Recreational & Family - New Member, Wanted to say Hi.

Just dropping by to say hey all.

Family and I just bought new bikes. Two kids 4 & 10.
I used to ride a long time ago before I was married, but after I got married and started working, the car became my friend. My wife and I decided to get active again and I finally convinced her that bikes were the way to go.

Her and I just grabbed to new Schwinns.

I got a 2010 Schwinn Voyager GS. Was able to get it for $269.99
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product_10052_10551_1079859_-1___

And my wife found a 2009 Sierra $199.99
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes//Product_10052_10551_1080091_-1___

I hope that these are pretty reliable. I didn't want to go the dept store route at all. And Performance Bike, where we bought these, were great to buy from.

We hope to get out a lot and get active.

Well Hello. Those two bikes are great bikes to start back into riding. Very upright and comfortable position. Get out and have fun! :) Let us know if you have any questions.

I recommend reading through some of Sheldon Brown's stuff. Even if you rode a lot before, you'd be surprised what you'll learn.

Big note! Raise that seat up high!!! You never know if it's too low, you only know if it's too high. If it feels good, raise the seat up another inch. If it feels better, keep raising it up by 1 inch increments. Once you have to reach and swivel to be able to pedal, you know its too high, so bring it down a bit.

The biggest mistake people make is thinking that they have to reach the ground with their feet while they are sitting on the seat. If you can do that, you'll be working WAY to hard to bike.

Biking isn't a hard thing to do. If it isn't easier than walking, you're doing something wrong! If you ever think, "Boy! I'm out of shape" while riding a bike... you're doing something wrong :)

Have fun!

http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

Thanks for the advice. In fact I am a huge proponent of having the seat just right. It took me some time convincing my wife that going the Dept store route is not the way to go because we need bikes that will fit right, better components, plus the level of serivce Performance Bike will give us after the purchase. I will say Performance was great, and I am not sure how I got the 2010 Voyager for almost $90.00 less than their website.. But I am not complaining.

Unfortunately the weather has been crappy since we purchased last week. We have been out a few times.. Just waiting for the weather to align itself with our schedule.

Great to hear about your seat philosophy :) It's very odd how that one thing that turn people off bikes quickly. She'll just have to learn how to properly mount a bike (pushing off the peddles places you in position.... oh yeah... alliteration.... I haven't woken up yet....). Performance is good about that. I do a lot of shopping at my local store.

In any case, once the weather clears up, go out, have fun, and take pictures! Let us know how it goes!

My daughter was the hardest to convince about seat height.. but once I raised it.. she learned pretty quickly how to get on and off, and realized that her pedaling efficiency is much better with a properly extended leg. My wife has learned to listen to me... my daughter sometimes is a little more obstinate.

My 4 year old is pretty tuff to. He's fallen a few times, but get's right back up and get's on. He is still freaked by going down small grades, but he has his coaster brake down pat... Hoping to get him off the training wheels this summer.