So, my 12-year-old daughter (5'1", 30" inseam) has been riding a Schwinn mountain bike with 24" tires, but it's down to only gears 5-7 and it doesn't brake very well. So I want to get her another bike.
And I looked at Walmart and figured I'd buy her something for $150 that should work, given that she pretty much just bikes around the neighborhood, rarely more than a mile or two at a time.
But then I started talking to my biking friends and acquaintances. You know, the professional road racer, and the close-to-Olympic-level triathlete, and the couple who like to take 700-mile bike trips on their vacations. And they all tell me that I cannot, CANNOT, buy a piece of **** from a big box store. They're never put together right. The components are cheap, and they break easily. Then again, I doubt that any single component on their bikes costs less than what I am willing and able to spend on her whole bike.
So I go to my local bike shop, great people, and if my daughter were fully grown and still interested in biking, I'd be happy to buy a bike from them. But she isn't, and I'm not. They say she needs a small frame and 26" tires now, but her dad is 6'3" and I am 5'9". I figure she still has quite a bit of growing to do.
Now, I'm looking on Craigslist. Trek, Jamis, Cannondale, Specialized. They told me what brands to look for. I have a guy at a bike shop who will do a tune-up and repairs for me. But heck, I only ride my bike a mile or two at a time, too. I have no idea what to look for. How am I supposed to know what I'm buying? A Jamis XC road bike for $150? Peugeot Montreal Express for $50? Early 80s Fuji Mountain bike. in Good Shape. Araya Wheels, Shimano Shifting, Skin Wall tires. ALL Original!!!!! for $150? A Trek 850 Limited Edition Volkswagen Jetta bike with Aluminum frame, Shimano gears and brakes for $60?
I am so tempted to just buy whatever bike at Walmart has the best rating. Help me out!
And I looked at Walmart and figured I'd buy her something for $150 that should work, given that she pretty much just bikes around the neighborhood, rarely more than a mile or two at a time.
But then I started talking to my biking friends and acquaintances. You know, the professional road racer, and the close-to-Olympic-level triathlete, and the couple who like to take 700-mile bike trips on their vacations. And they all tell me that I cannot, CANNOT, buy a piece of **** from a big box store. They're never put together right. The components are cheap, and they break easily. Then again, I doubt that any single component on their bikes costs less than what I am willing and able to spend on her whole bike.
So I go to my local bike shop, great people, and if my daughter were fully grown and still interested in biking, I'd be happy to buy a bike from them. But she isn't, and I'm not. They say she needs a small frame and 26" tires now, but her dad is 6'3" and I am 5'9". I figure she still has quite a bit of growing to do.
Now, I'm looking on Craigslist. Trek, Jamis, Cannondale, Specialized. They told me what brands to look for. I have a guy at a bike shop who will do a tune-up and repairs for me. But heck, I only ride my bike a mile or two at a time, too. I have no idea what to look for. How am I supposed to know what I'm buying? A Jamis XC road bike for $150? Peugeot Montreal Express for $50? Early 80s Fuji Mountain bike. in Good Shape. Araya Wheels, Shimano Shifting, Skin Wall tires. ALL Original!!!!! for $150? A Trek 850 Limited Edition Volkswagen Jetta bike with Aluminum frame, Shimano gears and brakes for $60?
I am so tempted to just buy whatever bike at Walmart has the best rating. Help me out!