4Real Forums: Bikes???

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science ( Forum Locked)
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science

Topic: Bikes???

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 6:40pm \| IP Logged

So frustrating.. you'd think we could get some decent bikes without paying an arm and a leg.. but so many of them just aren't even lasting one child let alone getting passed down.

Any recommendations for bikes? should we look at paying a lot more at least for the older kids bikes? how do you manage bikes?

We do live where we can use the bikes fairly regularly.. and I have a bike trailer for the littles to ride in.. so we do get good use from them when we have enough for everyone to use.

Helmets too.. they just a replace every year thing? I mean they're not treated horribly but I get so tired of having to buy new because they don't hold up to what I think should be reasonable use.

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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

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LeeAnn
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 8:51pm \| IP Logged

We have gotten all of ours free from people putting them out on the curb with a "free" sign, but maybe we aren't as frequent bikers as you are. We have been able to pass down the helmets so far. The boy though, he'll probably insist on getting a non-pink helmet. :) I'm hoping one of his boy cousins will have some hand-me-downs.

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CathinCoffeland
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Posted: Jan 18 2009 at 10:42pm \| IP Logged

Jodie- my first thought was...I wonder if she is in oregon too

Then I checked you location.

The only thing we have more than coffee shops around here are bike shops.

Id say yes helmets are a frequently replaced item- even dh and he hangs his up. The probelem with something that is basically made from stryofoam.

Bi-mart frequently has kids helmets on the sale rack that just didnt sell for "style reasons". Ds got a fire breathing dragon one he loves that was originally 15 and we paid 5.

If they are cracked ,dented or warped or have straps that wont tighten -they go. They are no longer safe Some helmet companies in the past have had an "impact" ie crash replacement programs but Im not sure if any still do , some police/fire programs have free helmets for kids days - ask at a bike shop They will help pad up and fix straps on sound ones too.

I think part of the problem here is the weather- the #$@$#%% damp and mud just are really rough on bikes unless you want to wash and rub them dry each time you use them they jsut rust and mold out.

DD's is a year old and looked new in the fall and looks like trash now. Even under the awning.

We have replaced things like handles and pedals and seats and just spray painted the frames on our older ones. It cost a bit but not as much as replacing it.

We have a good bike store we go to. We have only bought two new so far and they are more than k-mart type bikes but they come with some service and some guarentes and are easier to repair. Not to mention no dorky tv show adds on them

Happy biking- Maggie (who longs for a Bakfiethttp://www.dutchbikeseattle.com/html/bikes/bakfiets.html

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 12:02am \| IP Logged

Thanks Maggie.. but we're the other side of Oregon.. high dry desert.. and punishing sun.. helmets seem to get a lot of cracking and warping.. the bikes.. well we don't have any real availability of used bikes.. and the new cheaper end ones just aren't cutting it.. the kids use the hard.. but that doesn't account for things like the pedal breaking the first time out etc. And if we go somewhere to buy a new bike.. well it costs as much as the bike to try and take it back.

And then there's not just the money factor.. but the time factor..

kids go out to ride bikes by the house and someone ends up out there working on bikes for 30 minutes to get everyone on wheels. Or we want to all ride down to the park.. and we have to stop and fix at least one bike.. most of the time we manage to have them working decently so that we don't go somewhere and have a break down.. but it takes a lot of time.

I'm thinking the oldest couple of kids are getting big enough that perhaps going with a better class of bike for them and hunting for used bikes for the smaller kids.

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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott

CathinCoffeland
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Posted: Jan 22 2009 at 11:47pm \| IP Logged

Next you come see a beavers game Jodie let us know ahead of time- we will try to hook you up with some used bikes

God Bless- Maggie

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