DanielaNyF

I'm looking for a inexpensive 1st. bike for my daughter. Has not used one since she is 7 and have to
start again. Which model should I look for?
Daniela

2cam16

Hi Daniela and welcome to BF!
I'm assuming she should be able to fit on a bike with 26-inch wheels since she's 13. Then again it also depends on her height. If not, there are the bikes with 24-inch wheels.
Do you have a local bike shop close by? If so, go check out their bikes so she can fit them.
I'm sure you'll get more replies here.
Good luck with your search!

rickyk76

Welcome. Also take into consideration what kind of riding she'll be doing. Mainly road riding or maybe getting into some off-road riding and trails? Knowing that will also help others provide you some responses. As well as an idea of your budget.

cb400bill

Thread moved to General Cycling forum.

linberl

She is 13. She is going to have her own ideas on what she wants, and she won't ride if she doesn't like it. So I'd start by asking her what she thinks matters...whether that is color or style (mixte or loop or toptube), or bmx, or whatever. Once you know what she cares about most, then you can choose a few options within your budget and quality to let her choose. If you can post some of the critical items she wants, maybe we can help more.

jefnvk

^This.

Trying to buy your desires for others is bound to backfire. Let her pick what she wants. At 13, we aren't talking about someone who is likely to go out and do centuries, but if she fills into that role, then you and her will have a real good idea what she needs. Get her something she likes now, so she actually rides it.

berner

She has to like the bike, cool colors etc. In addition to the girls preferences, whatever they may be, my suggestion is to look for a versatile bike that will do most everything she might want a bike to do. For example, I find my own bike very handy around town for grocery shopping, trips to the library or post office. For shopping, I have mounted a rear rack that will hold a trunk bag or sometimes two panniers (saddle bags) with more capacity. Often just a backback will hold books or similar sized items and in this case a rear rack is not necessary. My own view is if one can haul stuff around with a bike, that bike will get used a lot.

GlennR

What do you consider inexpensive?

Pretty much anything under $500 is a "toy store" bike. Many will think that's expensive and other not.

I suggest looking for used bikes on Craigslist and maybe police auctions.

therealjoeblow

You should really shorten your sig... it's much longer than most of your posts and not really necessary to have so many colors, large fonts, and a quote to boot. Just my opinion, I wonder how many others would agree.

Cheers
TRJB

GlennR

PM sent.

therealjoeblow

Wow, I almost missed this 2 word reply because of all the visual spam in your sig.

Cheers
TRJB

GlennR

Welcome to the ignore list.

"This message is hidden because therealjoeblow is on your ignore list. "

CrankyOne

OP, where are you located (country? Province? State? City?) what will she be using the bike for? Where will she be riding? I agree with others above that it needs to be something that she likes. If you've got plenty of budget then visit some bike shops with her and see what she likes. If budget is tight then look for a better quality used bike. A cheap dept store bike will often not hold up well and be awkward and unpleasant to ride so stay away from those.

@oldnslow2, agree with others about your sig. It's rather obnoxious. Sorry.

Timequake

Don't pay any attention to this guy. Another victim of consumerism. You can buy some really great mid-90s mountain bikes or 80s road bikes for ~$100-200. More money doesn't always mean better quality. Also, a thirteen year old doesn't need a $1,000 bicycle.

GlennR

Maybe you should read the entire post.

I don't know of any stores that sell brand new bikes from the 80s and 90s.

I guess you missed this:

ramzilla

I'd look for something lightweight. Easy to carry inside at night. Look for something made out of aluminum. Get carbon fiber forks if you can afford it.

cmc4130

I agree with the comments above about trying to figure out:

1) what kind of terrain?

a) bumpy dirt trails (rocks roots etc)?
b) smooth dirt trails (or crushed granite etc)?
c) neighborhood streets and sidewalks??
d) is your area flat or hilly?

2) how tall is she? (and how much taller will she be?)

3) what kind of styles . . . Ladies Vintage (with basket etc); Mountain / Hybrid sporty; etc etc.

veganbikes

The worst is the pinkwashing. There is plenty of research and websites, movies, and other information about the breast cancer industry and I don't want to start anything beyond just putting that out there.

cmc4130

"Toy store" bikes are under $150. I just checked ToysRus.com.

All of the youth bikes at Bicycle Sport Shop, a very reputable bike shop around here, are under $500.

Bicycle Sport Shop - Bike sales, service and rentals. Austin, Texas

GlennR

Actually she had brain cancer, but the color for brain cancer is grey. After fighting for 3 years she got breast cancer. She fought for another year and a half and finally brain cancer won.

Don't like it..... put me on your ignore list.

Maybe someone will see it and decide to donate. Maybe the money raised will someday help a member of your family.

Since the site and mods allow it.... it's staying.

I guess all of you complaining have no problem hijacking the topic of a new member.

Good job.

GamblerGORD53

I'd get her a 3 speed IGH loop Mary Poppins bike with a basket on the front. Maybe a used Linus bike. If you are in a big city, go to the bike co-op donation shop. They often have girls nice bikes.

ramzilla

Most girls don't want to take any chances losing their balance. My daughters liked upright hybrid style bikes with shift grips. The shift grips were the easiest controls and, gave them a greater sense of safety. They also like to come to a complete stop before grabbing their water bottle for a drink & stuff like that. Helmets & accessories can be a challenge too.

cmc4130

I know what you mean. But, that's unfortunate. I don't know if the fear is taught or just has to be overcome differently.




Slovakia's Nicole Frybortova and her artistic cycling bike

veganbikes

I am sorry to hear that. I would like for the money that people donate to these causes go to actually ending cancer and finding new research that brings them closer to curing it. With all the money raised over the years for all the different cancers and nothing really has been accomplished, we have to wonder where this money is going and why no real progress has been made.

I am not saying finding cures is magically easy but a lot of the research done is done on the same general group of people in the same general fashion to the same results. It is time for change and it is also time to stop putting money and support towards companies and "non profits" that promote products and ideals that can give you cancer or will give you other health issues and stop supporting the same cyclical research or lack thereof that has brought us virtually nowhere for a lot of it.

Don't get me confused as pro-cancer or something sick and twisted like that. I am very much against it as my mom had it before she died (of a blood clot in her lung from morbid obesity) and I have known some other folks with cancer. I just want more honesty, transparency and most importantly results and stop talking just awareness or fear mongering.

As one final FYI I tend not to block people I don't find it productive unless they are truly being nasty or just harassing people. You seem like a fine chap just with some different ideals.

GlennR

Actually the money we raise goes directly to Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Cycle for Survival project. 100% of every dollar goes to research.. not salaries or administrative parties. The funds are put to use withing 6 months and are not constrained by government regulations or narrow minded parent organizations. Every year real doctors from MSKCC tell us about what they're doing. Two years ago one of the doctors told us that 5 years before 90% of people that had cancer of the eye, lost the eye and now most are saved.

Through my friend's cancer treatment, we had the personal cell number of the doctors and they became friends. Sue had a Glioblastomer and the mean life expectancy was 7 months... with surgery and participating in clinical trials, she lasted 5 years. This is the same cancer that killed Mets catch Gary Carter.

Not all cancer organizations are over bloated, some to innovative research and produce results.

Skip to 1:47 to hear Dr. Ross Levine talk about their research.