My first BMX bike?

camx94

Hey,
I just got my first BMX bike yesterday. Its a blue Mongoose Brawler....Now the person who sold me this is a 4 year BMX racing champion. He said this was more of a universal bike. Which means it can go on many things...other then dirt. I do say its maybe a little to heavy....which may be good because he told me if I get a heavy bike....then I can do anything on a light bike....Now I'm looking for both street and dirt....so I was wondering if this is a good enough bike to bring the the skatepark sometime....I'm trying to learn flatland tricks...such as the bunny hop....very hard...all I can do is basically lift up my front tire....

Anyways I was just asking if this is truely a good bike/universal for stuff like that.
Please be honest I can take anything...

Answer
well the kid was right, the bike you got is a universal bike...you can use it for trials, skatepark, street, but for flatland...the geometry is completely different on the frame...alot shorter and whatnot. i woudl say that you have a good starter bike. the first year that you ride you are building muscle and getting used to your bike. when i started i wasnt able to bunnyhop for awhile, now i can hop over garbage cans, jersey barriers, and fences! its all in your arms and legs. you pull up as hard as you can and then you level your arms out as you are sucking your legs up...try it for a good day or 2 and it will come to you. even taking you pegs off, cutting of an inch on your handle bars, cutting down your seat post are some ways you can lighten up yoor bike as well if you think its too heavy. i have actually bought parts that weigh lighter for myb ike and it weighs 21lbs...which is rather light. stick with it man...BMX is a long hard road to go down if you want to get good, but you have to stick with it....and once you start landing tricks it is one of the most rewarding feelings you can get...well to me at least. keep shreddin!

Is it safe to let my kid bike around San Ramon?

S[e]a[n]

I am planning to move to San Ramon, CA near Iron Horse Middle School, and my kid (12 years old) is BEGGING me to buy him a new bicycle (the old one is all rusty). But I'm wondering, is it safe to let him bike to school, library, and so on?
â» Are there lots of cars there?
â» Is there lots of steep downhills?
â» Irrelevant, but is there some decent bicycle shops that sell bikes for kids in San Ramon/Pleasanton?

Thanks!

Answer
That part of San Ramon is flat and very residential. You'll have the normal amount of cars for a large residential area. No bike stores I can think of, but there's always a Target nearby.

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How much does the Mongoose Scan R10 BMX Bike weigh?

Steverizm

I've searched everywhere, can't find out, looks like a really nice bike I would just like to see how much it weighs, anyone know?

D:!

Thanks!

Answer
You mean this one http://www.mongoose.com/usa/bikes/bmx/freestyle/scan-r10-boys ? Sorry to say it is not something you should consider if you do any kind of tricks, jumps, or other stunts. To answer your weight question, it weighs about 35 pounds. Here is the info straight from the Walmart website http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mongoose-20-Scan-R10-BMX-Bike/26434815 .

Yes, it is a nice looking bike but looks aren't everything. It is a very low level bike sold at department stores, and as such is not intended for tricks or anything. They are just for general riding. The warranty specifically outlines it's intended use and spells out that the warranty is void if it is used for stunts, jumping, or anything else besides riding on the street.

Here is an explanation of the warranty http://www.mongoose.com/usa/faq . Read it and weep.

thumbs up or down for my bike?

rico

http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/VY9C8152.jpg ninja zx 14

Answer
thumbs up. bikes like that are hot! big turn on for the ladys ;]
and the reason there saying down is because they are mommas boys and dont no how to live.. totally thumbs up!

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i am looking for a sport bike what should i get?

Tj

i am 21 years old and i have been in a motorcycle wreak before so i don't want to mess around like all the other idiot kids on the road. i am looking for at least a 600 but more would be ok. i don't have much money and that's why this is so hard for me.

Answer
id check craigslist or even ebay motors, or cycle trader. they all have good deals, u just have to know when to spot em. gsxr 600/750 i think is awesome, cbr 600 are good. if your wanting a more calm sportbike, i like the ninja 650r, its exhaust sounds terrible being a two cylinder, but its really comfortable. these are MY opinions. What you buy with YOUR money is completly up to you. go around to dealerships and sit on different bikes and see what YOU like. If you have a trusting friend, see if you can get a test ride on one of their bikes, because just sitting on bikes in the dealer, alot of them just feel the same, and its not until u ride it for a little while that you truly see which one is more comfortable.

Any good motocross bikes? Up to 2000$? Im a begginer.?

Oleg

So on my 15th birthday im getting a dirt bike.
My dad said that i need to find one that isnt too expensive.. Any recomendations?
I would prefer a Kawasaki or a Yamaha, but tell me what you got on your mind.

Answer
Check Craigslist and Ebay.

Craigslist just type in your city and the make you are looking for. Ebay, just type in the type of make you are looking for in the Ebay motors section. I left you links.

You can get a really good used bike for that price.

If you decide on a 2-stroke you can go all the way back to 1979 - 1984. All of the major manufacturers made excellent 2-strokes back then. This was actually the "hay day" for 2-strokes.

If you decide on a 4-stroke, try to get one that is less than 10 years old. The bike will still be competitive if you decide to race it on an amateur level.

I would suggest that you try and look at a lot of different bikes. Don't buy the first one you see. Go out to the local riding tracks and see what guys are riding. Ask them questions about their bikes. Have they had any problems? If they could change one thing about the bike what would it be?

When my buddies and I used to go out riding for fun, we would let guys try our "play" bikes. We wouldn't let them try our race bikes, but when we were out just goof'in off we wouldn't take our race bikes. If you run into a group of guys riding you might be able to talk them into letting you try a couple different bikes. It doesn't hurt to ask. It would go over a lot better if your dad was there talking to them and/or their parents also.

If you are going to purchase a 2-stroke, do not buy anything bigger than a 250. It will be too much for you since you are a beginner. A 100 all the way up to a 250, but nothing bigger.

If you go with a 4-stroke you can go past a 250 all the way to a 450. A 500 4-stroke puts out about the same power as a 250 2-stroke.

Just to let you know what is out there. I picked up a Honda XL500 R for $850 and a Kawasaki KX250 for $475. Both are early 80's models though. I bought the 500 to ride to work and the 250 for the kids to hit the trails with me.

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i have a bike i just bought but i dont know what brand any help?

superman

its a silver chrome biycle it kinda looks like a bmx bike but with out all those brake things and its a pretty sturdy bike not like those new bikes they make out alumium


P.S if u know about bikes and can help me email me so i can send u a picture of the bike

Answer
Great question. Boy, you didn't give us much to go on. Send me a pic via my Yahoo IM. The, "chrome", finish was never unique. If the factory decals have been removed, and there is no head-badge, you are likely never going to know what it is.

