! I thought this million time because I love Road Bike. I a bikist I did not wanted to buy this Iron Tank. On the otherhand, a 9 years old boy hardly will understant Road Bike is not for abuse and street jumping like MTB. Yes, I have the same plan to get a GT,Felt or Trek in next year or so for my son. I personaly ride Trek Road.

Answer
well the estimated shipping weight is 33lbs. I'd surmize from that, it's about 27lbs. that's heavy for a kids road bike. also, the GMC label is licensed to Pacific Bicycles, the largest manufacturer of Wallywood junk bikes. I've read the reviews on many of these specials, and have encouraged would be buyers to do the same. these bikes are crap! despite the stars and accolades of the purchasers, one needs to read the full review! most of them tell of mechanical issues within the first WEEKS of ownership. have I needed work on my high-end bikes? yes, but not within weeks of owning them, and never have my gears not shifted, nor have my brakes failed! I have seen these bikes on the sales floor at wallywood and target, and am appalled! they have visible gaps and cracks in the welds! I would have spent the money on a better bike. actually, I did. I just paid $300 for a Gary Fisher PreCaliber, for my 9 yr old daughter. she's already endo'd, but the bike made it through! only the chainrings got bent from the crash, which my LBS repaired, no questions. by the way, the GF is lighter than the GMC, and it has a suspension fork! also, the components on bike shop bikes are readily available at bike shops. the components on wallywood specials are not standard, and are hard to come by. in some cases, you may have to wait for garbage day, and salvage them off of a discarded bike! if you're still reading this, you're probably telling yourself Im just some other rich, elitist cyclist. you couldn't be more wrong! I'm a chef, and I dont make a ton of money. I am passionate about cycling though, and would rather save until I can afford a nice bike, than go with a POS wallywood ride! fortunatly, I have 3 nice bikes. so I shouldn't be without a ride whilst saving for a new one!

Good to buy a bike?

terse

I am going nuts trying to buy a bike. I am going to bike shops and getting very conflicting information. I don't know if I am getting fed a line of BS because someone is trying to make a commission or what.

My situation is that I am a good athlete that is new to cycling. I had a bike when I was a kid, but haven't been on a bike in years. I am a 30 year old male, 6'2" and 240 lbs. I am not looking to join the X-Games or Tour de France. I want a good bike that I can ride around on for excercise and enjoyment, mainly on pavement, but would also like to be able to go off road a bit. I would ride 3 to 6 days a week. One salesman told me the Trek Navigator 3.0 was the way to go. A different shop told me the Trek 7200 hybrid. Another shop told me to get a Gary Fisher mountain bike. Last shop I went to was hardcore about a Fuji bike. I am trying to educate myself and make a smart purchase, but it is difficult with all of the conflicting information.
A lot of great information here. To add a few notes:
When I am talking about going offroad, I mean a dirt trail in the woods. It is not specifically a bike path. There are some places with rocks and big roots to go over. It is nothing dangerous looking though.

I don't really a pre-set budget. I am not opposed to spending good money as long as I am buying the right thing. Ideally I would like to stay under $2,000, but that is not my main concern.

Is there a certain size bike you suggest? I think it can vary between mountain bikes, hybrids, etc.

Thanks again for all of the great input. If any of you guys that work in bike shops are in the New Jersey area, please let me know. I'd be happy to buy my bike there.

Answer
Very good answers here for a change.

I'll just add a few pieces...

I would personally suggest you go for a mountain bike. The hybrids or cyclo-cross bikes are fine, but seem to do neither terribly well.

The only real problem with riding a mountain bike on the road is rolling resistance. You'll work harder on pavement, but so what. If it is for fitness, who cares.

Moutnain bikes are certainly more comfortable. Later, if you want to do a triathalon, or become a roadie, you can invest in another bike. Mountain bikes are very good all purpose bikes, with good versatility and can take abuse.

You fall into what is affectionately known as the Clydesdales -- a big guy. Still, most anyone under 300 pounds won't have an issue with a frame unless you are dropping off of cliffs, getting big air.

And yes, bike shops absolutely will try to sell you on the their bikes, and disparage their competitors. Margins are slim, and bike sales are flat right now.

Your BUDGET will go a long way toward determining what you need. Do not go for a $200 Wal-Mart or discount bike. But, you don't have to spend $2,000 either. You can probably find a very nice hardtail that would meet all your needs in the $8000-$1100 range, perhaps less.

The vast majority of "name brand" bikes are made within miles of each other in Taiwan. They are all perfectly good, and offer good value. Bikes from Giant, Specialized, Trek, Gary Fischer, Kona, etc are all good choices.

