i HATE xmas

I went to target.com - they had a Schwinn for $135 that weighed 40 pounds. That's $3.38 a pound.
What a deal! Sevens and Lightspeeds can cost $250 a pound.
:-)

Pete said:

So I pull up Target.com and Walmart.com, and point him towards the Schwinn's. $125, alloy rims,
front 'shock' only, they'll probably fit well enough for a while.

but depending on the kids the bikes might outlast their growth. Kids don't care like we do.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See knight-knight-Open ↗
toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

Steve Knight said:

Kids don't care like we do.

Maybe... When my G/Fs little sister wanted a BMX style bike we made the rounds of the edgier bike
shops. Found a nice chrome steel frame, one piece crank, front and rear brakes, alloy rims etc. for
lots less than much crappier bikes at the pawn shop or discount store. The surprising thing is that
several of the other kids in the neighborhood have commented to me that her bike is "the BOMB!" She
reports back at regular intervals that kids are always telling her they want to buy it from her. I
don't know if it's the chrome or what, but something seems to win the kids over.

Pete <[email hidden]> wrote:
: Well..only kinda. The part I HATE is watching co-workers completely blow it on the buying kids
: bike thing.

: Guy says "Yeah...got three bikes for the girls. $80 each at Target"

: "ummm...What make are these?" (already dreading the answer)

: "Huffy's"

: [sigh] "You know, Joe...we've had this talk before. OK...Now tell me they aren't full
: suspension models"

: "Shocks front and back? Yeah...they are"

: [sigh] "Ok...now tell me they don't have chrome rims. Please tell me they don't have
: chromed rims."

: "Yeah..I think so. Is that bad"?

: [sssiiiggghh]

: Now..I understand the whole finances thing. Outfitting 3 kids at once, with even the low end LBS
: offerings brings you up close to $1000, unless you're really diligent and lucky. But this is an
: intelligent guy.

: "Joe...would you consider a Yugo as a valid car purchase? This is on the same level. I'd be
: surprised if all three are still rideable by the end of the summer"

: So I pull up Target.com and Walmart.com, and point him towards the Schwinn's. $125, alloy rims,
: front 'shock' only, they'll probably fit well enough for a while. Later, I heard him on the phone
: trying to convince SWMBO of the folly of the original purchase.

: We'll see what happens.

: Pete

I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red with chrome fenders. Had a
gastank looking thing on it also. I loved that old bike.

This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They are just so full of character.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red with chrome fenders. Had a
gastank looking thing on it also. I loved that old bike.

This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They are just so full of character.

The old ones were near indestrucible. Singlespeed coaster brake. Heavy as a tank.

But the new, cheap ones in the dept stores are worse than useless. Far too many non-functional
geegaws to break. Pseudo MTB's, with no real design in them.

Pete

Steve Knight <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

but depending on the kids the bikes might outlast their growth. Kids don't care like we do.

Oh yes, they do.

A parallel case: Do you know how many people bought cheap guitars in the '60s and '70s? Do you know
how many of those went unplayed?

When a co-worker posted a note at work recently--"Our son wants to play guitar, but we're not sure
he'll stick with it, so we're looking for a cheap used guitar," I wrote him a response telling him
thata "cheap" guitar would likely discourage his son from ever learning to play. I know that having
a decent instrument drove me to play, and I've seen the frustration in students' eyes when they have
a piece of junk.

It's the same with bikes, though admittedly, the standard for junk is somewhat different, because
most kids have never seen a decent bicycle--though they've heard good guitars.

Steve Knight <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

but depending on the kids the bikes might outlast their growth. Kids don't >care like we do.

Of course the kids outgrowing them are also an excellent source for quality bikes purchased used.
Picked up a Mongoose Stormer (NOT a Walgoose) for $30. at a yardsale.

On 20 Dec 2003 07:51:01 -0800, [email hidden] (Andy M-S)

Quoted message said:

When a co-worker posted a note at work recently--"Our son wants to play guitar, but we're not sure
he'll stick with it, so we're looking for a cheap used guitar," I wrote him a response telling him
thata "cheap" guitar would likely discourage his son from ever learning to play. I know that having
a decent instrument drove me to play, and I've seen the frustration in students' eyes when they
have a piece of junk.

My advice to those seeking a cheap bike is always to buy a formerly expensive bike, second hand. In
bikes you get what you pay for. My experience with my son's Magna child's bike (yeah, yeah, I should
know better) has driven this home. He now rides a Dawes. Twice the price and worth every penny.

Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.ukOpen ↗

"Andy M-S" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Oh yes, they do.

A parallel case: Do you know how many people bought cheap guitars in the '60s and '70s? Do you
know how many of those went unplayed?

