| As a volunteer expert in bicycling at I am often | | | | a Giant OCR2 and a Specialized Expedition. |
| asked about how to choose a bicycle either for the | | | | My Grandson has a little Giant Frantic that he was |
| questioner or for a gift. It is not really as simple as it | | | | racing at the BMX Track, but for his birthday when |
| sounds. | | | | he turned 9, we bought him a new SE Ripper X, |
| Of course you can just go down to your local | | | | which is about the best of the best when it comes |
| discount department store like Wal-Mart or Target | | | | to BMX Racing, Sorry Redline and Diamondback fans. |
| and drop anywhere between 50 and 200.00 for a | | | | If you are planning on getting the bicycle as a way |
| bike. In fact this is what 7 out of 10 people do. | | | | of getting some exercise, then you can probably pick |
| Wal-Mart is the largest bicycle retailer in the US. | | | | up a nice bike at any department store 70 to 80% |
| Target and other discount stores also sell many | | | | of bikes bought for that reason usually end up in the |
| bicycles. While most of these bikes are bought by | | | | garage until they get sold at a yard sale anyway. |
| adults as gifts for children, many are indeed | | | | If you are planning on using the bike for a specific |
| purchased for adults, | | | | purpose, such as we were for our grandson, then |
| In fact back in 1997 my wife and I entered a | | | | buy the best you can afford. To do that you will |
| contest called the Body for Life, Body | | | | almost always have to go to a good quality shop. A |
| Transformation Contest. We went to the local | | | | good shop will help you pick out a bike that fits your |
| Wal-Mart and bought two bikes, one for each of us | | | | needs or the needs of the person you are getting |
| and we rode those back and forth to the gym | | | | the bike for. They can help with any accessories or |
| where we worked out. In 1998 I took that bike a 26' | | | | special equipment that you need. A good shop will be |
| Roadmaster on a ride around South Georgia to help | | | | able to tell you where you can meet other local |
| raise money for the Bikes or Bust which is operated | | | | cyclists with the same interests, and any good shop |
| through the Toy's for Tots Organization of the | | | | will be able to service virtually anything that you ever |
| Marine Corps Reserves. I personally rode that bike 50 | | | | need repaired. Often a shop can get you a good deal |
| miles a day for 3 days. That was when full | | | | on a used bike, saving hundreds of dollars. |
| suspension bikes were just really hitting the market. | | | | For example I had ridden a Mountain Bike for years, |
| The Roadmaster was not a full suspension bike and | | | | and while I thought I would like to try road biking I |
| was purchased for 49.00 plus tax. A new seat and | | | | didn't really have an extra 1000.00 to buy a new one |
| some bar ends to give extra hand positions were the | | | | that was the one I wanted. Jim Lau owns Cycle |
| only things I added, which about doubled the total | | | | World in Albany Georgia. He watched for a good |
| cost of the bike. | | | | used bike for me, It happened after a while that a |
| In trying to raise support for the ride I met up with | | | | man came in to his shop and traded a 1 year old |
| some really nice people that loved to cycle also they | | | | Giant OCR2 on a New Trek Madone. Jim told me the |
| were members of the Pecan City Pedalers the | | | | Giant had less than 800 Miles on it, and he would sell |
| bicycling club in Albany Georgia. We sort of adopted | | | | it for 800.00. It was a great deal, so I bought it. I |
| each other and I am now a member also and have | | | | have worn out two set of tires on it since I bought |
| been since 2000. | | | | it last September. I took that bike to the Golden |
| So how do you choose the right bike and get what | | | | Olympics in 2007 and won two Silver Medals and one |
| you want for a reasonable price? | | | | Bronze. That was less than a month after I picked it |
| If the bike will be for a child, you can probably go | | | | up. |
| almost completely by age and or size. It gets more | | | | When we were looking to get our grandson a new |
| complicated though. There are many types of | | | | bike we went to a shop that specializes in BMX Bikes. |
| bicycles, such as BMX bike, Road Bikes, or Mountain | | | | The closest shop that had the SE bikes was in |
| Bikes. In the BMX line you will also hear the term | | | | Columbus Georgia, so we met Aaron Oney there and |
| Cruiser used to describe a bike that looks like a solid | | | | found not only a good bike shop and a great deal on |
| framed mountain bike, but has only one gear. There | | | | a bike but also a new friend. That is another benefit |
| are also variations in the Mountain Bikes there is what | | | | to going to a shop rather than a discount store. You |
| is known as a hard tail as well as a full-suspension | | | | are much more likely to connect with a shop owner |
| bike. Go to road bikes and you will hear people talking | | | | than an employee at a big discount store. I now have |
| about Carbon, Titanium, steel, aluminum and allux and | | | | friends all over Georgia and even other states like |
| cromoly it can get pretty confusing. | | | | Alabama, Ohio, and Texas that own Bike shops. |
| Here is my suggestion, first decide what the bike will | | | | These are people that I didn't know before I started |
| be used for. Will it be for fitness, a fun way to get in | | | | riding. |
| your cardio, or are you planning on becoming the | | | | So basically it really depends on what you plan to use |
| next Lance Armstrong? I would not spend a lot of | | | | the bicycle for and how much money you are willing |
| money on any piece of exercise equipment until I | | | | to invest in the bicycle as well as how much time you |
| knew for sure I would use it. I personally put about | | | | have to get the bike and get the right fit. If you |
| 500 miles per month on my bike and I know of | | | | want to get the best deal on a high quality bicycle |
| people here in South Georgia that do close to twice | | | | then a bike shop is your only answer. |
| that amount, So I own two fairly high quality bicycles | | | | |