I like Mountain Bike Review (link below). You do get biased opionions, but can at least screen the bikes you are looking at, and see if users have noticed fatal flaws. Read up, and you might be able to narrow your choices.

Try the bikes you are interested in. It's rare these days, but some shops do have demo models you can borrow or rent.

Don't be afraid to ask if they will discount a bike. There is a lot a shop can do to earn your business. Just reward them with your service needs later.

Good luck!

EDIT: Have a shop size you. It's the best way, and you can then feel the difference in person, rather than using the formula from a book.

What were the typical bicycles that kids and adults used during the early 1960s for casual biking?

Origin

Answer
In the early 60's where I live, most kids would have been riding some form of 3 speed bike with upright seating and 26" wheels. At that time department stores sold decent quality bikes. Eaton's department stores sold the Glider line which was basically a re badged Raleigh. CCM was a big seller in Canada at the time and they made very sturdy long lasting bikes, much like Schwinn in the US. If your parents had money you might be riding a Raleigh Sports or even a Superbe. English 3 speeds were lighter and nicer to ride than CCM's. Other department stores also sold bikes, Mine was a J C Higgens made in Holland. It was ok but it was no Raleigh. Huffy and Schwinn bikes were almost unknown in Canada at the time

Biking cross country, short film ideas?

Ryan Ricku

I'm biking from Canada to Mexico, down the California coast, raising money for kids with special needs. Check it out at

Facebook.com/cycle4awareness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcMrmQ48BtI

That's beside the point. I think it would be cool to shoot a mini movie while biking. Maybe 60second clips, like the movie
Chronical or Clover field.
Some ideas I had we're a comedy, that someone is following me, and at the end just gives me my wallet back.
Another idea is that when we are flying to Canada, there is some kind of outbreak. And while we're biking, have it seem like everyone is gone.
Maybe a futuristic addition, like I'm talking to my iPhone, Siri.

I'm just spitballing now. Any ideas?

Answer
description of question : I'm biking from Canada to Mexico, down the California coast, raising money for kids with special needs. That's beside the point. I think it would be cool to shoot a mini movie while biking. Maybe 60second clips, like the movie
Chronical or Clover field.
Some ideas I had we're a comedy, that someone is following me, and at the end just gives me my wallet back.
Another idea is that when we are flying to Canada, there is some kind of outbreak. And while we're biking, have it seem like everyone is gone.
Maybe a futuristic addition, like I'm talking to my iPhone,
their are any short ideas.

Which of the following mountain bikes is worth buying and why do you think so?

Son of Hea

1. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Avigo-24-inch-Elipse-Bike-Boys-NEW-/190600251829?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c60a909b5
2. http://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Dual-Suspension-Mountain-24-Inch-Wheels/dp/B001IAJAJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320360444&sr=8-1
3. http://www.amazon.com/Polaris-Ranger-Boys-24-Inch-Mountain/dp/B0011REVZG/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321319507&sr=1-1

I like the first one because there's a Toys R Us store near where I live, and I can have the employees there assemble it for me. But many people say bikes at Toys R Us stores are just "toys" with low quality.
I did some research and found out that Mongoose has quite a good reputation as well as Polaris!
However, I've found no review about the Avigo one!
So, what do you guys think?
Thank you!
I forgot to mention that I just want a bike to ride for fun, not for serious mountain biking!
Any bike that is <= $200 is OK, any recommend guys?

Answer
4. None of the above. All cheap full suspension bikes of VERY low quality. And you do realize all 3 have 24" wheels meant for a kid I hope.

A good hardtail beats a cheap full squish bike any day of the week. Real full suspension bikes start in the thousands of dollars - not hundreds. See link below from Trek. This is their LOWEST priced model full suspension bike.

My other favorite saying... Real bicycle shops do not sell toys & Toys 'R Us does not sell real bicycles. Neither does Wally World, K-Mart, Target & most on Amazon.com. They sell "bicycle shaped objects".

Diamondback Overdrive vs Specialized Rockhopper?

smartask

I'm just getting into mountain biking. I'm kind of a bigger guy and I really like the 29 inch wheels. Which of these two bikes would you guys recommended?

Also, is there a bike from Giant in the $700 range that would be a good hardtail?

Thanks a lot.

Answer
Check out MTBR for tons of reviews on mountain bikes. Both bikes you are looking at have good reviews. Personally I would lean towards the Specialized, because diamondback is a wal-mart/ target brand in my mind. If you are going to spend good money on a new bike don't get the same brand the little kid down the street has... I know it doesn't really matter.

