Bike reviews

Topeak DeFender M1 Mountain Bike Fender (Front)

Perfect for every rider!

This keeps most of the water off you if you ride on wet roads, but because they sit so far off of the tire, they leave some room for water to spray your legs. This is definitely a must have product if you want to keep dirt off of the underside of your bike and yourself. There are two detachable pieces and one piece that stays mounted into the fork. A few turns of an allen wrench and it's in place. It detaches very easily by pressing a button and pulling on the part you want to take off. The tips of the fender are made of a gel-like plastic and the rest of the fender is made of a harder plastic material. I have owned this product for a few months now and have not had any worries about breaking it. It is very durable and you would have to try to break it. I am very happy with topeak products in general and would recommend this brand to anyone that wants accessories for their bicycle.

Fits well

First one broke - amazon replaced it. I like the design, fits well on bike

GREAT FENDER

THIS PRODUCT WAS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. I REALIZED HOW GOOD IT WAS WHEN I DROVE MY OTHER BIKE WHICH DIDN'T HAVE A FENDER. IT'S NOT ONLY GOOD FOR RAIN, MUD, PUDDLES, ETC. IT'S GREAT ON EVERYDAY TERRAIN. IT STOPS THE GRAINS OF SAND,PEBBLES, AND OTHER SMALL DEBRIS LIKE GLASS FROM KICKING UP INTO YOUR FACE. IT ALSO OFFERS PROTECTION FOR THE EYES AND EVEN KEEPS LESS DIRT/PEBBLES FROM POPPING INTO YOUR SHOES. I USED MY BIKE WITH AND WITH OUT THE FENDER AND NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE. THIS IS A GREAT CUSTOMIZATION FOR ANY MOUNTAIN BIKE THAT NOT ONLY LOOKS COOL BUT ALSO SERVES ITS PURPOSE. HAVE NOT HAD IT TOO LONG BUT SHOULD LAST A WHILE DUE TO ITS FLEXIBLE PLASTIC AND RUBBER PARTS. IT WAS ALSO EASY AND QUICK TO INSTALL. THIS FENDER ALSO HAS A QUICK RELEASE SYSTEM SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHOLE BASE TO ENSURE A PEACE OF MIND FROM SOMEONE STEALING IT WHEN YOU LOCK YOUR BIKE. I LIKED IT SO MUCH I ORDERED THE OTHER VERSION FOR MY OTHER BIKE SO THEY WOULDN'T LOOK THE SAME. NICE JOB TOPEAK.

A nice item

The fender was shipped quickly. It was a bit tricky to install. I had to open up the ID of my fork with a round "rat tail" file to accept the Topeak attachment lug. It took about an hour, but eventually I was able to get the lug to fit. It is nice, and works well.

Topeak DeFender M1 (front) fender

I got this and the M2 (rear) fender to keep mud and water off me on rainy days for my commute. The installation is a piece of cake -- just plug the diagonally-split cylinder into your fork, and tighten the Allen head bolt to compress it. The front and back parts literally snap right on. The soft tips are nice for when you bump into stuff; helps keep 'em from snapping. Although I think these are great-quality, I *did* encounter an issue with the M1. It broke at the mount on the first day I had it. The customer service at Topeak is awesome though, and I got a replacement part in 2 days! I've been using the new one for several weeks now, and no problems!

Keyword : mountain+bikes

Avenir Classic Comfort Cycling Gloves

Good Average Gloves

Got these gloves to qualify for Amazon's free shipping to replace a pair of very well used Performance Classic Gloves. Pros: Gloves seem well made - cotton back, stitching, velcro wrist closure, and palm padding all seem good quality and up to the task. Cons: synthetic leather palm material is showing too much wear after only a few short rides, and overall the gloves fit somewhat too tightly compared to others - especially around the wrist and fingers, the latter aspect making them annoyingly difficult to take off when sweaty...

Keyword : road+bikes

Nathan Stainless Steel 700 mL Flip Straw Bottle

Awesome bottle!

I was looking for a hybrid between a Sigg water bottle and a Camelbak. Like the straw mechanism on the Camelbak, but liked all the aspect of the Sigg metal ones--except I don't care for non-attached caps or sports tops. This was a great compromise. I only plan to use this for water, but I should note that the tag says not hot beverages or dairy products. Would not recommend this for coffee, then, even iced. It really does seem to keep the cold water colder and there is no metallic taste. I think the clip on the top looks pretty non-durable, and it might rust in the dishwasher. Everything else feels tip-top solid.

Keyword : bikes

Drop Handlebar Rear View Mirror Bar End

Almost perfect!

These are really good except they tend to make a low dull vibrating sound on less than smooth asphalt and I do have to readjust every once in a while again on less than perfectly smooth roads. I actually only use one of them on my bike, but couldn't resist getting the pair at a great price in case I loose one or someone else wants to buy it off of me!

Perfect!

Got this mirror over a year ago and installed it on my bike. I recently got a new bike and when I started riding it, I could not believe how much I miss the mirror! It is easy to install, it's out of the way and it allows for a great backward view due to the slightly convex mirror. When I first got it, I was expecting it to interfere with my knee or my leg interfering with the backward visibility...not the case at all. I have recommended it to all my friends and will purchase another for my second bike. I only have the left mirror and haven't felt a need for the right side one.

Keyword : road+bikes

CamelBak Cleaning Kit (Includes 2 Cleaning Tablets)

Catalyst owners beware

If you own the Camelbak Catalyst be warned that due to the smaller fill aperture you cannot use either the large brush or the drying mounts. This kit is only useful for the tube brush and, possibly, the the cleaning tablets.

Nice job

I bought the cleaning kit out of desperation. There were black moldy spots in the tubing system of my Camelbak!! Once the cleaning kit arrived,I couldn't get the wire applicator all the way through the tube to clean the spots. I ended up just using the tablets and the thing that looks like a toliet bowl cleaner in the bladder and then I ran watter through the tube to eventually get the black mold out. I'm not sure what the hanger thing is for...there are no directions that mention it.