Check the rear drop-outs. Do you know what those are? The rear wheel will bolt to the frame, via the rear drop-outs. The drop-outs will be very telling, but will not provide you with any manufacturing data. The drop-out itself should be visibly obviously a separate piece of the frame, and clearly appear as though it has been attached. One technique, on inexpensive bikes especially, was to simply, "crimp", the seat-stay tube around the drop-out. We'll call this, "stamped", drop-outs. Imagine taking a piece of tubing a little larger in diameter than a yellow pencil. Now imagine putting a pencil into the tubing an inch or so. Now imagine, "squishing", the tubing with a pair of pliers, so that it, "crushes down", on the pencil. Can you visualize how that might hold on to the pencil? The chain-stay, and seat-stay tubes will be visibly, "crimped", on a stamped drop-out.

There are different techniques used for this on higher quality bicycles. The drop-out is actually welded to the frame rather than stamped. In some cases this union will be via a, "lug". You can spot a weld as it looks like metal squeezed out of a tube of toothpaste everywhere the frame is put together. A lug will lack this look, but is welded nonetheless. It will appear similar to a stamped frame but lack any evidence of being crimped. If the rear drop-outs are, "stamped", your pipe dream is over. Don't even bother taking it to a shop to have it inspected. If they are welded, you at least have a frame of passable quality.

With that said be very careful with that frame until you figure out what it is. Rampar, Redline, Diamond Back, and CW, 20 inch frames are outrageously collectible and very valuable. Furthermore, these are mass-produced examples of collectible bike stuff. If you hit the jackpot you could have something like an old Profile brand frame. Profile frames were hand made and sold brand new, back in the day, for around $3500. That's just for the frame, and those are 1981 dollars. Collectors pay as much as a $1000 dollars or more, just for Profile decals. There were numerous small run, hand made frames around back then.

Send me a pic. If it is still identifiable, I can probably tell you what brand it is. If you need help sending the pic, let me know. Other than that, take it to shop after shop and don't listen to a thing anybody says until someone tells you EXACTLY what it is. You are going to be the victim of speculation if you are not careful. Again, if the rear drop-outs are stamped and not welded, or lugged, you likely just have some garage-sale junk I wouldn't use as a paper weight.

Which episode of boy meets world was it when Eric rides into mr. Feeny's classroom on the bike?

CandySmile

He was wearing a bright yellow biking outfit and I think he got the bike at a yard sale. Those are the only details I can remember.
Oh and I think it was one of the college episodes

Answer
"No Such Thing as a Sure Thing" Season 7, Episode 4.

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0530918/

You can see it from about 2:36 on this video, there's no sound unfortunately but it was the only clip I could find.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QvRp2iPHto&feature=related

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26" GT Aggressor Mountain Bike?

Wes

I found one of these on Craigslist for $150. Its six years old and rarely used. Im not too up to speed on mountain biking, other than I'm not suppose to get a bike at a department store (seems to be the consensus I'm getting).

How are these bikes?
Is this a decent price for this particular model?

Thanks,

PS, I ride mainly on pavements, pulling my kids in a bike trailer.

Answer
The #1 problem I see is - people always buying ATB or off-road bikes when they never go off-road. Get the point? Yeah...if you install some different tires on it, it would ride a lot better on pavement.
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Kross-Plus-Wire-1-95/dp/B001C6DE5O/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1364237973&sr=1-1&keywords=kenda+kross
http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-K-Sheild-Bicycle-Blackwall-1-95-Inch/dp/B002DWZE6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1364238039&sr=1-1&keywords=kenda+841

But you'll still have those suspension parts chewing up your energy. With every stroke of the pedals, part of your energy is soaked up by suspension parts & not transmitted to the rear wheel.

Different Mountain bike sizes?

JoeyJoeJoe

I bought a cheap mountain bike a while ago. Decided to ride it the other day. It's a 26 inch men's bike.

I don't know a whole lot about bikes and bought it to exercise once in a while but are there a lot of different sizes of men's bikes? Because when I rode it(and I'm between 6 ft. and 6 ft. 1), it kinda seems small to me. I raised the seat on it but it's almost like I'm riding a kid's bike. I am used to riding the racing bikes so maybe it just feels different.

Are there bigger men's bikes? How big do they go? Am I too tall for the bike I got?

Answer
ed is right 26 is the wheel size. Often low end bikes and mass retailers will quote this as being the size. To get the size of a bike the cc size or center to center would be the center of the bottom bracket to the seatpost. This is called your downtube. If you are six foot, you probably need an 18 inch frame. You can go to this link to find help on what specific bike size you need, and how to measure the size of your bike
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit

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my four year old wants to start riding BMX bikes?

MEL

My son saw BMX riders for the first time and is very interested in riding a BMX bike. I have searched on the internet but can't seem to find a place for him to learn how to ride or even a estimate on how much it may cost to involve him in this sport. any ideas on where to start?
I realize his age and I realize the dangers in the sport. i am asking for suggestions on where to start from. I am not asking for people to give me their ideas on what he should not be doing. Children start BMX racing at 2 so from what I have learned, he is starting late. so PLEASE give me ideas on where to start.

Answer
The great thing about BMX, is that it's not expensive to get into. The cost of the bike is the initial outlay, then it's just the occasional tyre and chain, once they wear out every 6 months or so. Get him a 16" bmx, preferebly from a bmx store, as Wal-Mart bikes usually have odd dimensions, and what may LOOK like a bmx, may not FEEL like a regular bmx does. Believe me, an extra inch on the top tube and chainstay length, can make a bike feel totally different, expecially to a young boy. A 16" to him, will feel like a 20" does to a teenager.
Secondly, I suggest putting 4 pegs on the bike, front and back. They are the aluminum/steel bits that attach to the axles, allowing him to stand on, or carry friends around the place, which is illegal, but usefull. He might be too young to do tricks on them just yet, but it will allow him to get used to using them, even just standing on them as he cruises along. This will also help him decide which discipline of BMX he wants to follow, be it Racing, Street/Park, Vert, or Flatland.

Your best bet at this stage of his life, is to just let him discover BMX for himself. It's a means of transport for him, as well as a piece of sporting equipment. Do him the favour of getting him well equipped with all the necessary gear, so he feels the part, as well as looking the part. If a kid had a cool helmet, shin pads (those pedals can come round and bite you bad!!), pegs, and a bike with a GYRO (this allows him to turn his handlebars a full 360 degrees without tangling the brake cables), he will feel like he's got 'top of the line' stuff, making his interest and motivation higher than just having a 'regular bike'.