Remember all components will wear out so get the best frame you can and go from there. Also just ride them and see which one feels best to ya. Entry level bikes have terrible wheelsets, especially for big guys the bike will feel like it wanders a lot esp a taller 29" wheel. So keep an eye out for a stiffer wheel set and it will make your bike feel 10 times better.

Need advice for a first mountain bike!?

Ewrwe Werw

When I was a kid I used to destroy all my bikes doing jumps and such things. Now I'm 18 and I wanna start doing freeride mountain bike. I don't have a super budget so I plan to spend around 1300 to 1700$ for the bike. I would like to know some mtb freeride brands and some advice!
Still wondering if I should buy an used bike?
Maybe a last year bike?

Also, I would like to know how long these bikes last? If someone is doing jumps and such 1 weekend on 2!

Thank you a lot!

Answer
Visit the local bike shops and talk with them. The good Free ride bikes are expensive. Check out Kona and Specialized.

what kind of bikes are these?

Kayla

what kind of bikes are these kids using? what are the kind at :33? http://www.vimeo.com/15812576

Answer
They are down hill or free ride bikes. Can't tell the brand but you are looking at a lot of money.

http://www.mtbr.com/reviewscrx.aspx

Moms & Dads with toddlers around 1-2 years old... Just for fun questionnaire?

Just for fun... Tell us a little bit about your little one. If you want to have a moment to "brag", you'll be forgiven,lol :-)

1. How old is your little one?
2. Boy or Girl?
3. How big are they?
4. Do they have any brothers or sisters? If so, how do they interact each other?
5. What does your little one like to do for fun?
6. Whats their favorite food?
7. Do they talk a lot? How many words can they say, any favorite words?
8. Anything else interesting that you would like to share... Feel free! :-)

THANKS FOR ANSWERING!!!

1. 16 months
2. Girl
3. Her last doc. appt @ 15 months: She was 31 1/2 inches tall & 23 lbs
4. She has a 3.5 month old little brother(almost 4 mo.). She LOVES him so much... constantly "helps" with him. She comes running when he cries and lives to give him lots of hugs & kisses. And he is truly amazed by her. He watches her every move & laughs and smiles when she talks to him.
5. She LOVES to read and play house- with containers, pots pans, play forks & spoons etc.
6. She LOVES Macaroni & Cheese!!! ( I tend to "hide" her veggies in it- shhhh don't tell her!!! :-)
7. She talks CONSTANTLY, she knows quite a few words-over 30 & just learned to count to 6!!! her favorite word... Hmmm, she LOVES to say the word "apple" & "Dora"
8. She L-O-V-E-S music & loves to dance!!! :-)

Answer
1. How old is your little one? 19 months
2. Boy or Girl? Girl
3. How big are they? 32 inches 24.5lbs
4. Do they have any brothers or sisters? If so, how do they interact each other? She has 3 dogs & loves them
5. What does your little one like to do for fun? Anything outdoors. Going for walks on her bike (3 in 1 trike) and playing at the park
6. Whats their favorite food? Any fruit really, I guess watermelon or strawberries are best though
7. Do they talk a lot? How many words can they say, any favorite words? She talks a ton. I can not count how many words, she is now coping almost everything we say. Her favorite word is her favorite toy... "Bear"
8. Anything else interesting that you would like to share... Feel free! :-)
Belle is learning fast, she can count to 3 and say some letters of the alphabet song. She loves to play and make us laugh. She is the most amazing girl in the world.

toddler bike or toddler princess car?

Maria Vill

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11151322 or http://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-Princess-Girls-Convertible-Car/14254325

Which one should I pick it out for daughter's 3rd birthday next week.. What do you think?!

Answer
If you do not intend it to be a surprise let her chose :), if it's a surprise get the car, it's nice.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Suggestions for a CHEAP hybrid bike?

Jenny

I haven't ridden a bike since I was a kid but I want to start riding a bike to get in shape. What are some suggestions for a good, but cheap Hybrid bike from Wal-mart or Target? I want to be able to ride on the gravel trails around here, but not off-road, so I don't want a mountain bike. Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Answer
For riding on gravel trails, the hybrid bike is a good choice. It's got bigger wheels like a road bike and a more upright position. It also has mountain bike style gearing in case you run into hills. I own a hybrid for just that purpose and it works very well.

