Well now it's my turn for a long term report on a Denali I bought for my granddaughter last year. I bought this bike because she wanted to get into cycling like her dad and me, so I chose this one because it was cheap since I know kids (she was 13 at the time) and kids change their minds like they change their underwear! But she didn't change her mind and last month entered her first race which she didn't do well because the bike's rear derailleur broke about third of the way into the race...the second time the derailleur broke, which was replaced under warranty after a 4 week wait for the part.

She has ridden the bike about 8,000 miles in one year, and in that time we had to replace the rear derailleur once (the race situation was the second time which was the final frustration). She had her front brake cable snap twice; the front brake caliper keeps bending so we have to keep bending it back, this has happened 3 times; front brake pads wore out; the bottom bracket went bad but a LBS was able to replace it; the rear rim developed a crack near a spoke eyelit but still rideable according the LBS who said it would cost almost as much as new Denali to replace because we would have to convert to cassette, new rim and spokes etc-so she rode it and the crack seems to be stable; the rims were in constant need of truing; and the seat rail broke. This girl is 5'10" and weighs 135 pounds so she's not a clydesdale.

Last month after her race frustration we gave the bike to the LBS so they could use it for parts for others and bought her a new Cannondale Slice...yeah I know it's bit radical (her neck can take it, mine wouldn't be able to!) but it's what she wanted and she loves everything about it; and besides she wants to compete in mini-triathions because like her dad she's a good swimmer and swims on the her schools swim team and a decent runner like her mom and will be doing track this spring. She can't wait for her first race on the bike, but schools on now and her plate is full so she'll have to wait till summer