Keep him intereste din it, by showing interest in his riding. Go riding with him, film him riding and play it back for him. He'll get a kick outa seeing himself on tv, riding his bike :)
Show him clips on Youtube of the pro's doing flips, spins, whips, and massive airs. It will blow his mind, and if you encourage him, telling him he will be able to do that one day, he'll hold onto that dream.

I ride Flatland bmx, myself, and I do shows occasionaly, with a BMX Stunt team. Last weekend, we had a fill-in, as one of our regular riders was overseas with his sponsor. This fill-in was a 13yr old kid, who was doing huge Superman Airs, 10 foot in the air, off a 5 foot ramp. This kid was fearless, and for sure he will be a pro in a matter of years.
You might wanna look at building a foam pit in your back yard. Dig a massive hole, and fill it with foam, with a little ramp at the edge of it. He can ride off the ramp, into the pit. He'll love the feeling of flying into that thing, and get him comfortable with taking risks, that way.
With BMX, the more time you spend on your bike, the more skill and controll you have over your bike. The internet has a world of tricks he can learn. Just look up 'How To bmx' on Youtube, and there will be stuff you can teach him.
Being a BMX pro would be such a dream life for a kid. Encourage him, teach him that he TOO can have the life of being a Pro Rider... the comps, the sponsors, the hot car, and girl to match. lol All in good time, but for now, show your interest in it, encourage him, and that'll bear it's fruit.

Frame/Wheel Size: 16 inches bmx bike? im 5'4 and i dont know if thats too small or the right size.plzz help.?

Alex Luna

is that a good size im 5'4 and i dont know if its too small. thinking about buying a bmx bike online so just making sure if thts too small.

Answer
^^ this guy dosent know what hes talking about...
K first off a 16inch bmx is for little kids. go with 20" wheels like the rest of the world just get a bike with maybe a slightly smaller TT (toptube) i'm 5'6" and I ride a 20" wheel bmx with 20.75" TT. Find something that size TT or smaller it will be good for ya.

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Christmas Shopping Decisions!?

Crys

I'm trying to figure out what we should get our children for Christmas.
We have a year old daughter, 3-4 year old boys.
We were going to buy the boys bikes, but they can't ride them outside anytime soon anyway, so we're getting them for their birthday-February.
We're wanting to get my daughter some sort of bouncing toy, or something she can develop cognitive skills over time, and we want to get the boys some fun learning development toys also.
I've been thinking about getting my daughter an upright carseat for Christmas, because we'll need one. And, she is so young, she plays with the paper or the boxes more than she does the actual toy.
What are some nice toys that you would recommend?
We're getting some Vtech toys, and I would like to know some ideas for the boys big gift.
My fiance also has a 9 year old daughter, we're taking her shopping after Christmas, so that she can pick out what she wants this year.
What items would be good for stocking stuffers? I'm thinking lotion, lip gloss, nail polish, she is a very girly girl, but too young for actual make up. I've been thinking about getting her a DS game for her stocking, but if we take her shopping, she can pick out her own game that she desires most.

Answer
Merry Christmas!

I would not worry so much about the 1 year old as she is so small. I'd get her the car seat and maybe a small dolly or stuffed animal and let it go at that. For her stocking she could get wipes, baby snacks, and a new sippy cup.
Boys at age 3-4 enjoy monster trucks (these are small, not a whole lot bigger than Matchbox), and they also do well with large Lego-type blocks (Mega Blocks), Lincoln Logs, and Tinker toys. These are not only interactive, but they are great for the imagination. Boys also like cowboy and indian play sets, Fisher Price and Match Box car sets, and Matchbox cars.
The nine year old is old enough to have a list made out so you can pick and choose from it.
I always do stocking stuffers for all my kids, which includes grown kids, their spouses, and grand-kids. I give oranges, candies (favorites of the recipient), a box of CrackerJack, Slim Jims, Pez candy dispensers, a Slinky, underwear, socks, mittens, yo yos, etc. Kids like this kind of fun stuff, including nine year olds. It is easy to fill stockings.
Christmas is fun, but I would not spend a fortune in this economy as most kids have a ton of stuff as it is. Your kids are small enough that you can make it look like a lot and not spend a lot.
It is a good idea to keep the bikes for spring and nicer weather. When our kids were young and wanted bikes, we'd tell them to wait until spring when the Income Tax would come in and then we'd get them bikes. If you live where it is cold, kids also like sleds.
Have fun!

what is the title of this movie?

About five or six years ago, I watched a movie about two sisters who raced... well, racecars. as a sport. They both had red hair, if I remember correctly, and the movie is mainly about the older one. The movie opens with her as a little girl, racing on her bike against a boy. She wins.
At some point in the movie her racecar gets taken apart because she keeps getting perfect starts. They discover that she is not cheating, and it gets put back together.
At another point in the movie, she quits racing, then starts again later.
And the last thing I remember is when she is in P.E. at school, playing volleyball, and a mean girl tells her that she should join a real sport. (not racing.) In response, she says back something like 'excuse me, but it takes a little more effort that just pushing a pedal down. The G forces are literally pushing you back in your seat."
This is all I remember. I am trying to remember this movie title so I can watch it again! I liked it. Can anyone help me?

Answer
Right on Track(2003)

This Disney Channel feature film is based on the true story of female hot rod racers Erica Enders and her sister Courtney Enders. When the National Hot Rod Association begins a new children's league, eight-year-old Erica (Briana Shipley) is first in line to sign up -- only to be flatly informed that hot rodding is a "man's" sport, and that little girls should stay home with their dollies. Undaunted, and urged on by her supportive father Gregg (Jon Robert Lindstrom), Erica persists in her dream to become a champion racer, and by the time she has entered her teen years (whereupon she is played by Beverly Mitchell), the girl has handily beaten all of the local male competition, with her equally talented kid sister Courtney (Brie Larson) keeping apace in her own souped-up roadster. But the big-time national competitions are still in the future, and Erica and Courtney have yet to confront their most formidable racing rivals. The real-life Enders sisters doubled for the actresses portraying them in the hot-rodding sequences. Filmed in Salt Lake City, Right on Track made its cable TV bow on March 21, 2003.

Idk if that is the movie tou are lookin for

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Kids bike camp?

Q. Do you know any summer camps that are biking summer camps that do road biking not Mountain Biking.

Answer
Teen Treks:
Bike trips for teens--ages 12-18
Trips in Europe, Canada, & the U.S.
Small groups of 12 teens & 2 leaders
1-4 week trips
Safely ride on roads and bike paths
Overnights at hostels & campgrounds
Easy to Intermediate biking
http://www.bikingtrips.org/page5.html

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

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Cheap Road bike?