The basics are included but more tablets would be better

This cleaning kit is ideal for keeping your reservoir (bladder) clean. The brush for cleaning the tube does a particularly good job. The plastic thingy for drying the reservoir is great as it keeps the two sides apart, for complete drying. My only complaint is that the kit only includes 2 cleaning tablets. You'll be back for more in a few weeks.

Keyword : mountain+bikes

High Sierra Tank Messenger Bag

Perfect Bag

This bag is great. I am using it for a trip to a scrapbooking convention, and it holds everything I need perfectly.

Good well made bag

The bag is a large messenger style bag that is well constructed and comfortable to carry. Lots of space.

A Little Larger Than I Expected, but still a great buy!

I absolutely love the color of this bag! The plaid also adds detail to an otherwise plain bag, something I was looking for, among all of the plain bags on the market today. It was a little larger than I expected, or wanted, but its size can be attributed to it being very wide and thin. I can fit several text books side-by-side and my laptop inside, yet I don't feel like I'm carrying a bulky backpack around with me. I really like the two mesh pouches on the sides; it's very convenient for carrying multiple drink bottles. The quality is excellent. I've only had it for a few months, but it has not started to show signs of wear yet. This is an excellent bag for someone looking to carry around a large amount of stuff with them. If all you plan on carrying with you is a notebook and a few pens, look for something else that's smaller. If you were like me, and looking for something to carry several books and a computer in, then this bag will suit your purpose to the letter.

This is the bag for kids to take everything they need to school!

This messenger bag was exactly what I wanted. Both the size and color are perfect. My kids have had problems fitting notebooks into the size of most backpack made these days and they would die before pulling a backpack with a handle. A three ring binder fits easily in the messenger bag and the second opening fits my daughters lunch box. Both compartments have room to spare. The smaller pockets and the zipper pocket on the flap give tons of storage. The shoulder strap is padded for comfort and adjusts. This is a great bag! The quality is there. This isn't going to fall apart any time soon. Your kids can actually fit the things that they need to take to school in it. This was a REALLY good find!

Love this bag!

I have been looking for a quality bag that is easy to carry on the bus for my commute. I was a little surprised how big this bag is, but I learned to love it for the extras. There are great pockets. I can carry anything in it. On the weekends I use it to transport a Wii, with tons of games and accessories, to friends houses and then switch to lunch and books for my commute into the city during the week.

Keyword : bike

Bell Motivator Mag Indoor Bicycle Trainer

Exactly what I needed

I got a trainer because I don't seem to be able to ride when it's too hot or too cold so this was perfect. It does exactly what I needed it to do and the price was great. It's made well, easy to get your bike attached to it and it stays in place with absolutely no problems at all.

Good but a bit noisy

This is great for rainy days and all but it's quite loud. You have to turn up the TV or headphones really loud to drown out the noise. It isn't bad if you live in a house but if you live in an apartment, your neighbors might not appreciate the volume of your television if you watch while training. Aside from that, it's great

Once again; Product=5,Amazon=1

The trainer is as advertised, and works great. Good unit for the money. Simple to set-up and use. I would certainly recommend getting a road-type tire for the rear of your bike if you are using with a mountain bike, as the vibration of the tire can get loud and be irritating after a while. But, I'm sure that's the case with any trainer. The problem... ...AMAZON. When I clicked "THIS IS A GIFT", I assumed it would arrive in some sort of nondescript packaging. No, it arrived in it's box, proudly displayed on my porch where, upon arriving home from work, my wife gat an early birthday present. HELLO? AMAZON? Anyone home? Second order in as many months that had problems. Seriously considering shopping elsewhere from now on.

Not bad for the price

I bought this item so I could continue riding my bike through the tough Chicago winters. I had no idea it was going to be SO LOUD! I live in a condominium, and after the first day of using this product, I got a "not so friendly" visit from the people who live downstairs. Before long, I also got the same type of visit from several other neighbors. After about a week, this item went into storage. I probably should just sell it, because as long as I live in this condo, I won't be able to use it, because of the noise. The item works well, it's just extremely loud. I suggest not getting it unless you live in a house. It makes it very difficult to listen to music while riding too.

GO

Trainer arrived very promptly as promised; however, the shipping box looked like it had been through WWIII. I decided to take pictures of the box before opening just to be on the safe side. I was please to see that the Bell Motivator Mag Trainer had not suffered any damage. My second concern was when I found a part included that had no description as to what it was or how to use it and the user's guide left a lot to be desired. Fortunately, the customer service rep I talked to was very helpful and I was up and riding in short order. I have used the trainer daily since receiving and although a bit loud it is not nearly as bad as I had anticipated after reading many other reviews prior to ordering. The unit is very stable and I absolute will say it fits my needs without a hitch. Good product - I would have given this a 5 but considering the condition of the box at the time of receipt plus extremely poor instructions I think a 4 is fair.

Keyword : bike

Topeak Hexus 16-Function Bicycle Tool

Bike saver

I've had a bike for years and never owned a multi-tool. I didn't ride much and was always with a buddy. Now I'm riding 27 miles round trip as a commuter, alone, and can't have a bike issue that would make me late to get my kids from daycare. This tool has the basics of what you need to get you out of trouble. Any more and you might as well keep it in your garage for serious tune ups. I'm not a competitive biker so the weight isn't even noticeable and the price was very reasonable compared to other ubertools that look like Frankenstein's Swiss Army knife.

