It had been absolutely beautiful outside this past week...sunny most days and in the 60's so I had planned on going to the lake with the kids and dogs and BBQing but it is SO cold today and its always colder down by the lake so I think this evening we are going to play board or video games, watch movies and grill here at home. It is a little cold but I do not have to stand out there with it the whole time and besides BBQ is yummy...lol!
What are your plans for today? For those whose days are getting close to being over what did you do today?

Heather

I'm waiting for someone to wake me up.

Wake up?

Its 6:26pm here in the UK, I have long been awake!

valerie wrote: I'm waiting for someone to wake me up.

This!

And also I'll probably spend the day working on my website. I would go out and walk but it rained all night and I don't like being outside after it rains unless I need to be. I plan on buying a bike soon so I can get more exercise and get to where I need to go faster. I don't drive so a bike is something I really need. Speaking of bikes, how reliable are the new ones these days? Do they last a long time? I've noticed most things these days break down not long after buying them. They'll do anything to save a penny.

Casey,

When it comes to bikes my kids have a Schwinn that was passed down from their grandpa to their dad and then to them and it has outlasted every new bike I have ever bought them. I am sure there are new bikes that are good and will last but from personal experience the old bike we have has outlasted every new one bought in the past 18 years. My oldest boy wanted a new Schwinn really bad and I ended up buying it for him for Christmas about 5 years back and that thing has been nothing but a money hog...we have had to replace the rims because they bent and were ruining the inner tubes in the tires and we also replaced the break cables and so on yet the 65+ year old Schwinn made it through all the boys rough riding and the only thing we have ever replaced on it was the tires because the tread wore down and the kids have painted it many many times but that wasnt necessary just some thing they enjoyed doing.

Heather

Mongoose is the best in my experience.

PS. I'll tell you something else, I think you are better off going to a direct dealer than going to discount stores, such as walmart. If you are going to assemble it yourself, that's a different matter. Go directly to a store that deals in bikes only.
Usually there is already many assembled that you can buy right then. But if there is not, firmly look the dealer in the eye and say, 'MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY OR I WILL BE BACK FOR A REFUND!'

H3ATH3R_ wrote: Casey,

When it comes to bikes my kids have a Schwinn that was passed down from their grandpa to their dad and then to them and it has outlasted every new bike I have ever bought them. I am sure there are new bikes that are good and will last but from personal experience the old bike we have has outlasted every new one bought in the past 18 years. My oldest boy wanted a new Schwinn really bad and I ended up buying it for him for Christmas about 5 years back and that thing has been nothing but a money hog...we have had to replace the rims because they bent and were ruining the inner tubes in the tires and we also replaced the break cables and so on yet the 65+ year old Schwinn made it through all the boys rough riding and the only thing we have ever replaced on it was the tires because the tread wore down and the kids have painted it many many times but that wasnt necessary just some thing they enjoyed doing.

Heather

My neighbor used to let me borrow one of his bikes when I was a teen (I'm 25 now). He had 2 of the same bike and I'm not sure what kind they were they looked like they were from some time ago. I would say at least 25-30 years ago and they both worked fine. I would ride it around our neighborhood everyday. Before he let me borrow his bike, I remember a newer bike my mom had bought me and the chain would come off all the time and eventually broke within the first couple years of using it. I also remember the tires would come out of their sockets a lot. It seems the bikes made these days are poorly assembled out of cheap material. The chain and the tire ares should be top priority but it seems those are the 2 most neglected parts these days. Thats mostly why I want to be careful what I do buy. My budget will be in the $100 range. I'm hoping I can find a good one in that price bracket.

Yep speaking of chains that was another problem with the newer Schwinn...it actually continuously has that issue and he has not been able to fix it...the chain losens up and pops off...it actually got my son in the leg a time or two. =/

Heather

valerie wrote: Mongoose is the best in my experience.

PS. I'll tell you something else, I think you are better off going to a direct dealer than going to discount stores, such as walmart. If you are going to assemble it yourself, that's a different matter. Go directly to a store that deals in bikes only.
Usually there is already many assembled that you can buy right then. But if there is not, firmly look the dealer in the eye and say, 'MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY OR I WILL BE BACK FOR A REFUND!'

Yea I like the Mongoose bikes. I was looking at a nice one about a year ago but didn't have the money for it. It seems for a new bike Mongoose is the way to go. I want to do my homework though to make sure I am getting a good one. Thank God for customer reviews.