Kristie L

Hi,
I need a road bike for an 18 mile race two weeks away. Other than that I will use it on a bike path and the road about 2 miles at a time. I really want a cheap bike, no more than $300. But now that Iâm researching, the one bike I thought I would get, the GMC Denali Women's Road Bike, people say itâs not a good bike. I cannot spend a lot of money. What will work? I really donât like that straight bar from the handle to the seat. Can I get away with a more angled bar? As a kid, I remembered borrowing a âboysâ bike and finding that bar annoying.

Also, this is a triathlon I doing. I will swim ½ mile first. I donât care about time or winning, as long as Iâm within what they allow. I just want to cross the finish line. I noticed that they sell triathlon suits good for all three parts of the race. Do people really leave a wet suit on for biking or do some people change into dry clothes? Is a wet bathing suit really uncomfortable will biking, running?

Thank you.

Answer
The Denali you mentioned is not a very good bike, I've seen them at Wally Mart ... BUT if you will hardly ride it then sure it's fine to get, it will work and for the ocassional 15 minute ride it's more than fine. Really cheap road bikes are very hard to find.

Many bikes are sold with a sloping top tubes now. The top tube slopes down towards the seat. That could be an option in many brands of bikes.

Isn't there anyway you could borrow a bike for this one time event? 18 miles isn't very long and to buy a bike that you really won't use seems a waste. Some bike shops will rent a bike for the day check it out. It just depends where you live. Same thing for the Tri suit. Buy it for a couple hours use? No way. Use a swim suit and you can throw on shorts over it if your modest for the ride/run. Make sure the shorts are NOT cotton, but made of anything that dries fast.

What have you been riding to train for this? You have done a little training??? Maybe?

From what you say this is a one time short Tri you want to do . Very cool, but borrow or rent if you can. Don't buy stuff you'll never use just to look cool. Be happy you want to do this and if you make the cut off Congrates to you.

Good Luck

Triathalon BIKE (compare)?

Greg

I am having a little difficulty chosing a TT bike, and i am entry level to triathlons but i am a very good biker so i want the BEST enrty level.

I have narrowed my chioces down to these and i would appreciate help.

2009/2008 Trek Equinox 7
2009 Cervelo P1
2009 Fuji Aloha 1.0
2009 Felt s32
they are all relatively close to the same and some bikes have better things then others.. I am LEANING towards the trek equinox,becasue even though the components arent very good (which i dont mind) I notice the treks frame and seatpost is very aerodynamic, like a carbon model. and the colors are cool. I know the cervelo has alot of great specs and so does the Fuji, and Felt.
Notice that i put *2008/2009 for the trek. that is becase i found that both are very simialr and i could get the 2008 model which is basically the same for a few hundred less.
I KNOW this is long but i would like the help becasue its a very annoying thing debating with myself with no input from other people who also know about bikes

Answer
Personally, I would go with the Cervelo. Although the P1 isn't their best model, their bikes are the most aerodynamic. Cervelo's mission is simply make great aero, light bikes. They don't make any kids bikes or mountain bikes. They are only focused on pure speed. Although the Trek Equinox 7 isn't a bad bike, I would go with the P1 because Cervelo spends by far the most time in the wind tunnel. This is shown by the P4 being the most aero bike on the market.

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What are good exercises for kids 10-12 years old?

Sadaf

I need some exercises for 10-12 year olds to do at home!!

Ex: sit ups

Answer
You can go up and down the stairs. Grab pop cans and use them as weights while squatting. Sit-ups. Push-ups. Runninq around your block. Biking. Hope this helps.!

Jobs for 15 year old freshman?

Jericho

I'm expert in java, BASIC, pretty good with html.
I'm good with bikes and can be a pretty good mechanic, worked part time summer in bike shop (~3 months)
I'm good with science(physics and chemistry), math (algebra,trig,meh okay with geometry), and Computer Science(just about everything.

Horrible with kids(toddlers), horrible with teaching complete morons

I need to find a job ad for Research and Technical writing class.... I cant find anything ill be good at that doesnt require a college degree or 1+ years of job expierence, i cant find anything.

Could someone show me a good job ad (salary, time period, pay period, responsibilites, etc) or direct me to a good site with allot of job ads....I cant find a damn thing -_-
I'm also good with computer builds and repairs.... both software and hardware

Answer
I will try to answer a few of your many questions and mostly give you some ideas about breaking into IT computer work.

A bike shop job is a good deal and depending on the shop and how good your relationship is they will work with your schedule. I helped a lot of students graduate from college when I had my bike shop (another career of mine before computers). Depending on your state laws you are on the borderline age-wise to work in a normal employment situation. Child labor laws will vary but often employers may not take you on quite yet. They may have also have company policies, insurance issues and other things that may govern how young an employee can be.

I took up Technical Writing after I got my IT degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). I did a short contractor gig for Microsoft working in the Premier Support Services and after that did other documentation on an Aerospace program which is where I am now doing Systems Adminstration and Computing Security. I spent about 10 years writing a monthly column for one of the IT Magazines. That started out with one article in a technical area. They liked that one and soon I was writing them monthly.

One of the things you will come up against in IT is that even entry level jobs are going to look for a 4 year college degree. It is not really critical what aspect of IT it is in but they just expect it. You need to remember that with the worldwide recession there are a lot of good IT pros on the street looking for work and if you don't have a degree you are not going to get to an interview - they are. Your resume and application will stay at the bottom of the pile. The big three things to have are a 4 year degree, industry certs (Microsoft, Comptia or Cisco) and experience. If you have all three things you will be good to go - if you don't you will be competing with people who do

You mentioned you are good at hardware and software work. The computer repair business has limited long term potential for you. Where I work if your laptop or desktop computer acts up, and they anticipate the repair will take over 15 minutes, they just hand you a new computer and help you transfer your data. In a few minutes they are done. Working with hardware and installing software is probably going to be entry level low paying work in a retail computer store, an office supply store or big box retailer's computer department. Don't get me wrong - This work beats flipping hamburgers and is a great way to at least get some experience. Just don't plan on doing it for life.

One way a few people are making $$ is to advertise computer virus removal on Craigslist. Look at what people are charging ($35-$70 in my area) and come up with an ad of your own. Download the freebie McAfee Stinger from the McAfee web site, put it on a thumb drive and use that to clean up their computer. Run time will take 30 mins to a few hours depending on their disk usage. It will clean things up and you will be $35+ richer. Start with your parents friends computer and work from there. Most people will not want you to remove their computer from their home so you will have to work out transportation for you to get there and get back home.