Don't go to WalMart or Target. The bikes they sell are one size fits all, are heavy, don't work very well, and don't last very long. Your local bike shop will have bikes at the low end of the price range, probably starting around $250 to $350. Brands don't matter. Bikes that cost the same are usually built the same and have the same components. Unlike the WalMart, a bike shop will have bikes that fit you. They know how to properly assemble them. You will be much more comfortable and much safer.

Above all, save enough money for a helmet. Don't put your butt on the seat without a helmet on your head.

HTH

A good, fairly cheap bmx bike?

Kevin

I like skateboarding but alot of kids at my school and my cousin bmx. I have gone of my curbs before with my normal bike/mountain bike. Any good brands and tips for a beginner? (My birthday is coming up soon ;)

Answer
yer dans comp has some good brands but they can be advanced bikes,a great starting bike is a HARO. strong and a good bike to add parts to, or you could get a,GT,MONGOOSE or a kink launch(the cheapest kink)

kids dirt bikes???????????

bryceyboi

my mate has a lad he is 10yrs and 135cm he wants a loncin what size would be best for him this is his first dirt bike.

Answer
Bring him to some shops to sit on the bikes.
Small engine bikes come in different sizes (seat heights).
A 10yr old should be able to handle something between 80cc & 100cc

If you want to surprise him, say you're going to a shop to buy a spark plug (or other parts) and ask if he would like to come with you.
While you're there, point to the dirt bikes and say "aren't those cool! - go ahead sit on some"

Reccomendatons for kids bike?

Tali

We want to get a bike for our 3 years and 7 months very tall (42 inches) son. He would need to use training wheels and coaster brakes for the beginning. What bike would reccomend? What should I look for when choosing a bike?

Answer
At this point, it would be a great idea to visit a bike shop. Even if you don't buy one there the sales staff will fit him and give you an idea of what exactly you need.

When people come into my shop looking for junior bikes, I generally take the time to fit them (knowing they probably won't buy from me), then suggest that they buy a bike IN THE BOX from a discount store and have me build it. Yes, this reduces my kids bike sales but generates goodwill when mom and dad want to buy a new bike.

Bikes without training wheels.?

anyaha04

My daughters are 6 ans 5. They recieved bike for Christmas. Well, the bikes do not have training wheels. What is the best way to teach them how to ride their bikes. I live in an area that has alot of traffic and I live in an apartments complex. Any ideas would be wonderful!!!!!

Answer
mine came off training wheels at 4. I held the back of their clothes till they found their balance. We made a game of it by seeing how far they could ride before putting their feet down then they would try to beat that spot. Most important they have to have full grasp of the brakes and how to use them. Take them to the park for the first couple of months till they are fully confident on their bikes. Make sure they have helmets on. Don't feel they are too young. I know many kids who are 3 and off training wheels. Good luck

Bike + Train Wheels + Time?

NOZ

How much time between getting a 2 wheeler with training wheels and taking them off do you think is needed? I said to my dad, that I'm thinking about taking 1 train wheel off in July (my son just got his bike March 20) and then I assumed by next year he would take both of them off.

My dad said that this was a horrible idea. He said you need to take them both off at the same time (which OK, I can get) but he said that my son should be using the bike without train wheels in 6 months after getting it..

What do you guys remember or what did you do for your children? My son thinks he's a pro on his bike and likes to go as fast as he can just so he can skid to a stop, but he has a balance there already for him.. I really don't think he can do the bike without the extra wheel.. When should I take them off?
Raising them! I didn't know they could do that! I think this is great! I may do this now.

I still don't understand how my dad thinks he should be completely done with them in 6 months time. Maybe he'll be right but I won't know until I try this raising thing. Awesome! TY!

Answer
I am only going by what I have observed with small children riding bikes. But what I have noticed is that after a lot of time spent on the bike the training wheels start to bend upwards. I have seen little kids zooming down the street with training wheels inches above the ground...but the wheels are there to catch them if they start to tip over.

So, I would assume that there is either a way that you can raise the wheels or bend them upwards so that are supporting your son less and he can practice balancing while still having the training wheels to catch him.

I agree with your father, do not take off one wheel. If you son tips in the direction of the missing wheel he is going to fall over. So, he may compensate by intentionally leaning towards the remaining training wheel all the time...which is going to mess up his balance.

Can You Suuggest me a Kids (9 years/Boy) Road Bike?

Friend

I am looking for a Boys "Road Bike", for my son. He is 9 years old and 49 inch tall. Idially, the Bike Frame size should be 19" (Pilot type) or 20" and dropped handle bar. The price range I do not want to go over $500-$600 because for two reasons; #1 rough handling associated for a Kid and reason; #2 The Bike will be out of size in next 2-3 years (when he becomes tall, I have to buy bigger bike of his size).

