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I bought my 8 year old a Diamondback BMX bike at Sports Autority for something like 50% off with sale and coupon. His older brother has the same bicycle and still uses it as a 12 year old. It's good enough for going off road and he should be good for longer rides on the road (my son can do more than 5 miles without complaining). There are no gears, so going up hills can sometimes be tough. I think this is the way to go.Joe M.
I think independent bike dealers try to protect their margins so I don't think there is a standard discount that you can expect. They do run general sales on occasion (look for a 4th of July sale) and then the big brands (Trek most notably) will run sales across their entire dealer network at times. I think a 15% discount off the list for a bike purchased at an independent bike dealer is considered a really good discount. If you want a lower price you are better off shopping at a sporting goods store or REI or EMS. REI and EMS carry high quality brands and are more likely to discount them especially at season end when they need to make room for winter gear. Lower price however does not necessarily mean better value. To compare bikes, look at the level of the components. Shimano is a big supplier and then have different levels of derailleurs, shifters, cranks, hubs, etc. So while two bikes might be the net price brand A might have higher grade components than brand B.I think one of the stores where I live still gives you a thirty day free parts swap out. A friend of my took advantage of it when he bought his mountain bike a number of years ago. After riding around for a couple of weeks he was complaining of back issues so they swapped out the stem for a different length. That might be more valuable to you than lifetime adjustment of cables and tightening loose pedals. Regarding a bike for an 8 year old, I would look at Craig's List. It's only going to fit for a couple of years so why spend exorbitant amounts of money. For an extra fee, some shops offer a couple of levels of fitting where they fine tune the bike for you by adjusting the seat position and height as well as the handlebar positions, etc. Something to consider. I hope this is helpful. P.S. people often get obsessive over the weight of the bike, specifically the frame. If you want a less heavy bike there are two easy ways to get it:1. Lose some weight. 2. Lighten your wallet (i.e. spend a lot more to get a lighter frame)I always recommend option 1.
Joe,I definitely want a bike with gears for my son.We are riding 10+ miles and his current BMX bike makes him have to work very hard to climb any hills or keep a decent pace.
What's your price range and expected use?Specialized makes great bikes for good value.I always recommend looking at Specialized first. Many folks get all they need right there. If you feel you can step up the $ commitment then there are many many details to nail down. I really have no clue about bikes for 8 year olds. Sorry. If I were looking for a LBS recommendation, I would go to the regional forum for your area on Road Bike Review and ask. You'll get good info there - I believe.Oh. And when you do get your road bike, please follow the rules.http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
Sounds like you are in good hands having somone local to assist.I would also look at Parlee, Serotta, Time, Look, just to name a few.If you are not opposed to it, I would also look at used. Kind of like the stuff here we play around with time to time, immediate devalue as soon as it has been bought.Regards, Jeff