Most of the job ads are a waste of time to look at. You are going to have the most hope at breaking in at small business place locally that needs some computer networking work done and and then you will get to work your way up from there.

Microsoft and others may have free seminars in your area. Be sure that you are present at all these and collect and pass out business cards. You will likely get your first job in IT because of who you know and not what you know. Go to one of the free business card web sites and get some cards printed up for yourself.

You mentioned that you like to write code and that world is what a Computer Science/Programming degree is really about. If you like it and are gifted at it, then pursue that path. Take a few programming courses to see how you fit. I did not go this route. I can write some scripting code in command shell and PowerShell and that is all I need for my work.

You are going to need to curb your temper and judgmental attitude about uneducated end users. In a business setting the wrong look or an ill-timed remark could lose you a really good job. No amount of ability and good reviews will save you from an influential end user who does not like your attitude. Just trying to save you some pain here. I've seen some really good guys burn their bridges badly.

Just remember that no matter how you decide to proceed, without the IT 4 year college degree you are hosed.

Best Wishes!

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I need a new bike but I don't understand the sizing?

kaitlyn_ni

My bike was recently stolen and I'm in need of a new bike. My previous bike was a cheap beach cruiser from Walmart, but this time I'd like to get a nicer bike, preferably a road bike. I've been browsing for road bikes on the internet and I think I've found one that I like, however I'm not sure about what size I need to get. I am a 21 yr old woman and I am around 5 ft 10 or 11 inches. The link for the bike I'm interested is listed below, please help!

Thank you :)
http://www.amazon.com/GMC-Denali-Road-Bike/dp/B000FDDWB6/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header
Also, I'm at student at UCSB who needs a bike just to ride to and from campus and the surrounding Goleta/Santa Barbara area, I'm not looking to spend a fortune on a bike, but I'm not doing a beach cruiser again.

Answer
That is not a road bike. It's a "bicycle shaped object". http://www.google.com/search?q=bicycle+shaped+object&oq=bicycle+shaped+object&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 You simply won't find a road bike with good quality in that low of a price range - PERIOD!

Several weeks ago I was COASTING downhill on a 2012 Giant Escape City hybrid http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.city/8910/48611/ and passed a kid PEDALING one of those GMC bikes. His response? "What the F---?!"

REAL road bikes are measured in 2 cm increments from REAL bicycle shops. Ones on Internet sites you have to assemble & tune-up yourself. Can you do this? Brakes need to be lined up & adjusted. Derailleurs have to be adjusted. Or worse - wheels need to be trued up. There's not a bicycle in this world that comes ready-to-ride out of the box.

Those GMC Denali bikes may last a year. You want to waste money or spend money on a bike that will last for YEARS? If it's the latter of the two - see links below...and your authorized, independent, knowledgeable, friendly, local bicycle shop.

http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/endurance/capri-1-0-13/
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/avail.5/11526/55908/
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/1_series/1_1_h2_compact/#
http://www.schwinnbikes.com/bikes/road/fastback-2-womens

These are but 4 examples of "good" road bikes. You could take anywhere from a 53.5 cm frame size up to a 56 cm frame size. It's NOT universal from one company to the next. TRY B4 you BUY! Take 'em out for a test ride before you buy one. If you can't extensively test ride it - DON'T buy it!
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/technology/compact.road.design/57/

Should shops/stores that put a bike together incorrectly be held accountable?

dread head

I got to thinking after answering a question on this thing. I thought if a shop shows negligence in the building of a bicycle, should the shop be held accountable if an accident happens; upon failure of the build? Let's take it a step father. Should they bike manufacturer be held accountable if their product fails causing serious injury to a person?
the bike is being used 100% properly. Department stores are notorious for doing this. I want to know more from the bike shop crowd.

Answer
Given the fact that bikes purchased from dept stores are junk anyway and should not be purchased by anyone, and if they are they should be checked out completely by a competent authority.
The larger question is WHO is defined as competent? Me, You ....the next guy in the shop down the street?
Lets assume that every independent bike shop that sells a bike checks it before that customer leaves the store with it to ensure that it is mechanically safe for the new owner. Lets also assume that it was checked by someone qualified to do so and the new owner takes it home and uses it and DOES NOT start playing with it beyond their capacity and ends up screwing something up, rides it anyway and it fails them. Now whos fault is it?
I have seen this happen with mountain bikes purchased (that I have sold to teenagers) and they take them home and figure the fork isnt enough for them and they start removing the caps that arent supposed to be turned on a lower end fork and oil goes all over mom and dads new white carpet and the spring shoots out and goes thru a wall. Mom and dad come in and start bitching at US because WE failed to tell that kid not to mess with his new bike without consulting us and now they want to sue us....All kinds of scenarios out there and for those shops who dot their I's and cross their T's there is still only so much that you can do with quality control in the store and once that product has left the store you have no idea of what is going on with that product and what that customer will come up with....
I have seen a customer return a bike demanding their money back because the day after they purchased a bike they had a flat tire.....!
There are checks and balances in every shop of some kind and the paperwork trail is essential to pinning down the build of a bike and who preformed this task to who finaled the bike when it was purchased to the inspection of the bike out of the box and the paperwork that must be done during the sale to prevent that ever looming lawsuit that may get incurred after that bike leaves the store.

It can never be assumed that the end user will use that product 100% properly but it would be nice to think that is the case. Since I have been in retail, my expectations and perceptions of the public as a whole has taken a nosedive in the last 3 years.

There is a reason that we have lawyers and courts and unfortunately we cant always do enough to prevent the idiots from buying a bike or always catch the inept bike builder before its too late. In my store we make sure that at least 3 people (one manager+builder and one experienced sales person) inspect each and every bike before it goes to the floor and that all paperwork up to that point is 100% complete.
we are routinely updated with product recalls (if any) and faulty products affecting safety of the rider and only one comes to mind recently on a Dahon folding bike of which two out of 5 we had on the floor were affected and we had those 2 off the floor before the store opened that morning. Problem averted!

Sales associates all have their own routine but the final bit of paperwork before the sale goes out the door is the same for everyone and there is always the human factor in play. We are all vunerable to make mistakes in any given day...all of us. We do the best that we are capable of and everyone has a bad day too, you just hope it wasnt mine on the day you came in to buy your bike. The customer should be a smart shopper and informed but most are not and impulse buying is routine as I observe maybe 1/10 customers actually take the time to be informed and have common sense to ask the right questions and actually have a clue as to what they want and know what they are looking at and that is not the customer I worry about. And i have scratched my head with quite a few!
Personally I think all dept store bikes be banned for sale in this country anyway, but I know that will never happen unfortunately.

