Since I am getting in better shape I have thought about getting my 10 year old son and myself some mountain bicycles. I just need them to be able to have wide enough tires and shift low enough that we can ride some power lines and woods trails.
I don't know a thing about buying a mountain bicycle. Should I just go to Walmart and pick one out? Is there a specific good cheaper brand to look for either new or used? Is there a specific feature I will need to look for that makes for a better bike?
The first is big box store bikes. They will be the cheapest
The second is bike store entry level bikes - typically these are brands like Trek , Specialized , Felt, and Giant. I'm sure there are many other brands.
then you have the high end stuff.
If you think this is a fleeting interest and you want to try it out before you go all in, then , again, IMO, an $80 wal-mart mountain bike will do to get you started.
The difference will be it will be a cheaper grade aluminum (or steel), the seat will be minimal and the shifters/gears will be pretty basic. It may or may not have suspension of some type.
My wife and I bought used slightly higher end bikes off Craigslist. She has a Giant Cypress and I have a Giant Revel. We ordered gel/foam seats off amazon for about $20 a pop. These are like 15 year old bikes - the gears and brakes work fine and its a higher quality bike we scooped for about $65 a pop. Then we took them in for a tuneup to a bike shop for $25 a piece.
The real issue however is not so much the bike brand but how it fits you. When you're a kid, you just hop on the bike and ride - you don't give a schit if your feet can barely touch the ground or whatever, but at my age, the bike has to fit. I would suggest considering a type with higher handle bars to give you less strain on your back and hands. When you are 8 miles in and your back hurts, your hands are numb and your knees are creaking, you'll be wishing you took the time to find a bike that fit you better. The next bike I get is going to be a multi-speed cruiser - like a modern version of a 50's era bike , but my riding is mostly level trails and bike paths.
Gears are overblown, IMO too. While they aren't much of a cost factor, a 7 speed bike is just as effective as a 21 speed.
just my .02 cents
Last edited by KFWA; 05/24/19.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
It's not the brand. All bike manufacturers and component makers have different levels of items. Think Kimber--you can go all the way from a Custom II to a Custom Shop. I'd try to get mid-level Shimano components with at least a front suspension. Padded bike shorts and padded palm gloves make all the difference in the world.
My wife and I ride Giants. A Revel and a Revel II. These are not actually died in the wool mountain bikes, but more of a cross over type bike with shocks on the front. Ours does not have disc brakes, and somewill say that is the way to go. Ask the dealer what they recommend for the type riding you anticipate you and your son will be doing.
Please do not just go to Wal-Mart and grab a cheap bike. Get good bikes from a dealer that will service and or repair when needed. More of a recipe for success if you will.
Craigslist is your friend. Read some sizing guides online to get a baseline for fit, then go try a few out. Wal Mart will get you a $150 bike which will likely be utter crap and weigh a ton. Bike shops will probably start in the ~$600 range for a basic bike, up to ~$10K. You can buy a perfectly serviceable front suspension bike from a major manufacturer on Craigslist for around $2-$300. This will allow you to get some experience and learn what you like and don't like.
Mercy ceases to be a virtue when it enables further injustice. -Brent Weeks
Whatever bike you look at, get one that specifies a specific height - usually from the center of the pedal hub to the top of the seat stem (I think), that’s fitted to your inseam length.
I believe when seated, your feet should be flat on the ground with your legs straight (and not bent). At least that’s what I remember when I and my wife were fitted for our bikes. .
My next bike will be a mountain e-bike. Downside is they're expensive. Upside is going up that steep grade, riding farther and faster and being able to pack more gear on your bike for hunting or camping. I personally believe it won't be too long before the majority of bikes sold have some sort of battery/electric assist.
Never buy a Walmart bike. You will not be happy. The components are low-grade, flex, drag, and break. Either go to a real bike shop or buy a good, used, major brand on Craigslist or the like.
Broncos are officially the worst team in the nation this year.
Even if you're just beginning, do some internet research and buy a mid-priced name brand from a good dealer and stay away from "bargains". The bargains will only cause you to become an expert bike repair person.
