Hyperventilating . . . just spent $$$ on a bike . . .

[luvmyguys]

. . . for my 13 year old. The last bike he got was at least 6 1/2 years ago and had 20" wheels.

We got a Raleigh Revenio 1.0 (the basic version). We'll probably need to get him a shorter stem, but at least he has some growing room. He's looking forward to riding, though, and that's a good thing!

He's named it Speedy Gonzalez or something with "Speedy" in it. He likes Looney Toons, obviously.

In the next few days, we're going to plunk down for dh's Roubaix.

(Avoid looking at the bank account, avoid looking at the bank account . . .)

[jobob]

You're living up to your screenname!

[TrekDianna]

(Avoid looking at the bank account, avoid looking at the bank account . . .)

Always good advice

[Biciclista]

spend a lot of this energy teaching him how important it is to use a bike lock!!!

[shootingstar]

Maybe next time, he earns some tiny amount of money when he gets older for another new bike.

I'm not sure if all children truly understand the cost of stuff until they earn a tiny portion of it... For now, that bike lock education is key and not dump the bike out on the front lawn just to go to the washroom indoors.

Wishing you lots of fun adventures together!

[luvmyguys]

And helmet....

Very cool bike. Good mommy.

We've already had MANY conversations on safety. And they'll continue - there's a part of me that is terrified of him going that fast! (I know, I gotta let the kid have a life, so he doesn't know about my fears) He's a pretty responsible kid, though, and he sees how I baby my bike, so I'm hoping that will translate WRT taking care of it and not leaving it out everywhere.

Maybe next time, he earns some tiny amount of money when he gets older for another new bike.

I'm not sure if all children truly understand the cost of stuff until they earn a tiny portion of it... For now, that bike lock education is key and not dump the bike out on the front lawn just to go to the washroom indoors.

Wishing you lots of fun adventures together!

He's had to do that before - with his computer, specifically. And I've already told him that anything else for the bike that wasn't an essential safety item was his responsibility to get. But yes, I agree with you.

He's wanting to try a triathlon as an off (basketball) season sport. He's hoping that it'll increase his fitness on the court. And there's a Sunday morning ride from one of the big box sports stores in the area that I've really liked, and he and dh want to come as well (and I've been told that he'd be welcome).

[jyyanks]

What a wonderful gift! I bought my son his first new bike last summer and although it was a tough beginning, he is now obsessed with riding which is a good thing! I love encouraging him to ride as he gets fresh air, great exercise and it's so much better than sitting around and playing video games. Kudos to you - don't worry about the credit card statement - the benefit he will receive from riding will be priceless

[luvmyguys]

(Avoid looking at the bank account, avoid looking at the bank account . . .)

Always good advice

LOL - I'm hyperventilating a little less after having bought dh's bike. We knew that we got a discount for accessories bought with the bike, but it seemed that the more stuff we plunked down on the counter, the bigger the discount got (financed with 12 month deferred interest). We did not expect the grand total to be as low as it was. I think the savings pretty much equaled what we spent on ds's bike. I love that LBS - the same one where I bought my bike, and they were willing to order the weird size (for both of us - mine is small and his is big) without making us commit to buying it.

His brother is in a science camp all week (we homeschool), so if he gets all his work done, we're going to spend Wednesday at one of the parks with a good road bike trail and no vehicular traffic.

Now I just have to figure out where to put all the bikes!

[velo]

I can relate on many different levels. I started back to serious riding in June of last year after a hiatus from racing/burn-out. A seasoned, but rusty veteran of cycling, I knew I'd want to buy something new and shiny, so I started saving then. I finally had the coin to buy it this past February. Having just plunked down a lot of $$$$ for that dream Italian bike, I wasn't looking to buy anything else soon, but kept my eyes peeled. I thought I'd be getting a cross or new mountain bike at some point. Nope - just this past week, along came a great little road bike (a 39cm. of all things! didn't know they made them that small!) for 11 year old dd. It only took one ride to see how much fun she was having. With the comment "O.K. Mommy, I get it. I'm hooked!" I knew it was worth the money. I don't mind putting off n+1 when now I have my favorite person in the world to ride with. Isn't it wonderful to see a new interest blooming in our own children and know we had a hand in it? Dd never got the kick out of her mountain bike like she has this road bike.

Where to put the bikes? I think that's a good question when space is at a premium. We don't have a garage, so I have my new Italian bike in the dining room, my aluminum Klein on the trainer in the basement family room and dd's bike is still hanging out in the entry way. The rest are in the mini-barn. At some point, I guess you just live with your bikes like they are part of the family... which they are if you're naming them.

I think your son is lucky to have a mother like you!

[Crankin]

I love this thread. As one who was hooked into cycling by my 14 y/o son, it has *totally* changed our lives. Everyone in my family rides now. Even though said son is now 28 and only is commuting to classes right now, I always feel like I owe him big time. He was very responsible with all of his bikes and learned a lot about mechanics, too while racing.
And on the "better than playing video games," I am working with a family where one of the biggest issues is the 12 year old boy being addicted to video games. He doesn't have so much of a problem when it's not winter, as he does soccer and can be outside, but the family can't afford winter sports. We've made a structure for rules around this and dad is the one who caves. Last week, I had the kid brainstorm a list of activities he likes, to combat boredom. We went from "nothing," to a list of maybe 15 things. I told him in a couple of weeks, I would bring my bike and we would ride. He lives about 2 miles from the orchard where we make a lunch stop on the hilliest local ride we do .

[NbyNW]

I wanna see a picture of the new bike!