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Sports Basement has been a great partner for Wheel Kids during our summer camps. They're our go-to mechanics for on-the-road adjustments in need of a quick fix to keep us rolling, and provided us with bike maintenance clinics every other Monday. The following is an email they sent out announcing a rare 20% off sale, store wide - yes, including the bike shop. Time to do some shopping.
Twenty percent off till it snows!
That’s right. Sports Basement is on sale. Never before has a California winter been this dry, and never before has Sports Basement gone on sale. Our motto: "We are Making the Most of “Winter” 2012. Everything in our stores is 20% off (well, almost everything – Mervin Mfg. boards and 2012 Cannondale bikes are excluded*), but you get the picture. Need a new tri suit? It’s 20% off. A new tent? It’s 20% off. New skis? 20% off. Want a helmet cam, GPS watch or down jacket? Now is the time to get ‘em. When it snows, and it will snow, this sale will be off. Until then, visit any of our stores to gear up and get ready for trail runs, skis runs or both!
*Gift cards and tickets are excluded, too. Offer can’t be combined with other discounts. Redeem online using code: snow20.
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It's a question we're frequently asked. And with so many choices in bikes and equipment it's easy to be confused. For most kids under ten, and especially those who've just learned to ride, here's our advice:
First, don't fall for the gimmicks (also known as "gear envy"). Most manufacturers are finding greater profit in bikes that are equipped far beyond the needs of young riders, with multiple gears and shocks being the most unnecessary features. So keep it simple: avoid bikes with gears and shocks and anything other than a nice paint job that seems to be there to make the bike look cool. Bikes are cool on their own without unnecessary paraphernalia hanging off of them. Superfluous gear impedes young riders: they get fixated on what gear they're in (which usually is the wrong one...!) and lose sight of the fundamentals of riding. Heavier bikes impede learning good bike handling skills. Look for a single speed bike, preferably with a coaster brake and, maybe, one hand break. Most kids in elementary school need a 20" size bike (that means the wheels are 20" diameter), but that depends on your kid's height. Chances are, they won't need anything bigger for quite a while.
Second, find a reputable bike shop you're comfortable with. If they make you feel stupid because you're not a bike geek, find another shop. If they make you feel like you and bicycling were made for one another, give them your credit card and thank them very much. Ask as many questions as you need to know what you're doing. You may choose to buy a used bike off a friend or Craigslist, but you'll return to that shop many times for tune ups, gear, energy bars, spandex products and just to hang out. There are a lot of bike shops in the area, but we're particularly fond of American Cyclery at Frederick and Stanyan. They've been around a long time, have a good variety of bikes to choose from, won't try to sell you what you don't need, and they have a nice dog. Tell them we sent you.
Third, be careful of department store or discount store bikes. The frame may be fine, but the equipment may not be - and you may spend more on replacement parts and repairs than you saved in the first place. If you do buy from these stores, take the bike right away to your new favorite bike store where trained mechanics can give it a thorough inspection.
Finally, with the money you save getting your kid a simple but super effective bike that'll last years, you can buy yourself that cool new Colnago. It's a win-win! Cool, huh?
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