That said, where is Jell-o when he might serve a purpose.....? I understand that he's into biking and "working out" in general now that he has apparently given up on being a savvy political pundit.
It's official. I missed the selfie deadline so I'm Maser's sock puppet because rene and the Polish half of the fubar twins have decided that I am.
If you have a bike coop in your area they are a good source that is worth checking out. They typically sell bikes they have received as donations and refurbished.
If the one here is any indication they will have bikes ranging from decent quality clear up to high end customs and all at usually more than fair pricing.
The one here is usually more than happy to help get someone on a bike. I've bought 2 frames and a bunch of parts from it.
I believe when seated, your feet should be flat on the ground with your legs straight (and not bent). At least that’s what I remember when I and my wife were fitted for our bikes. .
Nowhere near right. In order to get decent power, your leg should be slightly bent when the pedal is all the way at the bottom. Thus, you're going to be just about on tiptoe with your feet on the ground.
Old rule of thumb was inseam length minus 12" equals frame size, but nowadays it's probably more like 14".
Don't go big box store.
Starting out, you probably can't go wrong with Giant. They used to manufacture a lot of bikes sold by other brands. A LOT.
I'd say go to a few bike shops, see what they have. Ask about used. Department store bikes are too low quality and a waste of money. A decent new bike will run you about $500. For that you will get a hardtail with a spring fork. It will have disk brakes, probably hydraulic. Reasonable components and should last you for years unless you really get into it and want to upgrade. Stay away from cheap full suspension. I personally really enjoy it and have worked up to a Trek Fuel EX7 - full suspension 'trail' bike. I ride about 2,000 miles per year. Mt. Bikes are how I stay in shape for fall.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
Cycling used to be a big part of my life - I worked in bike shops for quite a few years through high school and college so am a bit biased towards buying from a bike shop vs. department stores. After a long layoff, I've been getting back into it the last couple of years and my wife and I recently bought Trek mountain bikes from a local shop. I personally wouldn't buy a bike without test riding it first (no different than buying a car or truck) but that may rule out the department store / mail order options. If you have access to a decent bike shop, you can test ride a few to get a feel for how a $400 bike rides compared to a $4000 one which may help you determine a price range you're comfortable with. You also may consider renting bikes for a day to get a feel for what it's all about - the shops here will apply the rental fee towards a purchase if you end up going that route.
Should have said I'm 51 and my son 10. We won't be doing any jumping,just trail riding. I've lost a lot of weight and am getting in a lot better shape wanting to get a lot better and he needs to get off the couch with dad for another activity that he might really like.
Go to a few bike shops and learn a bit. Then, look for a good used mtn bike. Us mtn bikers get upgradeitus and usually sell our old bikes for much less than they are worth. For your application I’d think you wouldn’t need a full suspension bike so maybe look for a hardtail with a decent fork up front. I’m now riding a full carbon Santa Cruz 5010.
btw, china has a huge oversupply problem of bikes in China, that's why you can find so many cheap
I'm hoping this was tongue in cheek.
If not, then perhaps an explanation: That picture is of bikes that were rolled out (pun unintended) in China as part of a bike sharing explosion that has since died off. They were heavy AF single speeds designed to be used over and over again with as little maintenance as possible. Thing is though, is that they wound up being strewn all over the place becoming a public nuisance. You'll never see one of them here in the states.
Ford and Jump (others too, I'd imagine) are doing the same app based bike share here, though with much better equipment. In the case of the Jump bikes, you're getting an e-bike capable of a constant 20mph with not all that much rider input.
Bikes are worse than rifles for new hunters. Your price point will narrow it quite a bit.
Your son will grow out of his pretty quick. My advice is to start with something used out of the gate. Make sure the frame is the right size for you (or close enough) and just get out and ride.
If you get into it, you’ll start to see the differences between big box stuff and bike shop stuff, and how you want yours set up.
Your ass will thank you if you get some bike shorts. Helmets are a given. Make sure they fit correctly.
My next bike will be a mountain e-bike. Downside is they're expensive. Upside is going up that steep grade, riding farther and faster and being able to pack more gear on your bike for hunting or camping. I personally believe it won't be too long before the majority of bikes sold have some sort of battery/electric assist.