I am looking at this Road Bike: http://www.target.com/Forge-1000-Road-Racing-Bike/dp/B000LWFG9C/sr=1-2/qid=1215533911/ref=sr_1_2/601-4000344-5233748?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Aroad%20bike&page=1

This is an online item only. Pl. suggest me if you have this one or any other one you might have bought.

Pl. do not suggest any MTB. I am looking only for Road Bike this time.
I mean, 20 "wheel size. I ride 54 CM Frame. I am not sure what frame size I will see for my son. The bike URL I added, says only 19" . I do not know if it is frame or wheel.

Answer
24" and 650cm kids road bikes are made. The KDS Trek model comes to mind 1st, Felt too. Are you sure you want a 19 - 20" frame? That would be very large for him at this time.

Menat KDR... the 24" wheeled KDR will fit but the 650cm wheeled bikes would still be too big. There are no 19" wheels so you looking at frames far too big for a 9 year old of normal height.

Which company makes a road bike for kids.?

Speel

My son is 5 years old and want's to get a road bike like mine so we can ride together. I have a trek 2300c but i have not been able to find a road bike small enough for my son, who is 3'10'' tall.
He has 4 bikes already mountain, red line bmx, gt freestyle, gary fisher cruiser.

Answer
here you go:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/latest-bikes/kids-bike/PLS_5678_913crx.aspx

I raced our state age group champs this May, was amazed at how many kids showed up, with high end kid-size road bikes, in full top-level clothing, and they were fit and reasonably fast. I'm talking about 8 years all the way up to 15+.

At what age do most kids learn to ride a bike with training wheels?

junebugbab

My oldest son is 4 (as of June) and we got him a bike when he was 3 and he just couldn't figure it out.. He barely started riding right around his birthday and now he is doing much much better. It does have training wheels of course.

His younger brother is 2 1/2 (turned 2 at the end of April) he immediately showed jealousy of and interest in his brothers bike so 2 weeks ago we decide to buy him one also. We figured he would just sit on it for a while and probably not learn for a year or so but to our amazement he learned in just 5 20-30 minute sessions!!! He now rides at about 80% the efficiency level of his older brother.

I am just curious if the younger is just super cordinated or if his brother was just a late learner. When do most kids learn to ride a bike with training wheels.

Also, at what age would it be appropriate to take the training wheels off? My husband is thinking of taking them off in about 4 months for our older son and 6 months or so for our younger son.. I am a bit worried about this because I don't think I've ever seen a 3 year old riding a bike without training wheels.. Is he expecting to much?

(P.S. neither of my children ever had a tricycle or anything with pedals)

Answer
Anytime between 2 and 4 is reasonable for riding with training wheels. Some kids just are more motivated or get the coordination to do the pedaling sooner than others.

It's the same for taking off the training wheels. I know kids who learned at 7 and kids who were zooming around at 3 without them. Generally younger siblings start sooner.

Bikes without training wheels.?

anyaha04

Is there any sites like YouTube?

Marchy

I wanna watch this movie, free, online, where?
(I can't find anything, scenes or whatnot on YT)
Oh, I know it's illegal.

Answer
Here is a list off a website devoted to it http://www.all-video-sites.com/

fora.tv, Discourse and Debate in many categories

photobucket.com, Offers also free photo hosting

stupidvideos.com, Laugh / some stupid stuff

video.nationalgeographic.com, High Quality Documentaries

video.on.nytimes.com, News and Reports / No Upload

video.yahoo.com, Nice quality / Comedy & Animals etc

vids.myspace.com, Includes imeem since a while

www.5min.com, Practical solutions / not limited to 5 Min.