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Best place to buy a bicycle online?

Rick

I realize that the best place to buy a bike would be from a local bike shop, but the closest shop is more than fifty miles away from me and I have no way of getting there. The only alternative would be to buy a pre-assembled bike from Wal-Mart which I'd never do for obvious reasons. So does anyone know of a good place to buy a bike online? I'd rather pay extra and receive a properly assembled and calibrated bike by post.

Answer
Amazon.com I would say would be the best place. You can look at what others reviewed about the bikes and you can also get a warranty. I have an older model of this bike that's on Amazon and it's amazing!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008O2FUNS/gepcpr-20

The Diamondback Brand Mountain Bike really will just glide under your feet and absorb the bumbs, it's worth every penny!

You can also check out your local pawnshops, but I would look into the ones near the college campuses. Here in Austin, TX the ones near the campuses have brand new bikes kids pawned off to get beer money and party supplies.. or bills had to be paid.

Happy Hunting! ^_^

Best Road Biking Gear ?

meeeee!

My dad is an avid biker.
However, he is sacrificial and never buys anything for himself, only for his family, so he has done without the legitimate biking gear for years.

This Christmas, I want to hook him up with some legitimate gear!

It's cooler where I live, so I know he definitely needs some biking pants, a jacket, and like, biking glasses (he always rides with sunglasses, but I want him to have the legitimate gear) (:

Any other suggestions, please suggest away!

I need help!
Thanks so much!
(if you provide links, it would be greatly appreciated!)

Answer
You sound like my kids. I'm congenitally cheap. I do get legitimate gear, but I lean towards the sale bins and closeouts, while my kids get me the good stuff that I would never buy for myself. Yes, its always appreciated.

Some thoughts: Shoes are good, but you can't buy them online, since sizes and fit are all over the place even among different models from the same brand.

Gloves are always good. If you're dad's putting in any kind of miles, he's wearing out gloves constantly. Tights, jerseys, underarmour (I like that better than bike specific base layers)

Here's my favorite place for a variety of jerseys. They have other stuff as well. If you get lucky and find what you need in their closeout section, you can be stylish AND frugal.

http://www.primalwear.com/

The other place I get most of my bike stuff:

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories_10052_10551_-1?

Then of course there's your friendly LBS (local bike shop).

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these kids at school?

I love tre

I ride My coast to coast bianchi bicycle to school almost every day 12 miles round trip. But the kids at school are annoying. They hassle me for wearing a helmet. They think my bikes a piece of sh!# and think there full suspension walmart bike is better (Funny)!! They thing that bugs me is several times I have seen them messing with my bike and sometimes they get on it =( I double lock it thankfully. How can i make this stop
Give me some funny creative ideas
Some serious
Has this ever happen to you

Answer
Think about it your on a awesome bianchi and the deraileur alone is the cost of 2 of their pos wallys and if you have a quick release take the seat off so they can't sit on it they wouldn't sit on it if they didn't think it was cool and since your riding that thing on the road wear a helmet no matter what they say

How cool is your kid's school? What freebies do they get?

Michelle

I am always amazed at the free stuff my daughter brings home from school. And I often wonder if this is a small town thing (not many kids, so it doesn't cost local businesses much to sponsor things) or if the bigger cities do the same or more.

Yesterday they had a bicycle safety course for the first graders. The actually gave my daughter a free helmet! It doesn't look cheap either. The design is cool (I wouldn't mind wearing it) and the way it is built looks better than the cheapos I was looking at at walmart.

What kind of stuff does your kid bring home from school? And is it public or private? My daughter goes to public school.
Grace - My kid's teacher actually pays the kids pennies for being good at school every day. You get 3 pennies if you stay out of trouble. You get more if you do something really good. At the end of the six weeks, they get to buy stuff like you are talking about and little toys. I think that's pretty cool too :)
Katie ... One of the schools I went to separated us into teams like that too. Stinks, doesn't it?
KitKat - I like the sound of what your school does. My daughter loves books! They have sent home 2 or 3 this year. But every kid gets the same one, sponsored by the local bank, grocery store, and phone company. Still pretty neat. I never knew kids came with so many cool accessories!
Mom to 4 girls : Wow! Your kids' schools have more people than my whole town! Our city has barely passed the 2,000 people mark. ... And many of them are retired!

Answer
We are in a very small town as well. We don't get anything near as nice as a bike helmet. However, the kids have brought home free footballs (not the small nerf kind), they get backpacks at the beginning of the year, t-shirts, ice cream from the local DQ, and they have a book program to choose one book from the library every month to keep.

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Anyone from vancouver?? I'm going to be spending a lot of time in vancouver this summer...?

hotpockets

Im 17. I am going to vancouver with my family this summer for a while. Just wondering about the hangouts and things to do for a female teenager. it would be nice if i knew the places the kids went so i could meet a few people and not be bored with loneliness!!

Answer
Hi I am from Vancouver....

There are tons of things to do ....

Go to see Justin Timberlake at GM Place
Visit Stanley Park
There is a Huge International Fireworks Competition at the and of July ..... HSBC Symphony of Fire
Go Shopping at Metrotown/Metropolis Centre ,,,,Very Huge Mall over 500 stores & Shops
Go to the PNE ( Pacific National Exibition) .... Tons of rides games and Free stuff ...tons of teenagers attend here
Rollerblade or bike the Seawall around Stanley Park .
Many Concerts in Vancouver in the Summer months... check out .... www.gmplace.com
Play Beach Volleyball at Kitalino Beach ......Very active for teens in the summer
Go to this site ....
www.vancouvertourism.com

There you will see other things and events that may interest you.

Have great Summer ....
Hope you enjoy your Visit Here.

What would you do if you visited Vancouver?

MountainCh

If you were visiting Vancouver for just 4 days, what would your top 3 things to see be?

Any outstanding restaurants I just have to visit?