A must for the saddle bag

Great tool for the price but I was a little perplexed to notice why a simple wrench for changing/tightening pedals could not be accomodated.

great multitool

A great multitool that is compact and light. I keep it in a bag under my seat with a patch kit. The tool has been indispensable for the chain tool, the allen wrenches, and especially the tire levers. If you can get it on sale, it is well worth it and will likely bail you out of trouble sometime in the future

A bit heavy, but has it all.

Not sure why but recently my chain broke while on the road. Before that happened I never cared about carrying a chain tool. After that, I don't leave home without one. This tool has everything you need to do on the road repairs and adjustments, including the chain tool. It is very well thought out, sturdy, and easy to use. OK, it is a bit heavy, but that is the trade off you'll need to make if you want to be able to fix most of the problems you may encounter on the road. Topeak makes the lighter version without the chain tool so if weight is an issue, that is a good choice too.

A must in your seat bag.

Very nice tool. Good built quality. Has almost everything I need for my mountainbiking. Very satisfied.

Keyword : bike

Cateye CC-RD300W Strada Wireless Bicycle Computer

bike computer

Excellent product. Easy to install.....Written installation instructions can be overwhelming for someone with no previous experience, due to the amount of written information in small font, crammed into a small space. Wish that the computer display window was larger. Overall, very satisfied with the product.

Excellent Cyclocomputer

Installation was quite easy. It is worth the trouble to download the user manual from cateye.com however. The font size on the included sheets is a strain to read. While the handlebar/stem mounting bracket is great, it is possible to over-tighten the bracket which may cause the "touch screen" functionality to not work correctly or at all. On my last two rides the trip data has spontaneously reset to zero. The "touch screen" feature is really an electro-mechanical operation of a button on the back of the computer when one presses on the bottom of the unit. I suspect that I may still have the bracket a little tight. I have asked Cateye for an explanation of other possible reasons for this "spontaneous reset" but they have not yet had a chance to reply.

Great Device

I recently began commuting on my bike twice a week (30 miles RT). This computer is great. Though small in size, the real-time display of mph is huge and it is easy to use. The accuracy is great. This was simple to set up. Simple to install (make sure you have some back up tie wraps in case you err in the mounting of the wireless component). I am not a speedy rider, but thanks to this computer, I am getting faster and enjoying the ride.

Wireless Computer

Works great and easy to set up, even with rather large mountain bike suspension forks. Functions are simple and the display is easy to read.

Good value for your money

It was a good purchase and great value for the money. The shipment arrived on time (and with the right price), it took me 30 min to read the instructions and install it. The gadget works perfectly. Its pretty acurate, just to illustrate, I ride a trail near my house witch informs the total distance (6.1 miles), what its exactly what it displays every time I ride. Its also small and brings all the info you need. I totally recomend the purchase.

Keyword : bike

New Wave Enviro Tinted Stainless Steel Water Bottle (0.6-Liter)

inexpensive lightweight bottle

Decent metal bottle for the price, but the threads are wearing away quickly. Next time, I may spend more for a higher quality bottle that will last longer.

It leaks.

I have pretty much the same complaints everyone else has: 1.) It leaks. Turn it upside down and watch the droplets come out. 2.) Carabiner hooked to the top makes it difficult to unscrew cap. 3.) Slight metallic taste to the water.

Not easy to use

While it holds water well, it's a pain to get it open and closed. The screw top doesn't easily screw back in and I found myself spending too much time getting closed. It now sits on my counter, unused. I recently purchased NALGENE bottle, which is a plastic BPA FREE bottle, and I LOVE it! I would recommend it over this one.

Cold Drinks, Safe Water, Annoying Cap

I like the size of this bottle and that it keeps our drinks cold. You can freeze it for a little bit before you go out, too. The hole is too small to fit ice cubes in easily. I have to push each one through by running water over it at the same time. The cap is a PAIN, especially at the gym when you're really thirsty. It's hard to twist the cap on and off while you're on a treadmill or elliptical machine. At least the water is safe and you're not drinking out of a plastic bottle. This is much healthier for you and of course, we use filtered water in ours.

Not satisfied

We ordered 3 bottles. Silver one had rust inside and after the first wash paint started coming off from the blue and green bottles.

Keyword : bikes

Bell Let's Ride Toddler Helmet and Pads Fun Pack- Red

Be real - it's cute, and might work

The helmet actually looks and feels like it will provide some protection during a fall, and I must say the strapping setup is pretty good to keep the helmet in place. The knee and elbow pads kept this from getting 5 stars because, honestly - they'll save you child from ripping their clothes or skin, but they're not going to provide much impact protection. Take the inclusion of those items with a grain of salt.

Keyword : street+bikes

Kenda K40 Street Tire 26 x 1-3/8 Wire Bead GW

Kenda Tires

I am very satisfied with my purchase from Niagara Cycle Works. The order was processed and shipped quickly and arrived as scheduled. The price beat any of the local department stores (when I was able to find a tire this size). They are on the bike and I am back on the road!

They work!

I put them on with the inexpensive, new tubes I purchased with them. They've been working ever since.

Good tires, good price

After checking local stores I was only able to find one tire this size at a Detroit area Meijers store for $6.99. I decided to try the internet and came across this website. I found the two tires I was looking for and ordered them. I ordered the tires on Sept 27th and late afteroon on the 28th UPS was on my doorstep. I haven't had a chance to mount the tires yet but after a careful inspection they don't look like seconds. I would not hesitate to order from this company again.

Great Value

These tires are seconds, the mold leavings, little pin points of rubber, were all over the tires sidewalls. This was easily corrected by cutting them off with a razor blade. Once this was done, since it was all cosmetic, they looked fine. The tread is a standard design and the tires seem balanced. I'd order them again. UPDATE - 12/2007: Just ordered another pair for my bike.

