Everything you ever wanted to know about buying a bicycle!

Many people mistakenly think bike shops only sell expensive bicycles to enthusiasts and racers! When in fact many bike shop customers are casual, recreational riders (like you?). Many have found out the hard way that ill fitting, uncomfortable “toy store” bikes don’t get ridden and don’t last. They’ve found out it really DOES make a difference WHERE you buy your bike. You don’t need golf courses, bowling alleys, or snowy slopes. There are no uniforms, “greens fees,” or lift tickets to buy. Once you have your bike, you can ride nearly everywhere year ‘round with no additional expense…and it’s great exercise everyone can enjoy!

 Remember a bike is not a toy!

Bicycles bought for children need to fit them properly, both for safety reasons and to allow for maximum rider growth.

Because many bike shops offer more wheel and frame size choices, they can often fit a child to a bike that will last and fit safely for several years longer than “toy store” bikes can.

The longer a bicycle lasts and safely fits, the more economical it is!

For children ages 2 to 5 or 6 bicycle wheel diameter is the primary size differentiating factor, with 12” and 16” wheel sizes the most common size.

For larger 4 to 6-year-old children, bike shops have 20” wheel-sized bicycles with steeply sloping top bars. They are more unisex in appearance, and enable a shorter-legged rider to fit a larger-wheeled bike at an earlier age, and to fit the bike longer.

These bikes also have shorter length crank arms (where the pedals attach). When a bike seat is lowered for a shorter-legged rider, the shorter crank arm enables the child to pedal with full leg rotation without having to rock back and forth sideways on the seat, and to apply the foot brake more easily.

Full-size 20” wheel bikes with higher crossbars and longer crank arms are usually purchased for riders 6 or 7 years of age or older. Often called dirt bikes or BMX bikes, these are principally designed for frequent, hard, recreational use, usually the less expensive they are, the heavier they are.

The next size bicycle after the 20” will have 24” diameter wheels.

Some kids, depending upon their leg length, may fit shorter frame size adult bikes with 26” (or greater) diameter wheels.