www.archive.org, Creative Commons Licence

www.athenaweb.org, The topic is Science / No Upload

www.atomfilms.com, Funny Stuff / A few Animation

www.blip.tv, Some Online Shows / No Upload

www.blogtv.com, Live Webcam Shows and Lifecasts

www.break.com, Very popular website

www.clipshack.com, You can search by location

www.cnettv.com, Product Reviews and Shows

www.current.com, Some Politics & Journalism

www.dailymotion.com, This and that

www.ehow.com, Just learn how to do things

www.freeetv.com, Watch TV-Channels online

www.funnyordie.com, Have some fun

www.gametrailers.com, Only Game Trailers

www.geobeats.com, Good Travel Guides

www.grindtv.com, Skate Surf and Bike Sports

www.heavy.com, Nice Design / Funny Stuff

www.justin.tv, Another Live Webcam Website

www.kidzbop.com, Videos Shows & Contests for Kids

www.liveleak.com, News and Politics / Entertainment

www.livevideo.com, Live Video Webcams

www.metacafe.com, Entertainment

www.revver.com, Videos are reviewed

www.teachertube.com, Teach the world

www.toxicjunction.com, Entertainment Videos

www.veoh.com, More Service with Veoh pro

www.videojug.com, Life explained on film

www.youtube.com, most popular video community

broadbandsports.com

icyou.com, Good Source for Health Videos

is.rediff.com, From India

pitchfork.com/tv/, music / No Upload

showmedo.com, Programming Languages

videos.streetfire.net, Car related videos

www.3bnexus.com, Business and Markets

www.4videosharing.com

www.aajkatv.com, Indian Bollywood & Cricket

www.activistvideo.org, Political activism

www.adultswim.com/video/, Comedy

www.blastro.com, Music in High Quality

www.bofunk.com, Funny Shocking & Crazy

www.chinaontv.com, China

www.clevver.com, Movie Trailers

www.clipjunkie.com, Funny & Shocking Movies

www.clipmoon.com

www.cricketnext.com/videos/, Cricket

www.disclose.tv, Hidden truth revealed

www.earthtv.com, World Webcams

www.ezprezzo.com, Funny Movies

www.flickr.com/explore/video, Short Videos

www.flightlevel350.com, Airplanes & Cockpits

www.flukiest.com

www.collegehumor.com, Funny Videos

www.crunchyroll.com, Anime and Drama

www.dekhona.com

www.ebaumsworld.com

www.encyclomedia.com, Video encyclopedia

www.expotv.com, Product Reviews

www.funnyordie.com, Funny Videos

globalbroadcast4kids, For Kids

www.glumbert.com

www.hulu.com, TV Movies & Shows

www.indiavideo.org, India

www.jujunation.com, African Community

www.metalvideo.com, Heavy Metal Music

www.nasdaq.com, Finance News

www.rofl.to, Funny Clips

www.scivee.tv, Science

www.shredordie.com, Skate Surf BMX

www.snotr.com

www.stickam.com, Live Webcams

www.style.com/video/, Fashion / Models

www.thedrunkest.com, Drunken People

www.thexvid.com

www.tubedesi.com

www.tvtrip.com, Hotel Video Guide

www.upvideo.com

www.veryfunnyads.com, Funny Ads

www.vidilife.com

www.vidmax.com

www.wegame.com, Game Clips

www.yudomagic.com, Street Magic

www.zapiks.com/_videos_/

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Good to buy a bike?

terse

I want a BMX Bike cheapish...?

Peter Pot

i want a semi good bmx bike.
i dont need it for any tricks or anything i just want to ride it.

im looking for something thats like a step above walmart brand or something and im looking to spend about from

$100-150
any ideas?

Answer
http://www.gtbicycles.com/

http://www.diamondbackbmx.com/depts.asp?deptid=2

I had a look at some BMX websites, and they don't have anything in that price range. And it looks like the bikes under $200.00 are small kids bikes.

I'm sorry, but if you want a Name Brand bike, you will have to pay at least $250.00 to $300.00

Unless you buy a used bike. Sometimes I see good bikes at garage sales. Once I saw a Redline BMX for $50.00 at a garage sale.

what is the legal age to not wear a helmet when riding a bike? do you wear a helmet?

yahhoooey

and how old are you if you dont ?

Answer
in Massachusetts, all riders under 16 are required to wear helmets. at 17 you are allowed to be stupid. I'm 37 and have religiously worn my helmet since one saved my life 24 years ago! if kids think helmets are uncool today, they never had the fun of the "Spaceballs" look! anyway, my helmet was ripped from my head in a high-speed impact. yes, I said ripped from my head. I doubt my skull would have been as effective in protecting my grey-matter. two years later, my best friend was killed in a cycling accident. the difference? he had no helmet on! my kids have worn helmets since they've been on trikes! my 9 year-old learned today why, as she endo'd off her brand new Gary Fisher! she's in better shape than the bike, which needs new chainrings! why? because she was wearing a brand new helmet, PROUDLY purchased with her own money!

even if you aren't killed, you can become physically incapable of riding your bike! brain injury can cause paralysis, loss of equilibrium, and a host of debilitating problems. do you really want to risk losing the freedom of riding on two wheels?!

can you sustain great enough injury to kill you when wearing a helmet? hell yes! it still happens at an all too high rate. but, I prefer to sway the odds in my favor, and wear a helmet!