Keyword : street+bikes

Huffy Princess Girls 16-Inch Bike

Pretty but not good

It's very pretty and my daughter really loved it. However, we ended up returning it after one day. The pedal fell off continuously. The manufacturer didn't make the pedal insert area properly. Instead of spinning, the pedal would unwind itself and fall off. It was annoying at first then became dangerous as the pedal fell off in the middle of riding on the road. The floor model was doing this when we were trying it out at the store. We assumed it was due to over-use from the potential customers. It turns out that the bike parts are all made improperly.

Get this bike!

This is an excellent bike! It was easy to assemble and the quality seems to be just fine. I was considering buying each of my daughters an (expensive) Trek bike from one of our local bike stores. After thinking about it, though, I decided to buy this one instead since I thought she would grow out of this size bike after just a year or so. I try to buy high-quality products, which is why I was considering the ($150+) Trek. But I'm really glad we decided on this one. For a little girl's bike, this one is just perfect. For the money, it was a great buy. My girls love to put things in the pouches that are attached to the front of the bike. I think the bikes are prettier in person than online, too. If you're considering a bike for your little girl, I highly recommend this one!

Great Bike!

I bought this bike for my 3 1/2 year old daughter. I was not sure if it would be too big, but it was perfect! I can also see her being able to use it for years to come. She rides around on it like she is a teenager, she really loves it, which is what matters most to me. I also bought her the matching princess helmet and arm/knee pads. I got it for $68.99 at Walmart, and it was already assembled! I am very pleased with this product. I would recommend it to friends.

Cutomer Service???

Came missing a lot of pieces (all of the reflectors and the rear brakes), directions were difficult to read.

item great, directions alittle fuzzy

The bike is great! My daughter loves it- sparkles and all, and I love the bag that she can put her rocks and flowers in as we ride along. The directions required a little thinking and problem solving, as the brake installation instructions were unclear to me.

Keyword : bmx+bike

Bell Faction Multi-Sport Helmet

COMFORT! STYLE! QUALITY!

This is THE best bicycle helmet I have ever had. I ordered it for in Baghdad Iraq, because the ones AAFES sells are junk. I can't believe how comfortable it is. It is VERY cushy in the top. It makes me feel much safer with the side protection. Other guys keep asking me where I got it, so I know it looks good too!

Feels good, looks good

This helmet is comfortable, and when I street skate wearing it, I forget I have it on my head. Mine is charcoal gray, and when I look in the mirror with it on, it makes my face look better than with it off.

Not worth the wait

I'm sure the helmet is great but it takes 1-2 months to ship! You must be kidding me. I cancelled my order.

bell faction bike helmet

very nice helmet,a little heavy.the only complaint i have is while there was plenty of extra padding for adjusting around the perimeter of the helmet there was none for the very top.your head will come in contact with a very hard surface at the top center.

This is a real Bell-ringer!

This helmet yields great protection for the only part of me that works really well. I certainly use it whenever I ride my bike. The neihbors giggle when I wear it to clean my bike but, hey, who cares; it keeps me safe. In the winter the holes (there by design) let in enough air to keep me cool... cooler than I want to be. It will work out just great during the hot summers here in Sacramento... rather like crainial AC. Great product and packaging, speedy delivery, and a fair price. Just thinking about it makes me want to buy another!

Keyword : bmx+bike

Pryme 8 BMX Bicycle / Skateboard Helmet

bike/skate helmet

This is great helmet. It is high quality and as nice as some I have looked at for twice the price. According to my 11 yr old son...it is also "very cool". It came with a decal pack that allowed him to customise it. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Comfortable, well-made, looks good

This helmet is an excellent product especially given the low price. I wanted something more utilitarian and with more protection in the back than most "stylish" helmets which are more money for less material in my opinion. This one stays on even without the strap buckled, and came with a bunch of alternate foam inserts to adjust the fit (in my case it fit perfectly with the default inserts). I thought it might be hot, because it's so much more enclosed than others, but it's not at all -- the vents allow plenty of cooling.

pryme helmet

the new helmet is great,very comfortable and breathable definitely would recommend for future purchase,seemed more durable than other companies and I liked the style and matte color

Keyword : bmx+bike

Giro Atlas II Sport Oversized Bike Helmet

good LARGE helmet for big melons

a helmet is a helmet, be at $200+ Giro Ionos, or $35 Giro Atlas II, they protect your head the same. They all have to pass USA helmet safety certification, to be sold in the country. However, for the unfortunate ones with large melon above their neck, This is your only answer(other brand also makes XL helmets). Very comfortable, just like my old Giro Ventoux used from 1994 to 2008.

Great helmet

Finally, a bike helmet that fits me. It fits my large head well and the dial to adjust the strap works great as well, allowing for a tight fit.

Bike helmet

Great fitting bike helmet I have bought others but this one is tops in my book

Giro Atlas II bike helmet

Thank you so much. The oversized helmet is perfect for me. I have a 23 1/2" head size. I am a Registered Nurse and it is so very important for children and adults to wear this life saving device when riding a bike. Thank you

Big head, big helmet

Excellent choice for us bucketheads. Very comfortable, not noticeably heavier than the helmets designed for the smallheads.

Keyword : bmx+bike

Mongoose Lilac Girl's 16-Inch Cruiser Bike

Flashy bike

This bike was purchased for my 5 year old daughter. Like the other reviews, the package came pretty beat up. Fortunatly for me though, there were no missing pieces. The instruction book was confusing in that it showed the entire line of mongoose bikes and was only divided into two sections to find your bike and assemble it. This was just a temp. pain as when it was finished it worked just fine. My child rides it at fast speeds and it performs wonderfully. It is a very nice looking bike that gets compliments all the time, and my daughter still has plenty of room to grow into the bike and hopefully out of the training wheels(easily removable).

some what happy with purchase

My husband and I bought this bike for our daughter as a kindergarten graduation gift. It was important for us to select a bike with sturdy training wheels and sturdy construction. Well, what can I say......the bike is alright......not what we expected from a Mongoose or for the price. Our main dislike or concern is that the brake on the handle is too hard for our daughters small hands to reach and close properly. It is not a bad bike, but it is not our favorite either. Our daughter seems to have the same opinion.

terrific little girl's bike

Flashy, great construction...so much better than the flimsy Disney Princess models or Huffy's poorly constructed bikes. Five year old granddaughter loves. Won't use the hand brake yet but is "proud" that her bike has one. Coaster brakes are perfect for now.