When a co-worker posted a note at work recently--"Our son wants to play guitar, but we're not sure
he'll stick with it, so we're looking for a cheap used guitar," I wrote him a response telling him
thata "cheap" guitar would likely discourage his son from ever learning to play. I know that
having a decent instrument drove me to play, and I've seen the frustration in students' eyes when
they have a piece of junk.

Exactly. Looking to buy a trumpet last year, it was either a new, flashy, no name, or a used,
reasonable quality Yamaha at the same price.

Virtually *all* the music sites and opinions (school music teachers, musicians, etc) said the same
thing. Buy the used Yamaha.

Pete

"Andy M-S" < wrote

Quoted message said:

A parallel case: Do you know how many people bought cheap guitars in the '60s and '70s? Do you
know how many of those went unplayed?

When a co-worker posted a note at work recently--"Our son wants to play guitar, but we're not sure
he'll stick with it, so we're looking for a cheap used guitar," I wrote him a response telling him
thata "cheap" guitar would likely discourage his son from ever learning to play. I know that
having a decent instrument drove me to play, and I've seen the frustration in students' eyes when
they have a piece of junk.

It's the same with bikes, though admittedly, the standard for junk is somewhat different, because
most kids have never seen a decent bicycle--though they've heard good guitars.

You are exactly right, it takes alot of skill to play a poor instrument. Len

That leads to a question. Have Huffy's ever been anything other than cheap department store bikes?

"Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red with chrome fenders. Had a
gastank looking thing on it also. I loved that old bike.

This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They are just so full of character.

The old ones were near indestrucible. Singlespeed coaster brake. Heavy as a tank.

But the new, cheap ones in the dept stores are worse than useless. Far too many non-functional
geegaws to break. Pseudo MTB's, with no real design in them.

Pete

25 Dec 2003 15:57:20 -0800, <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Kaputnik) top posted: \szip

Quoted message said:

"Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red with chrome fenders. Had a
gastank looking thing on it also. I loved that old bike.

This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They are just so full of
character.

The old ones were near indestrucible. Singlespeed coaster brake. Heavy as a tank.

But the new, cheap ones in the dept stores are worse than useless. Far too many non-functional
geegaws to break. Pseudo MTB's, with no real design in them.

Pete

Quoted message said:

That leads to a question. Have Huffy's ever been anything other than cheap department store bikes?

There's a chrome and gold one in the Henry Ford Museum. The 1984 US Olympic Team rode 'em and Greg
Le Mond rode "Huffy" badged bikes in the TdF.

firstflightbikes.comhuffman.htmOpen ↗
--
zk

Airborne bikes are rumored to be owned by Huffy. I do not actually know if such rumors are true but
I bought three of their bikes with good results.

"Zoot Katz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

25 Dec 2003 15:57:20 -0800, <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Kaputnik) top posted: \szip

Quoted message said:

"Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<[email hidden]> wrote
>
> I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> chrome fenders. Had a gastank looking thing on it also. I loved

that old

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> bike.
>
> This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> just so full of character.

The old ones were near indestrucible. Singlespeed coaster brake. Heavy

as a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tank.

But the new, cheap ones in the dept stores are worse than useless. Far

too

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

many non-functional geegaws to break. Pseudo MTB's, with no real design

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them.

Pete

Quoted message said:

That leads to a question. Have Huffy's ever been anything other than cheap department
store bikes?

There's a chrome and gold one in the Henry Ford Museum. The 1984 US Olympic Team rode 'em and Greg
Le Mond rode "Huffy" badged bikes in the TdF.

firstflightbikes.comhuffman.htmOpen ↗
--
zk

Thu, 25 Dec 2003 19:31:45 -0800, <[email hidden]>,

Bartow W. Riggs said:

Airborne bikes are rumored to be owned by Huffy. I do not actually know if such rumors are true but
I bought three of their bikes with good results.

They are a dot.com outfit Huffy bought and then sold back. airborne.netdbjOpen ↗
1102.asp
--
zk

<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was ten when my poor parents bought me my used Huffy. It was Red with chrome fenders. Had a
gastank looking thing on it also. I loved that old bike.

This back in the early 60's. I still ride used orphan bikes. They are just so full of character.

I got my Huffy, apple green, when I was in the 3rd grade. This was the first grade level where they
would let you ride a bike to school, so my parents got me a new three speed, seeing how the
elementary school was at the top of a hill. I rode this bike for years, not just to school, but
piano lessons, the local shopping center, and to the community center pool and library. It's also
the only brand and color bike I remember until I bought my yellow Specialized Rockhopper 19 years
later, in 1988.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com

Home of the meditative cyclist:
home.earthlink.netWelcome.htmOpen ↗

Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗
My bookshelf: bookcrossing.comCpeterskyOpen ↗

"To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner
was you."

Yeah, man, instead of blowing the dough on bikes, they should give the brats some music lessons. ;-)