Can anyone recommend a baby helmet to soften falls?

tonymonton

We got her one, but she won't wear it because it falls over her eyes. Any suggestions?
for those of us who don't see the wisdom in fall protection, try this.. Fall head first onto a hard floor. If you still don't understand the trauma this causes to a baby, repeat until convinced.

Answer
I have been a mom for 28 years to 4 kids who are now 28, 26, 23, and 10. I am also grandma to an almost 12 month old grandson who has been working to perfect his toddling skills for about a month. Additionally, I have provided child care in my home for 20 years. Unless your baby has a medical condition necessitating a helmet a child who is developing at a normal rate does not need one. Falls and the accompanying bumps, bruises, and cuts are part of the learning experience and while I won't say never, I will say will rarely cause any permanent or long-lasting damage. I have never heard of a child with a permanent injury as the result of a normal childhood fall. Truthfully, most of the falls will cause various facial injuries rather than head bumps anyway. Right now I have my almost 1 year old grandson sitting on my lap with a bump above his eye that he got earlier today when he fell against a toy while practicing his walking skills. It caused a few tears, but some snuggle time and a kiss to make the "owie" better and he was up and trying again. One of my 2 year old daycare children has a scratch on his check no doubt received over the weekend in some toddler mishap. When babies are learning to walk they will naturally put their hands out to balance themselves and thus to catch themselves so they are not landing with a full impact on their heads/faces on the floor nor will they fall straight back, but usually fall on their well-padded little bottoms. In my many years of experience with infants and toddlers, the only child who needed a helmet was not for safety reasons but was a molding helmet to help with plagiocephaly, which is the misshapen head that some infants get. I am sure that you love your daughter very much and want to do what you can to protect her, but a helmet is really unneccessary unless she is riding on the back of your bike in a child seat or in a bicycle trailer. ADDED: It is just a part of life that babies fall while learning to sit or walk. The majority of the time it is not their head that hits the floor first. While learning to sit simply place pillows around her while she practices the balance skills she needs. While learning to walk, most falls are backward to the bottom. Frontwards falls are usually absorbed by the torso and the arms. Bumps to the head are typically not caused by falls but rather by running into something such as a door knob, a coffee table, or the kitchen table.

Can you please name me some safe, luxurious places my wife and kids can live?

Ryan K

I live in Albany New York right now working as a stock broker. I made the money, now I want to move out of my small apartment and move to somewhere safe and nice.
Thank you for your time and effort.
Ryan Kung
I am not spending over $5mill.
For all I know, I could get foreclosed and be sent on the streets.

Answer
Ryan,

Congrats on being in the current position you're in, getting ready to enjoy the fruits of years of your hard-earned labor. Being a combat veteran, I realize more than most that happiness is paramount, and a few years ago, I was blessed with enjoying the same opportunity you now face. The world was my "oystah", and I could live wherever in the world that I chose. For me, there was no other choice than the mountains of western North Carolina.

I now live in a town with a population of less than 24K, and can honestly say that, having travelled extensively and having lived in FL, CA, GA, and in the Raleigh area (Cary), I can't imagine ever living anywhere else permanently. If I can offer you any advice, I would say that your choice of where to live really depends upon what you guys are "into", the type of environment you envision being best for your children to grow up in, and what (if any) kind of employment you would be seeking once living there. Discuss with your wife the family activities you feel would make you feel happiest, then target the "best" locations worldwide supporting those activities.

If you enjoy outdoor recreation - hiking, biking, snowboarding/skiing, whitewater, or simply camping while visiting national parks & forests - look to the mountains. If beaches are your thing, obviously look to coastal communities. Although you do not want to live in the city proper, you will eventually have to visit one nearby, as smaller towns in rural areas don't have all of the amenities you'll find yourself needing. Whatever part of the world you decide you would prefer to live in, figure out what you feel is a reasonable drive time to "the big city" and base your search radius from it's midpoint.

For most people, it's a scary proposition to pack it all up & leave their comfort zone; if all you two feel at this point is excitement at the prospect of leaving, that's great - it means you're ready to leave & not look back. If that is the case, I hope two very useful resources for your research will be the list of US Chambers of Commerce located at www.50states.com and International buyer resources found on the source website below. If you like, you may also review some of my previous answers to other folks' questions by clicking on the profile picture for more relevant info. If more questions, please feel free to ask.

Take care, Ryan - and good luck!!

Schwinn Meridian Trike?