Great Bike - Missing Parts

I ordered this bike for my 5 year old daughter and I am very happy with the value. I have read in many bike reviews about issues with shipping and missing parts. This was not an exception as there was a hole in the side of the box from the wheel hub poking through. They put a plastic cover over the hub (I know this because the other side still had this piece intact) but somewhere along the line this came off. The result was that the axel nut came off in shipment and was missing. The bike was also missing another small nut for one of the reflectors. I felt fortunate that these were the only things missing and knew that I could find them at the local tool store if I needed to. However, I placed one call to Mongoose and 5 minutes later, they promised to ship the parts out immediately with zero hassle. It was possibly the BEST experience that I have ever had with a customer service call. I didn't have to go in circles with the machine to finally wait on hold for 20 minutes to talk to a person and get the run around from the first rep only to ask to speak with a supervisor who 20 minutes later "gives in" to my request after an hour of adding unnecessary stress to my life. I haven't received the parts yet (just called today) but she told me they ship from IL so it should not take longer than a couple days to receive. In summary, shipping a bike seems to have some risks to it but this bike is great for the cost (I payed $76) and I am very happy with Mongoose's Customer Service.

Great little girl's bike!

This bike came mostly assembled in the box except for a couple of parts. It is great quality and love the colors and my daughter loves it even more. I purchased a Mongoose bike for my son 3 years ago and it looks like new. Great product!

Keyword : bmx+bike

Bell Lil' Bell Shell Toddler/Kids' Bike Helmet

Great helmet...

My daughter's head is HUGE, and we were able to get fit her head comfortably and safely with this affordable helmet.

Good helmet

Pro's: Light - won't put too much strain on young kids neck; very young child friendly design. Con's: Wish the padding was a bit more substantial. Padding is adhered w/ velcro which can come un-done.

Fits great

We love it, and the fit is super for our 18 month old. Still a little big, but the pads that come with it make it snug.

Thumbs Up

Our two year took to this immediatley, which from my perspective is half the battle. Hopefully we won't ever have to find out about the effectiveness of this product.

My grandson loves it

I got this helmet so my grandkids could ride with me. My 2 year old grandson came over just after I got it and I told him that we would use it for going bike riding when the weather got nice. He tried it on and it fit great right out of the box. He enjoyed running around with it on and has put it on every time he's come over since then. We finally had a chance to ride and it was easy to get him to wear it for our ride. A great purchase!

Keyword : bmx+bike

Giro Transfer Sport Bike Helmet

excellent helmet

I bought this helmet so I could ride on the street to train as well as to wear in my first triathalon. it fits well, especially after you use the extra pads it comes with to customize it. it is light, looks good, and stays wear I strap it on my skull. the straps coming down past your ears are the only part that was a bit annoying, but after one ride I never noticed it again. a great helmet, at a great price

Great Helmet

Fits well, easy and quick adjustment. Feels lightweight and doesn't get too hot when you're out in the sun. I'm assuming it protects my head, but I haven't tested that yet...

great helmet for an excellent price

I was pleasantly surprised with this helmet considering it was $30.00. Its lightweight, breathes well and fits like a glove (love the head harness system). I initially purchased it because I am a female with a small build (and a small head) and the reviews stated that the helmet ran a bit on the smaller side. Its really lightweight, could be a pro or a con. That being said it seems durable, although hopefully I will never have a real test of that. Pro: *Cost *Good Air flow *Fits well * Looks cool Cons: * Could use a sun shade * adjustment knob is a little hard to turn, but you shouldn't have to adjust it that ofter. Bottom line - I highly recommend it!

bike helmet

good brand, cheap helmet. my experience: often disappointed with amazing bargains on Amazon. (on the whole, i love amazon, and typically, great value for great products. but when i've bought things that are so cheap it seems to good to be true, it often is.)

One size fits most

I needed a helmet after mine cracked from an impact so I chose this model. However, my former 2006 Bell Furio fit me well and was offered in 3 size ranges (and cost more). This helmet somehow manages to align a hard spot toward the back with my skull. It seems to be the shaping, and the old helmet had the hard shell ever so slightly spaced from my head. I used the pads supplied with the Giro Transfer to help avoid this contact and adjusted as much as possible, but if the padding of my hair thins any more things could get uncomfortable. Best to try on before buying. The design brings the front pretty low on the brow, which takes getting used to as well.

Keyword : bmx+bike

Mongoose BMX Bike Gel Knee and Elbow Pads

Too small for an adult.

These are junior size but I read they're OK for a small adult. I am a small adult and the velcro wraps aren't long enough. I get a little overlap but I wouldn't recommend it to an adult. Otherwise they're fine.

Jodi's review Very Cool!

I really like these pads. First I like its color black & orange and my mom likes it because its hard on the outside and soft on the inside. That's all I have to say. Thank you THE END

EXCELLENT PROTECTION FOR THE MONEY

As mentioned in a previous review, these pads are great protection- not overly bulky, yet do indeed have a gel like padding. As also mentioned by another reiewer, these do indeed fit a wide sprectrum of ages: my 7 yr. old daughter has a pair; and so do I(45 yr old. male!!). All said, highly recommended.

Great Value, Great Protection

Bought these for my son to be safe on rollerblades, no complaints. The gel does great at shock absorbtion, the construction is sturdy especially considering the cheap price. This is a great deal if you want nice, basic, one size fits all protection for roller sports.

