Mountain biking is just another activity we thought we may enjoy as family. Though the idea originated from a friend, my husband and I are attempting to roll with it. After a few weeks of researching and shopping, we have learned a few valuable lessons.
Bike shops are pretty valuable, whether you purchase your wheels there, or somewhere else. The local bike shop here in Chattanooga offered great suggestions when we broke a derailleur on a cheaper bike we had. Although their models were pricey for our taste, we wouldn't think twice about buying one there, funds willing.
Walmart is not your friend. Neither is Kmart, Target or Sears. These stores include brands such as Genesis and Schwinn. While these brands may be acceptable for a kid, they are assembled and "tested" by contractors. On both bikes we bought from Walmart we found different assembly mistakes. Screws were tightened too tight and wheels were crooked. Not to mention the handle bars that had been put on upside down.
Per the bike shop, we began looking into Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. These stores offer various models of Diamondback, Schwinn, Trek and Nishiki to mention a few. After reading tons of reviews off of different web sites, we came to the conclusion that Diamondback may be our best option. Dick's bike department even had a specialist to check out the bike before it left the store.
In conclusion, we learned that shopping the cheaper bikes is not always the best option. While I try to be as budget friendly as possible, sometimes you just have to invest a little bit more money. We want our bikes to last longer than one season. Whether that means you upgrade a few components or not, I would hate to see it break after one good trail ride.
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