Loosid

Anyone have any feeling on this? Overall basic reviews are pretty solid everywhere I have looked but I'm a real bicycle novice. I am also very overweight and I would like to ride bikes with my kids plus I really miss riding bikes! Thanks in advance, here's a link to view it...
http://m.sears.com/productdetails.do?partNumber=00611132000P&sid=&psid=

Answer
I think it depends on your reasons for choosing a trike.....and on just how much "very" overweight you are & your level of fitness. That Schwinn is one of the cheaper versions of adult trikes...not horrible, though. They're all quite heavy and weigh in the 50lb range give or take, even the better quality ones, and of course they're as heavy as a tank when compared to normal 2-wheeled bikes. But, despite their weight it doesn't matter quite as much until you put steeper hills into the equation (harder pedaling and they take longer to come to a stop). I think they can be a lot of fun, and there are also a lot of good reasons for some people to choose a trike over a bike.

If you're not like super overweight and you can walk around the block n such, then this one might be ok. I'd recommend one with at least three gears, though, and of course better quality ones will be nicer overall...and a bit more expensive. If you weigh more than 225lbs or so, then you need to choose more carefully and look for the mfr's max weight rating. Some max out around that level but there are plenty that will handle 300 or as much as 500 pounds total weight. They also come in different wheel sizes and frame heights if stepping up is difficult.

Torker makes a nice multi-speed that uses an internal gearing hub instead of the cheaper and maintenance-required freewheels/derailleur....pricier but much better: http://www.torkerusa.com/bikes/utility/2012-tristar

Workman Cycles and Sun also make some good models, and this site has some others: http://www.tririder.com/

Kent bikes are sold at Target, Amazon, and a few other outlets, and they're about the same as Schwinn, maybe a touch nicer for some models, and in the same price range. If you think you'll want a nicer trike or might ride it a lot/keep it around for a long time, I'd spend a bit more if you can.

Also, if you aren't worried about keeping your balance or whatever other reasons a trike makes a good choice for some people, I can tell you that most normal hardtail mountain bikes will hold people up to about 250-275 pounds with just a part swap or two. I had a good friend who was a touch over 300 pounds who rides some expensive lightweight bikes (mountain, road, and downhill), and he's never really had any issues other than using a decent wheel and stout seatpost...he also weighs about 210 these days, thanks to riding his bike!

Get out there and be a kid with your kids. :)

best beginner dirt bike?

How do I pick a freestyle BMX bike?

argh.pirat

What are my best options for toting three kids around with my bike?

Is there a trailer for 3 kids? Would it be ok to have a "trail-a-bike" type option then connect a trailer to that? Or get a child seat plus the trailer? Kids are 4 mos, 2.5 yrs, and 5 yrs old.. The 5 yr old can ride a bike, but very slowly and not very far.. Thanks!

Answer
You have a few option, although I agree with those who mention 4 mos may be a little young for any kind of biking. The only way I would bike with infants is if I can either carry them very close to me, or if I can strap them into a reclined seat where they don't have to fully support their head while going over bumps etc.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bend,OR&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.460237,67.763672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Bend,+Deschutes,+Oregon&ll=44.05157,-121.315155&spn=0.28771,0.529404&t=h&z=11 Front mounted seat.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIH0EG?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwgalttechco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FIH0EG Top Bar Mounted

In Denmark they often ride with the youngest in a front basket or cargo bay laying down in blankets.

I've tried my kids in trailers at 9 mos and found it didn't work for me with any of them because I couldn't watch how they were doing and couldn't attend to their needs at all without stopping, dismounting etc. AND until over a year they didn't do well enough with head control. The trailers actually ride fairly jouncy and bumpy because the kids are sitting right on top of the wheels.

Moving on....

I have seen people do the tag along and the trailer, but for regular use it seems to long and unwieldy to me.

I'd go the cargo bike / long tail route: Madsen Cycles has a model that seats 4 with seat belts (takes the optional extra seat to get to 4 - standard is 2) http://www.madsencycles.com/
A review of cargo bikes: http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html
And Riding triple on a long tail http://surfabike.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/mundo_bilby_side_m-preview1-jpg.jpeg

Can you edit my Book Review for me? It on Cheaper by the dozen.?

Robert

Mr./ Mrs. give birth to 12 children, 6 boys & 6 girls. Their reason for having so many kids is everything is cheaper by the dozen. Anne is the first born, who was born in N.Y.C.. Anne also, is the bad seed in the family, who dress like a --Eskimo?--! And date a biker guy. Their Father , teach the little offspring's about everything ants to working in a fakerey. But, in the Dad get crush by a car whale riding his bicycle.

Answer
very poor try again, and this time read the book not just watch the movie.

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