Answer
My top 3 things :
1.Whistler - there is so much stuff to do there and good shopping there. You can go see our beautiful mountains with lots of activities. But it is a bit of a drive though.
2. Stanley Park- A beautiful park with lots to do. Go rent a bike and go around the sea wall!
3. Well I can't have only a third one because I can't choose
There's shopping - Robson St., Pacific Centre,
-Go check out Yaletown - Great restaurants around Yaletown shops as in Hamiliton St. - Like Chopstixs for Japanese, Goldfish for Asian Fusion, Brix, and awesome gelato - Yaletown Gelato
Another great gelato is La Casa Gelato with 200 + flavours! Also if you go there go to Commercial Drive because they have great restaurants like Me and Julio for Mexican and Marcello for Italian
Go to Granville Island and check out the kid's market just for fun and eat at the Public Market so much good food. You have to get the bagel with cream cheese there so good. And the lemon merigue pie!!
Go to see the suspension Bridge.
For cheap sushi go to Samurai or Kamei Royale.
You must go to Italian Kitchen and have their donut dessert sooo good! Go to Nu its a good restaurant too.
I've kinda already answered this question so go visit this one and check out my answer and click on the links i've provided there.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsfZJ.eKDYZffB_UVfOJ_tFA7RR.;_ylv=3?qid=20080724161624AAzt076

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ideas for classes for little kids?

Q. My mom has her own business and has clients with younger kids, about 5 years old , i need some ides of what kind of classes to give them most will be individual classes with 1 or 2 kids.

thanks :)

Answer
Acting
Dancing
Drawing
Painting
Swimming
Playing in the Park
Running, Having Races
Teach them How to read
Bicycle lessons
Skating lessons
Iceskating lessons
Rollerblading lessons
Design T-shirts
Learn how to write
Go to the beach
Ect.

What are the reasons why people ride bicycles?

yinyin

What are the reasons why people ride bicycles?

Answer
1. Riding a bike is liberating in that I-still-feel-like-a-kid sort of way, and I'm not trapped in a metal/glass/infernal combustion coffin looking at the world through wide-screen television eyes. And parking is always free on a bike. And my bike starts every morning, even in cold weather.

âHurl Everstone of Minneapolis is the publisher of Cars R Coffins, a Web site devoted to bicycle-punkrock-action.

2. Without cycling, Iâd die consuming the quantities of beer that I do. I also ride for the scenery. And what other opportunity do I have for stuffing 250 pounds into too-small Lycra bib shorts?

âMatt Wiebe, a Santa Fe resident, University of New Mexico professor and technical editor of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

3. I ride because it gives me an excuse for shaving my legs. If it werenât for the six bikes in the garage, Iâd be forever trying to explain why I look like a bearded lady on the lam from a carnival sideshow who got her head shaved in the drunk tank after flunking a cootie inspection. Plus when I'm stuck for something obnoxious to write or draw, a quick ride helps jar the nickel loose and set the music to playing. That, and the drugs.

âPatrick O'Grady, a professional rumormonger living in Colorado who vents periodically on this site and at www.maddogmedia.com.

4. While pedaling over hill and dale, people usually notice and often talk to me. Because of this I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly. Like a Southern Baptist song, the good has overcome. This has been the best reason of all for bicycling. I'm approachable when on a bike. It's fun talking to kids and strangers about a sport and way of life that I love. Humanity awakens at the sight of a two-wheeled traveler.

âLoretta Esparza is a seven-year veteran of Salsa Cycles and a dog-lovin' barista in California.

5. To coalesce the burning pure horrific rage as you face knuckleheads, debutantes and four-wheeled freaks in traffic.

âBob Roll calls himself âa man barely alive.â A veteran of the 7-Eleven team, the first U.S. pro squad to tackle the Tour de France, he is the author of several books and a cycling commentator on the Outdoor Life Network.

6. Your ass. As in, if you ride a bike your butt ends up looking fairly tight â like two VW Beetles parking.

âJoe Lindsey of Boulder, Colorado, has been riding and racing bikes for 15 years, and covering the sport for the past six for cycling magazines. He's covered the Tour de France, the Olympics and numerous World Cups and world championships. He enjoys photography, telemark skiing and Britney Spears videos with the sound turned off.

7. Riding a bike has always been a major symbol of independence and freedom. But the real reasons I go out and pound the pedals are sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.
Sex: As the gap to geezerhood closes, stayinâ in shape for my favorite activity becomes even more important.
Drugs: A long time ago I realized that maintaining my awesome boy-toy bod while enjoying my modest beer habit was going to require a lot more exercise than it did in my studly youth.
Rock 'n roll: While my guitar skills have never surpassed the mediocre stage, the stuff I play in my head when I ride is awesome. Just give me the steady rhythm of my fixed gear, some open road and turn it to 11, Jimi, âcuz today weâre gonna rock!

âRoss Shafer lives with his wife, Mari, on the Rockinâ Bar L ranch in Petaluma, California. He is the founder and former owner of Salsa Cycles and owns and operates Six-Nine Design, which provides product design, prototyping, fabrication and tool design services.

8. Some people train so they can race; I race so I can train, so the all-important workout doesnât get shoved to the back burner so easily. Nothing inspires like knowing you're going to get your butt kicked in the next race if you donât train. The fact that I get my butt kicked anyway is completely beside the point.

âJef Mallett, a former bike racer and current triathlete and cartoonist. His strip, "Frazz," appears in 150 newspapers across America.

9. My wife, Natasha, thinks cycling is great way to spend time as a family while burning a few calories. For her, the family ride is quality time. Then again, she does not have the trailer with 50 or so stuffed animals and the 2-year-old singing âOld McDonaldâ attached to her bike as we climb what must be Mont Ventoux. Hmm ... now that I think about it, cycling is the best way to burn a bazillion calories and hang with the family.

âJohn Kibodeaux, a 16-year veteran of bicycle retail, owns High Desert Bicycles in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and also works full time for his daughter, Marguerite. He has a B.A. from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in dirty diapers, Sesame Street and anything Disney.

10. I live and breathe bike transportation. Does that make me a granola-crunching, world-saving utopian? Actually, my riding has a lot to do with what's good for me. Riding makes me healthy. It saves me time.

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Which are safer: rear or front mounted child bike seats?

.

I haven't cycled for years but really need a bike to get around as the local bus route has just stopped running and i live five miles out of town.
My child is 3. I will need to purchase a bike seat for her.

I've looked online but advice is very confusing. I definitely don't want a trailer, but am wondering whether it is safer to ride with a child in a front seat or a rear seat? I know the front seat seems more stable but there are a few problems with this one.

Any advice, especially from personal experience would be very welcome. thanks! xx
by the way i also haven't got a bike - advice on what type to purchase for a relatively inexperienced rider would be welcome too!

Answer
Definately rear seats are safer. Front mounts obstruct your view for pot holes and glass etc. and you run a risk of running your kid over if there is a malfunction with the seat or harness. Just make sure to get the right seat with the right amount of restraints for your child.

tag along with existing kids bike?

