BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

The biggest pitfall will be assembly--imagine handing a bike in a box, along with a tool kit, to some random person and asking them to assembly it.

Don't tell anyone I said this, but go to Performance and see what they have. They have a nice range of bike choices there, and I suspect their shop staff knows a little bit about bike maintenance.

Don't assume that you need to go a department store to get a bike in that price range, either. Most large makers are producing a full range of kids/teens bikes, with fairly reasonable prices.

I was going to suggest Performance also - they seem to have staked out that fat middle in cost between Target/WalMart and Bike Shops. Worth a look anyway.

Less than $300, I'd try craigslist first. Or Freeride, if you're willing to take some time either browsing for a good bike or building one yourself.

If part of the goal is to get this young woman really psyched about biking, and possibly take it on for life, don't discount the "pretty, shiny, new" factor of a new bike. As much as I recommend buying used for almost everyone else, a 13 yr old is a whole different animal. Think about it, it's just not the same saying to your friends "hey, I got a used bike", for a few more bucks she would be a lot more excited.

If they get it from a shop they'll get tuneups and help, etc.

Plus I've seen too many completely insane people on CL trying to sell what are apparently solid gold Huffy mtn bikes.

I got my 14 yo son a Diamondback Response Mtn at Performance for like $360, it's nice.

I was going to suggest a used bike as well, but like edmonds my next thought was, 13-year old and "new! shiny!". I suggest shopping around at a few local bike shops. They might have something from last year on sale. I got my bike on sale from Ambrdige bike shop, and they told me I have free service for a year or something. If you aren't proficient at fixing a bike, that itself is worth an extra $100. They were also happy to swap out whatever parts I wanted at what I imagine is just their cost. If you have a budget and go talk to some of these people they might be able to help you out.

I vote for avoiding target/wal-mart/dicks for bike purchases. You can more than make up the price difference by selling her bike as she grows out of it. Department store bikes are largely unrepairable and end up dumpster fodder after a few hundred miles.

Regarding local shops, don't assume that every bike they sell is really, really expensive. TOP in Shadyside always seems to have some affordable bikes, and as dwillen says, the service you'll get is often worth the extra cash upfront.

Is she here or Buffalo? If here, get her interested in FreeRide for (a) the education on how to fix a bike (so that the thing isn't in a landfill by Christmas); (b) the sense of community that one gets from hanging around other bicycle people.

Does Buffalo have a equivalent to FreeRide?

as a 30 year old woman completely in touch with her inner 13 year old (who are we kidding, my inner child is in total control), I would like to second the "new shiny" factor.

personally, a sparkly pink rhinestone bike would make me shriek, spastically dance and just about piss myself with joy. Unfortunately they do not make appropriately bedazzled bikes in a size that I can commute comfortably on, though I do tie bright orange bandannas on my handlebars and pretend they're tassels.

ej, I'm not pushing Performance bikes, but they have some beach cruisers that would probably spaz you out.

Beach cruisers! I mean, you already have a 45 pound bike, why not go for 50?

I saw those. I clapped my hands and giggled and jumped up and down, and even started drooling a little. Then I tried to lift the handlebars of one. I can't hate myself that much. I just can't.

That's why god has given me superglue and pink glitter glue and plastic jewel things from Michael's. God wants me to get my craft on. I gotta Pink My Ride.

ejwme ...a sparkly pink rhinestone bike would make me shriek, spastically dance and just about piss myself with joy

(on Beach bikes)

I clapped my hands and giggled and jumped up and down, and even started drooling a little.

Next time you go to the bike store, please take a video camera.

Thanks in advance!

Hmm, someone needs to build me a 20 lb. carbon fiber beach cruiser. I thought I had all the bikes I needed, but now I know I was wrong.

@edmonds: Go titanium...classic styling with corrosion resistance.

And nothing says bike-bling like Ti encrusted with rhinestones.

knowing the potential owner, i agree 100% about the new and shiny factor. though, i did talk to her a bit and asked if she would be ok with a used bike (after i polished it up, etc.), and she seemed open to it.

new problem: she now wants a bmx. she's been riding around the neighborhood with her friends, standing on the pegs and stuff like that, so the bmx is now the cool thing. i wonder if i can convince her that it won't be as cool or useful or practical two years from now.

Anything wrong with getting her the cool bmx now, and something more useful & practical in two years? Hopefully she won't entirely trash this one in that time, and can use both by then. And who's to say she can't use a bmx for plain old transportation? How many grownups drive a Jeep for commuting?

heh, if you put an Xtracycle on a "practical" bike, she'd have a whole seat and could cart around two other people. I think that'd be AWESOME, but my impression of cool is not universal. Pink Rhinestone Encrusted Xtracycle, with a purple vinyl back seat and foot pegs. Only silver fur trim would make it better.

And two years from now the 13 year old (at that time 15) may not even fit on whatever bike she has now - I grew four inches in that time. The BMX could be the gateway bike, leading to a more serious cycling addiction

Nothing wrong with a bmx as far as I'm concerned, simple and bombproof. Bmx is cool as hell. If that's what she wants to ride, then heck yes. Find out if maybe they are near an SE dealer. It would be a simple step in a couple of years from a bmx to something like an SE Draft Lite;

http://www.sebikes.com/Singlespeed/DraftLite.aspx

drool.

@ejwme: "The BMX could be the gateway bike, leading to a more serious cycling addiction."

You write the funniest posts. Period.

Cycling Addiction is no laughing matter! It could lead to Alley Cat races, MS-150, and even riding all the way to DC _on a trail_. Commuting is the final stage before Total Vehicular Independence. At that point it's best to just find her a group ride to join and monitor her closely for signs of unicycle use.

get her a bmx and a couple videos. just because shes a girl, doesn't mean she wont like riding street. if they aren't near any decent bmx dealers go to danscomp.com and shop away.

Can't find it now online, but Dirt Rag did an article several years ago about bikes from non-bike shops. They found some serious safety issues with the assembly and construction. I would never consider buying a bike from a big-box store or toy store after reading that.