My aunt works part time at a bike shop that sells these. I took one for a ride. It was a riot. Really weird to get used to at first. But, once I did you could really fly!
Should have said I'm 51 and my son 10. We won't be doing any jumping,just trail riding. I've lost a lot of weight and am getting in a lot better shape wanting to get a lot better and he needs to get off the couch with dad for another activity that he might really like.
Probably the best reason of all for your weight loss is doing activities with your boy. He will cherish the memories and you'll be promoting an active lifestyle for him.
16bore is right. He will outgrow his bike quickly so it doesn't make sense to buy top of the line unless you find a smoking deal on one for him.
If you go used, check the gear teeth and chain for wear. Look over new ones as a point of reference. Trail grit will grind them down. Use a dry wax based lubricant designed for chains and gears. Look for bent or damaged spokes and wheel wobble ... easy to check. Gear changes shouldn't take forever.
Suspensions ... they make a ride smoother, but they also absorb energy when going up a steep hill as they will flex some.
Should have said I'm 51 and my son 10. We won't be doing any jumping,just trail riding. I've lost a lot of weight and am getting in a lot better shape wanting to get a lot better and he needs to get off the couch with dad for another activity that he might really like.
Probably the best reason of all for your weight loss is doing activities with your boy. He will cherish the memories and you'll be promoting an active lifestyle for him.
16bore is right. He will outgrow his bike quickly so it doesn't make sense to buy top of the line unless you find a smoking deal on one for him.
If you go used, check the gear teeth and chain for wear. Look over new ones as a point of reference. Trail grit will grind them down. Use a dry wax based lubricant designed for chains and gears. Look for bent or damaged spokes and wheel wobble ... easy to check. Gear changes shouldn't take forever.
Suspensions ... they make a ride smoother, but they also absorb energy when going up a steep hill as they will flex some.
I lost the weight mostly because I didn't want him without a father too young. We are going creek wading in a little bit.
I appreciate the good info. You have to understand that I live in Po Dunk backwoods. I might find a bike shop a couple or three hours one way away. I live so far down in the holler that it's dark an hour earlier at my house than up on the main road. that's how far I live out here,we refer to the good road as the main road. I do have lots of dirt trails and such to ride. I rode 4 wheelers for 2 hours in the woods and through the fields a couple weeks ago and never saw the same thing twice. I was just too fat and sick to enjoy all of it before now.
I was asking about brands and such because I will likely buy used,or at least used for my boy. I guess I need to look into how to measure both of us properly and go from there. I would like to spend under $100 for him and I would like to spend $200 or more for me. I might go as far as the $400 range as suggested earlier on that site posted. I would however rather buy a $400 bike used, that somebody thought they would ride,for about $150.
so China doesn't have an over supply problem with bicycles?
Nope. They had a boom/bust of the app based bike share services. Practically couldn't find any of those pictured (Offo, Zhifubao, Mobike), on the streets, last I was there in August '18. Compared to a year prior, when they were overly plentiful.
Just noticed your son's age. At 10 years old, depending on his height, your son might be better served with a 24" WHEELED bike. That's wheel size, not frame size.
The thing is, is that in practically no time, be prepared for him to need a bike with full sized wheels.
Mountain bikes frame are usually sized in inches. I'm a hair under 6'2" and ride a 20 or 21 most comfortably. My son is 5'11" and rides a 19" frame and my wife at 5'8" likes a 17 or 18".
Never buy a Walmart bike. You will not be happy. The components are low-grade, flex, drag, and break.
+++++++1
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
Go to a few bike shops and learn a bit. Then, look for a good used mtn bike. Us mtn bikers get upgradeitus and usually sell our old bikes for much less than they are worth. For your application I’d think you wouldn’t need a full suspension bike so maybe look for a hardtail with a decent fork up front. I’m now riding a full carbon Santa Cruz 5010.
+1
No substitute for you and him going on a full day road trip to a town where there are bike shops, ya gotta see for yourself. Advice from bicycle people with actual bikes on the scene to try is worth a 1,000 even good posts on here.