Cadman's

My child is 5 and they fit great. He really likes them and they do the job. He has had a few spills on his bike and razor. :)

Keyword : bmx+bike

Iron Horse Triumph 5.0 Adult Road Bike

Low Quality, Even For An Entry-Level Road Bike

This bike reeks of shoddy workmanship. Out of the box the handlebar tape was loose. Before riding it I had to replace the front tire because of a puncture in the tube, and damage to the valve and valve cap. Also, three small pieces, two on the handlebars and one on the stem fell off before I had a chance to ride it. The plastic pedal attachments have a very cheap feel, and after only three rides there is a problem with one of the actual pedals. The seat is extremely uncomfortable. When I went to get a replacement tire at a local bicycle shop, the owner who has been in business for 35 years told me that the quality of Iron Horse has gone down so much in recent years that he no longer services them, let alone sells them. I wish I had shopped around more.

Great bike!

I bought this bike and in the same week rode 150 miles in a charity ride. I loved the bike, and the price was fantastic.

Great Deal

This is a great deal for the money. Any other bike i found with carbon forks, and shimano tiagra components started around $750. great buy.

Wonderful!

Well, I've had the bike for about 3 days now and I've put over 75 miles on it already. I was kind of weary about buying a bike over the internet, but my fears have been allayed. It took about 30 minutes to get assembled (I have a lot of experience working on bikes), but it needed a bit of fine tuning (the derailleurs were not well adjusted and needed to be properly aligned). Overall, I am very impressed. My housemate paid more for his Schwinn Le Tour, but this Iron Horse is lighter and has better components. For me, price was the main concern in buying a bike, and I think that this one is well worth the money. It's not the lightest bike on the planet, but it's pretty fast and takes bumps very well. It handles beautifully, even up over 30 miles an hour. It's not without problems. The headset grinds a little, and there is some drag on the drivechain. The wheelset is a bit on the heavy side too. However, for under $600, you can't expect perfection and this bike is way better than most anything else in the price range. One of my biggest concerns was sizing buying a bike I had never ridden or even seen was sizing. To be clear, I bought the 58cm frame and it fits me very well. I am about 5'11"-6'0", and I have a 32" in-seam.

Great starter

Just getting back into some road cycling to rehab an ACL injury. This was an excellent bike for the money. Good component group for a starter and light weight. Welds and paint job look good. Dropped the bike at local bike shop to check over assembly and they were surprised with the low price. An upgrade on the wheelset and you are ready for entry level racing or sprint triathlon.

Keyword : road+bike

Iron Horse Transit 3.0 Adult Flat-Bar Commuter Bike

Great Bang for the Buck!

I bought the 54cm Iron Horse Transit 3.0 just several days ago for commute, around town errands, and fitness purposes to ride along the lake shore here in Chicago. I was really unsure about sizing and was debating the 52cm or 54cm, but from reading all the entries about Iron Horse road bikes, I decided on the 54 and it fits me great. I'm about 5'9.5" with a 30 inch pant inseam. Amazon free shipping was great and the bike arrived in 2 days, however the box it came in was a little beat up. Putting the bike together took me about 1.5 hours, but most of that time was taken trying to figure out how to assemble the front brake. I haven't taken the bike out for a spin yet, but from visual inspection the rear wheel is out of tru, the brakes need more adjustment and the front derailleur could use a little adjustment. Also as mentioned above, the bike comes with Crank Brothers Smarty Clipless pedals and not the Wellgo pedals. I just emailed Amazon regarding this and hopefully they can get me some new pedals. I don't have riding shoes. This bike is a great bang for the buck. I was shopping other flat bar commute road bikes like the Trek FX 5.5 or 5.6, Fuji Absolute 1.0 or 2.0, Cannondale Road Warrior 2, and Giant FCR all ranging from 750 to 900 dollars. At a little over 300 bucks for the Iron Horse, it can't be beat. Now I have almost enough money left over to pick up the 54 cm Iron Horse Victory 3.0! Also, the frame color (matte tan) and branding is very non-descrip, so hopefully this bike won't be a target to thieves like other more well known brands. I like the matte finish, but would have preferred a matte black or matte white, which would look very sharp! Hope this was helpful to people debating this bike. I will update with more information after several rides.

good, but not a commuter bike; description has wrong pedals

This bike is very light, and looks nice so far, though I haven't ridden it much yet. One of the main reasons I haven't is that it comes with clipless pedals (that you need bike shoes for). The description, as of this review, still incorrectly states "Pedals: Wellgo alloy with toe clip and strap". Amazon didn't reply to an email inquiry about this (waited 3 days), so I called them. The customer service representative couldn't help me (he could offer me 20% off new pedals - are you kidding?), but his supervisor was able to take care of it. I bought new pedals at my local bike store, and Amazon refunded me for the purchase. It's bizarre that they haven't changed the product description, because it would save money and hassle for everyone involved. It's easy to assemble, even for a novice like me. You just need metric allen wrenches and an adjustable wrench (for the pedals). My inseam is 32.5", and the 54cm bike is a bit too small. I wish I'd gone for the 56cm, but it is still rideable. The box it came in was a bit banged up, but the bike was fine as it's pretty well packaged to handle minor bumps and scrapes. As noted in another review, the brakes are weak. The brake pads are very hard compared to others I've used, so this is probably the reason. Easily fixed, but I won't get a refund for that purchase. Update: after a few days of commuting, I have to say: this is not a commuter bike. It certainly works for commuting, but so does a full-suspension mountain bike. The Transit 3.0 just isn't a commuter bike; it's a road bike. It's light, and fast, and has narrow, high-pressure tires. One thing I noticed that is bad is that the handlebar tube (the horizontal part) is variable width, and very fat in the middle. This makes it impossible to install a standard headlight, which is a major problem. But apart from the headlight issue, this bike is exactly what I thought it would be.

very good value

Very good bike for the money, even though the price just went up from $399. Light weight, good components. It is easy to assemble and requires just a little adjustment - there are great videos on youtube explaining all this. I am almost 6 feet with 34 inseam and the 56 cm version fits me OK, but I wish I had a way to test the 58 cm. If you are taller than 6 feet I think you need at least the 58 cm frame. I still need to work on the brakes, maybe I need to get new pads for them, they dont have enough braking power. All over - very nice bike, I am very happy with it.