Kilino9

I saw on the street a kids bike attached to an adult's bike with a sort of a tag along pipe kind of a thing. Does anybody know where to buy it or what it is called

Answer
There are two different types. One is called a Tag A Long that is made to attach to the seat post of an adult bike and the other is a boom type device that lifts the front wheel of the childs bike off the ground. The tag a long is a much better design.

Do a Google seach for.
Tag a Long
Wee Ride
Bike trailer

You can them about anywhere.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Wee-Ride-Co-Pilot-Child-Trainer/9870514

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=tag+along+bike&revid=1634490093&ei=jbHtS563GoaBlAe-lsC0CA&sa=X&oi=revisions_narrow&resnum=4&ct=revision&ved=0CCwQ3gIwAw&fp=e64858094bfd2093

Edit;

Here is the tail gater tow bar.

http://www.trail-gator.com/

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=trail+gator+bicycle+tow+bar&tag=yahhyd-20&index=aps&hvadid=31388808011&ref=pd_sl_1g7qe7nxdd_e

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Is a bicycle a vehicle are a TOY?

Glenda B

Is a Bicycle a Vehicle are a Toy?
Walmart Kmart Toy r us sale bicycles in the TOY dept, Its in the DPS book 13-1 a bicycle is a Vehicle, Your kids are geting hurt because your kids thanks a bicycle is a TOY
I need to add this for Russ. In the Texas Drivers Handbook. "Bicycle" means every device propelled by human power upon which any PERSON may ride, having 2 tandem wheels either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter. A tricycle is a toy. Children think that a bicycle is a toy because they see them in the toy dept. "Vehicle" is a device that any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, other than a device used as a stationery device rails or tracks.
What I want is that WalMart, ToysRUs, KMart to put the adult bicycles in the sporting goods dept, or post a sign that they are Vehicles not TOYS. I don't want another life lost because children riding their bicycles out in the roads because of I saw a young boy with his parents get killed in front of my home because a driver did not obey the traffic laws.

Answer
In every state I know of, bicycles are "vehicles". That's why rules & regulations covering bicycles are in the DMV handbook - same as cars. K-Mart & other discount stores list them under toys for convenience. You don't expect them to be listed in the automotive section - do you?

Why do parents teach their kids this garbage?

Duct Tape

It makes me REALLY mad when I see parents teaching their kids to ride bicycles on the left side of the road (We drive on the right here in USA), and to always, no matter how far away it is, swerve their bicycles out of the road as quickly as possible and run for cover whenever there's a moving car within two blocks. I remember being taught this as a small child. I have broke the habit now, though. I'm 14. And there's a person at my neighbor's house that, when this person is backing out of the driveway to leave, the parents feel the need to take their children 50 feet from the road. Whenever I see see this occur, I always wonder this: "If that person drives THAT bad, why lend them your VAN?" I am now un-teaching their children the ride-on-the-left thing. When no cars were coming, I rode on the right side of the road, with them on my right, but they have been taught that for so long that they plowed into me trying to get on the left side. I am succeeding, though slowly. But why do they teach this?

Answer
Since many people think of bicycles as a way of being a fast pedestrian, I think that parents translate "walk facing traffic" to "bike facing traffic."

First of all, bikes are not pedestrians. Bikes should not be ridden on the sidewalk.

Secondly, bikes are considered vehicles in most states and should be ridden with traffic, no matter the age of the rider.

Parents should teach their children to listen for approaching traffic, to look over their should for approaching traffic, and to be aware of their surroundings. If children learned to obey traffic laws early on their bicycles, perhaps we wouldn't have as many bad drivers; it works in Copenhagen, anyway.

Here's the problem with riding against the flow of traffic in any situation: If you are cycling and a driver is on a collision course with you in their lane, you both have less time to react. You are more likely to have a head-on collision riding against traffic than you are to have a rear-strike collision when riding with traffic. If you're riding with traffic, you're more likely to get right-hooked (a car passes then immediately turns in front of you) or doored (a vehicle occupant opens their door to exit the vehicle directly in your path) than struck from the rear.

It's also difficult to predict when a bicycle might appear head-on in your lane if you're driving your car.

Finally, if you're riding the wrong way (on the left in the US) and you come across a cyclist riding the correct way (on the right in the US) then both of you have to react thus potentially sending you in the path of motor vehicles and, should you collide, your bodies smacking into each other will probably hurt really, really bad.

Teach your children to obey traffic law when riding, teach your children to be aware of their surroundings when riding, and teach your children to ride in a predictable way.

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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.

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when you were a kid do you have an imaginary friend?

Q. when i was a kid, let's say about 4-10 years old i had an imaginary friend, almost every time of the day i talk to him, most of the time i ask him anything like a bicycle or guidance or just be plain thankful, that he is always present at my side,..but now that im grown up i don't have my imaginary friend any more

i am now quite of an atheist

Answer
No. I made model airplanes and used to keep my windows closed as I sniffed the glue. I cannot tell if my friend was real or not.

Help appraising Peugeot bicycle?

between

It says PH18 53 on the frame. Its in really good condition, looks like the previous owner rode it only a for like a week. I'm thinking its from the eighties. Its a topaz color with a bell, light, reflectors, fenders, kickstand and rack. Oh and the seat and hand bars are white. Thinking it was on the market for a kid or women. Saw it at a thrift store for $15 thought I might get more then I paid for it.

Answer
I concur. Womens bikes are not very desirable, and the PH18 is a lower end model.

That being said, it is a good bike for beating about the neighborhood. Um, you got a good deal, I imagine a reasonable selling price would be in the $50 range if everything is clean and it works well.

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What age do kids normally learn to ride a bike without training wheels?

Jazmyn

My daughter is almost 7 and doesn't know how and is scared she will fall. I'm just trying to figure out if she is behind other kids.

Answer
It is just fine that kids are learning at 4 or 5, but 7 is not too old either. There are so many factors, most of which are exposure and opportunity, that come into play. The avid rider's kids may ride much more often than someone else's so that one kid has 40 hours on a bike by age 4 when it takes another child to age 7 to get 40 hours. My main point is not to be concerned with being behind; many kids learn up to age 9, with the average age being around 6.
If her fear is really preventing her from trying, suit her up with helmet, elbow and knee pads. Tap the pads while on her so that she can know what it feels like. Be silly about tapping the pads, like it hurt your finger or something.

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
My twin girls started with tricycles when they were two and bicycles with training wheels at three. They were barely able to ride the bicycles till age 4. (One of their friends was able to zoom around without training wheels at age 3, but he had an older sister.)

We finally lost the training wheels at age 5. I took them to a flat field in the park and let them learn and fall on the grass with great success.

Good luck!

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