When I went to get my new bike, I ended up buying my 12 yo son a bike, too. He was so thrilled. But after all, how much fun would it be with me on a new bike and him on an old Buick?

He wanted to pay for it out of his allowance, but I wouldn't let him. He said, "Oh, I get it. It's like when Dad got ME golf clubs for HIS birthday!"
Yes. Since our son doesn't go to school, he gets to tag along and do things with his parents almost as much as we tag along on the things he likes to do!

My son is going to be tall--my husband is 6'7"--and he is already 5'3", so I made sure to get him a bike to grow into (a 16" Trek 4500). By next summer he'll probably be towering over me, so I wanted him to still be able to use this bike. So it's something to consider when buying a bike for a growing kid.

Karen