Great Commuter!

Have been riding this bike for about 2 months now - for the price, it's a great, speedy, sturdy, light bike for tackling the streets. Very good components (esp the rear derailleur, seat, wheels/tires) for the price. Comes mostly assembled (need to install pedals, stem, handlebar, front brake cable), very clean (but a bit bland) color scheme & profile. Compared to other flat bar road bikes in the same price range, this bike is one of the best - very satisfied with my purchase!

Fantastic bargain

Can't beat the combination of components and frame for the price. Super light and responsive bike for around 400 bucks. Comes pretty well assembled--if you have any doubts about assembly call a bike shop, but most people should have no trouble putting it together. All in all a fantastic bike at an unbeatable price.

Keyword : road+bike

Planet Bike Comfort GEL Road Bike Handlebar Tape with Reflective Bar Plugs

I would use again

This was the first time that I have used bar tape, it went on easily. I would recommend this to others.

Cushy Tape

This is fine for handlebar wrap. My only gripe is the "earth color is more of a pukr tan. I will likely use this wrap again but not this color

Good product

Wrapped my tour bike handle with this (charcoal) after my previous handle tape disintegrated after many years. Looks good, feels tough. Would like it a bit more cushy though.

Top rank--the very best!

This product preserves the body where you contact the handlebars, thus making more energy available for distance or speed. It works much better than most others. For the 16 pound road bike climber/sprinter where weight is very expensive, the slight additional weight of the gel tape is worthy of the greater expense somewhere else on the bike. This isn't liquid gel, but rather a "marine foam" type backing on regular cork. Its featherweight and luxurious. It helps on greater power for distance whenever the road gets rough.

Keyword : road+bike

Thule 630 Ranger 90 Rooftop Cargo Bag (Rack Mounted)

Great alternative to hardshell

The Ranger 90 is a great blend between a hardshell box and a soft cargo bag. I got it because I prefer having the load not resting on the roof of the vehicle. It fits perfectly and attaches easily to the factory rack of our Ford Escape. Kept our gear dry and secure in heavy rain at 70mph. At 12cf it isn't huge, but we fit most of our soft luggage for a week trip for family of 4 in it. That left room for our dog in the back of the truck. Folds up easily and quickly -- so beats a hardshell hands-down in that regard.

Great combination of box and bag

We got this to give us some extra cargo space when driving my wife's Honda Fit. It's allowed us to travel from Atlanta Ga to Asheville NC with three adults, a baby, two dogs in comfort by stashing all our luggage in the cartop box. It's sturdy, well-constructed, waterproof and holds up to the battering of wind, bugs and storms, etc with no problems. Furthermore, it stores in a long thin bag so it doesn't take up huge amounts of space in my garage. Attaching it to the roof rack takes some effort, but it has a secure no-slip method of attaching and I don't feel like it has any danger of coming loose.

Thule 630 Ranger Luggage Carrier

Well from the start I pretty much set out to try to buy the best I can especially when it comes to something carrying my luggage on a roof of a vehicle. I like the easy mounting, material, and the durability of this item. It has went over my expectations and im very pleased with this item.

Can't live without!

We bought this to go on our Buick Rendezvuous for our trips back home to Michigan. It has went through almost 10000 miles and still looks like new. It has weathered 105 degree heat in South Dakota, a freezing snowstorm in Michigan, and one of the worse rainstorms I have ever seen in Minnesota. It has never leaked. It does take a little practice to get on correctly and don't do it in the parking lot like my girlfriend and I did! It comes with all the tools you will need. It gives us so much more room on the inside!

Keyword : road+bikes

GMC Yukon XL Road Bike

Nice Bike

The bike has definitely lived up to my expectations. It has great looks and equally good design. The rear gear shifters/derailleurs are excellent. It was pretty easy to assemble the first time it came. I have been to several rides/tours of about 50 miles and it has been a pleasant ride every time. A few warnings though. The front derailleurs are not working any more, however, I do not use them anyway. Also, I would recommend replacing the pedals with clips(mine did not come with them). Quite light and sturdy, it has all the bang for the buck. I go for 10 mile rides twice a week and the longer tours every fortnight and I would recommend this bike to everyone.

