There's a rumour that Santa will be visiting our house this Christmas with a 16" kids bike. I had a look at the LBS the other day and they were between $150-190. Now that seems a fair bit of money to me and is much more than you would pay at the likes of K-Mart. Given that a 4 year old girl is not going to be putting the frame under any weight strain and definitely won't be riding over jumps, frame quality is probably not so much of an issue. What advantage can an LBS offer over the likes of K-Mart or something like Rays Bike City. I'm all for supporting the LBS but in this case can't see the value. Bike fit was an obvious reason fro me gettign my roadbike from an LBS but for someone who's size will probably change in the first month or so, that LBS advantage goes right out the window.
Shop around , GIANT's Animator & Puddin' 16" bikes have a RRP under what you have been quoted & are very solid machines compared to the mass-merchant's boxed bikes. Steve @ IDEAL
"DaveB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
There's a rumour that Santa will be visiting our house this Christmas with a 16" kids bike. I had a look at the LBS the other day and they were between $150-190. Now that seems a fair bit of money to me and is much more than you would pay at the likes of K-Mart. Given that a 4 year old girl is not going to be putting the frame under any weight strain and definitely won't be riding over jumps, frame quality is probably not so much of an issue. What advantage can an LBS offer over the likes of K-Mart or something like Rays Bike City. I'm all for supporting the LBS but in this case can't see the value. Bike fit was an obvious reason fro me gettign my roadbike from an LBS but for someone who's size will probably change in the first month or so, that LBS advantage goes right out the window.
K-Mart or something like Rays Bike City. I'm all for supporting the LBS but in this case can't see the value. Bike fit was an obvious reason fro me gettign my roadbike from an LBS but for someone who's size will probably change in the first month or so, that LBS advantage goes right out the window.
DaveB
Safety is an important issue. You want to make sure everything works properly and won't pack up while she's riding it. The LBS will build the bike properly, and offer servicing; at the very least a bike needs an adjustment service soon after purchase.
BTW, Ray's is not a chain, not even a franchise. Each are individually owned and therefore stock different brands.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
There's a rumour that Santa will be visiting our house this Christmas with a 16" kids bike. I had a look at the LBS the other day and they were between $150-190. Now that seems a fair bit of money to me and is much more than you would pay at the likes of K-Mart. Given that a 4 year old girl is not going to be putting the frame under any weight strain and definitely won't be riding over jumps, frame quality is probably not so much of an issue. What advantage can an LBS offer over the likes of K-Mart or something like Rays Bike City. I'm all for supporting the LBS but in this case can't see the value. Bike fit was an obvious reason fro me gettign my roadbike from an LBS but for someone who's size will probably change in the first month or so, that LBS advantage goes right out the window.
DaveB
Buy 2nd-hand or remember you can sell it ½-price in a couple of years. A 4-yr old will be better off first on a 12" wheel bike. -- Mark Lee