If there's a college town go there, there will be a bunch of bike stores around a college and this time of year they should have a bunch of used bikes. I agree with others, you want "hardtail" mountain bikes with front suspension.
You need to go to a bike shop too to find a bike to fit your son.
However you get bikes, do not purchase a bike without also buying a tire pump, spare tubes, and tire levers to remove the tire from the rim. This will save you a long walk and a second trip to the bike store
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
I would suggest considering a type with higher handle bars to give you less strain on your back and hands. When you are 8 miles in and your back hurts, your hands are numb and your knees are creaking, you'll be wishing you took the time to find a bike that fit you better. The next bike I get is going to be a multi-speed cruiser - like a modern version of a 50's era bike , but my riding is mostly level trails and bike paths.
There's back problems and there's back problems, if you do much riding on a bicycle where the riding position is such that the weight of your upright body is on the saddle, sooner or later you're gonna hit a bump, feel it in your lower back and the next day be introduced to a different sort of back pain called sciatica, which will linger for at least another six weeks providing you don't hit another bump, in which case it will last longer. Ask me how I know, and I ride bikes most every day.
You want your feet below you on the pedals such that they are bearing much of the weight and at least some of the weight on your arms.
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Gears are overblown, IMO too. While they aren't much of a cost factor, a 7 speed bike is just as effective as a 21 speed.
A common misunderstanding of the concept. I ride a "27 Speed"; three chainrings up front connected to the pedals, and nine gears in back. I don't ride a "27 speed" I ride an 11 speed. Almost all the time the chain is on the middle chainring up front and the gears I use are the nine on the back sprocket set. If I need a lower gear I shift down to the small chainring up front (AKA the "granny gear"). If I need a higher gear than the regular nine I shift up to the large chainring up front.
So nine gears in back plus one extra-low and one extra-high up front = eleven speeds.
Why nine gears in back is better than seven is that the nine will have closer-spaced gear ratios, more gear ratios available right where you use them most often.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
Craigslist is your friend. Read some sizing guides online to get a baseline for fit, then go try a few out. Wal Mart will get you a $150 bike which will likely be utter crap and weigh a ton. Bike shops will probably start in the ~$600 range for a basic bike, up to ~$10K. You can buy a perfectly serviceable front suspension bike from a major manufacturer on Craigslist for around $2-$300. This will allow you to get some experience and learn what you like and don't like.
This, I'm willing to ride a 21 speed, or 24, bought my son a 24 speed bike that was a top of the line bike 8 years ago for $300 last year and its in great shape. He has dinged it up more than the previous owned had in 8 years.
RH, how tall are you? Do you think you can do basic bike set up? If not can you learn from short You Tube videos? If you can, you are a good candidate for mail order, and your dollar can go much further ordering online.
Avoid Wal-Mart bikes. They are heavy, poorly built and often assembled horribly.
RH, how tall are you? Do you think you can do basic bike set up? If not can you learn from short You Tube videos? If you can, you are a good candidate for mail order, and your dollar can go much further ordering online.
Avoid Wal-Mart bikes. They are heavy, poorly built and often assembled horribly.
I'm 6'2 and wear 32-32 jeans. I was looking at that online shopping link posted. I'm hopefully handy enough to figure stuff out.
Yea,I've met some of the assemblers at Walmart. I know I can do better than that.
Don't even consider a Wallyworld bike. If you don't know of an established bike shop, ask friends about good bike shops, they can set you up properly. Price is an issue, but decent bikes are out there that don't break the bank.
There are many charts online for sizing, but go to a bike shop. Online charts can't account for the specific makeup of your body - long legs, short torso or the other way around. Many screw up and buy a bike that is too small. They end up looking silly and have no power to the pedals.
Broncos are officially the worst team in the nation this year.
I have a Trek Marlin 6 that I commute 6-12/day on. I like it quite well for that. The disc breaks are a huge advantage over drag brakes, IMO. You can probably find a used Marlin 4 for $250-300. A trip into town for a real bike shop may be the best option for you, in all honesty.
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