Great road bike for the money

Ok, first off, and maybe a general warning to folks around my height, I received a Kent GMC Yukon XL (the 20" frame) road bike a few days ago. I'm 5'9" with a 29" inseam (30" standover height). I think I probably should've gone for the 22" frame; the 20" frame seems a tad small for me, and there's at least 2 inches of standover clearance on this 20" frame. In any case, it's a good enough size, and this is the first bicycle I've owned or ridden in 10 years+, so I'm really impressed by the new technology being put into today's bikes. This bike is no exception, especially for its low cost, but there are a few problems buyers should be aware of; and maybe be ready to dish out a few more dollars in upgrades (and/or local bike shop assembly/tuning costs) to solve the problem areas. I'll get to these problems in, The Cons. For now, I would like to praise the bike and its + points. The Pros: The GMC Yukon XL is very sturdy, it's fast, it's responsive, it's light (seems light to me although more expensive road bikes can be up to 10 pounds lighter I hear). The caliper brakes work great, and when properly adjusted stop the bike quickly. The Shimano Shora STI shifters are really nice and their action is very smooth and easy to perform. The Maesbend Handlebar is very comfortable. The tires and rims are very sturdy with plenty of tread. And the bike looks great. I thought the product picture looked a little flashy, but the yellows are not as dramatic as they are in the picture. I would like to get rid of the logo brandings, but once again, can't argue with the price. All-in-all I'm very pleased, but I knew from other reviewers that I'd be getting into some upgrades almost immediately, so on to, The Cons. The Cons: The Suntour FD-XR05 Front Derailleur. Yuck, this thing is a real pain in the butt, and short of actually bending out/widening the derailleur cage, it should not be used on this bike with this gear set. I'm very mechanically inclined, and will tinker with adjustments for hours (which I did) if necessary to get something precise, but it seems it just can't be done with this combo. There's always some rubbing at chain/gear angle extremes on my Yukon. I tuned in the Rear Derailleur very nicely (invaluable site here - http://bicycletutor.com), but the front one, uh uhh. So first upgrade: A "matching" front derailleur for a 14-speed gear set. The Vitesse Pro black sadle. This is a very nice looking seat, but it's not easy on the tush, and I'm not sure I want to wait for my rear end to get used to this seat (like how your shoulders get used to supporting an Olympic bar for squats; hurts like hell first several times) before just replacing it with something more comfortable. The tubes. Be prepared for Schrader valves (the big car-type inflator valves). I was fully expecting Presta valves on a modern road bike, but not here. The good news is, along with what a few others have mentioned as a necessary upgrade to avoid inner tube punctures - cloth rim strips, you can purchase new Presta valve tubes for about $5 each from your local bike shop, and the cloth rim strips for around $4 each. The narrower Presta valve will accomodate the larger Schrader type hole opening in the rim. With high pressure (90psi and above) tubes, Schrader valves just don't cut it in my opionion. Any hissing when you unhook your tire pump means a 5-10lb pressure loss, and that can be avoided with the Presta valve mechanism. The VP-390 with toe clip Pedals. I'm not into having to insert my feet into a complete strap assembly each time I come to a stop/start situation. For city riding, there's way too much of that so I immediately purchased a $10 pair of standard hard plastic pedals and they work great. Adjustments out of the box. A word here about assembly and tuning. The GMC Yukon arrives needing a fair bit of assembly, and definitely a lot of fine tuning. The folks at Kent do a quickly-out-the-door type tuning on this bike, and most of the things that can be adjusted, need to be adjusted. If you're so inclined (both mechanically and in the time required to do so) even a total beginner can get this bike tuned pretty well in an afternoon. The instructions are pretty bad though, as others have said, so it will take some patience and possible internet research. I have a feeling on my Yukon that the wheel bearings are too tight on both the front and rear wheels and the next time I'm at the bike shop, I'm going to have them check that out. All in all, it's not a bad idea to let your LBS finish the assembly and tune the bike for you. I hear the average cost for this is between $50-$100, and you can have them do the, what I think, are required upgrades to make this a really nice road bike. In closing, I would've given 5 stars for this product. The price is really incredible for what you get, but due to the fact that Kent is using a front derailleur that really doesn't belong with a 14-speed gear set, I have to knock off one star. On my Yukon, that derailleur upgrade will be wholly necessary (while the others I mentioned aren't system-critical for a bike out of the box). Still a great buy though, and I'd do it again; I'd just know that I'd have to pump a little more money into it to make it really sweet. From the other reviews I'd read about this road bike, I was already expecting to shell out a little extra when I ordered the first one.

Great value - for money!!

I was planning to do STP (Seattle to Portland) Bike ride this summer and started looking for bikes. I didn't want to spend too much... but still wanted something reasonable - as per as components & weight of the bike & looks. To cut the story short, i bought GMC Yukon XL. and to tell you, it looks pretty fancy. I have had it for almost 3 months, and i have put around 1200miles on it. And it has worked great. No issues, shifters work excellent.. no problems until now. I have had few minor issues with breaks. When i see my other friends spend upwards of 1000$ to get a bike which is just 10 lb lighter..i would rather buy this one and loose 10 lbs myself. TO sum up, very good bike if you are not so worried about it being 10 lbs heavier than a 5 times costlier bike.

Its a pretty good bike

For the price of the bike, i think its a very good buy. Me and my dad had to assemble it, but we were able to do it. We both are pretty decent at building things, but i can imagine it to be difficult for some. We had to google some things to figure out how they fit together. I got the bike for my dad and its his first road bike. He likes it alot because its really light and works good. He had to get used to the handle bars and gear shifters though. On the downside, the bike came with a defective inner tube so we had to get that replaced a week after we started using it.

Great bike under $300

It is actually a great bike under $300. It is Made in TAIWAN which is better than Made in China. I have replaced front and rear derailleur with the Japan Shimano and it runs great now. I am 5'5'' and 51cm frame fits well for me. Buy it and enjoy your bike.

Keyword : road+bikes

GMC Denali Women's Road Bike (20"/50cm Frame)

the big problem

The bike in general is good, everything works, easy assembly, my big problem are the tires, i get a flat tire AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK!!!!!!!, OMG!!!, i need the bike, but this is imposible, i dont know what to do!.

4

It was a little difficult to put it together, I had to take it to the bike shop for final adjustment. Otherwise, so far so good.

Nice bike - very nice price

I couldn't find a comparable bike for the price. Even with the money I paid to have it assembled, it still was a very good deal. Delivery was very fast too.

Good bike, but banged up shipping

I received the bike very quickly but it came dented with the shipping. The damage didn't affect the cycle physically so I decided to keep it. As most reviewers have stated, the brakes are hard to reach. Other than those two factors, I think the bike is a perfect starter bike. It rides very smooth and changes gears well. I had a cycle shop put it together for about $40 and it was worth every penny.

Missing parts

The bike came with in a week! That was great! It is worth what I paid for it. However it did not come with all of the nuts that it required. I had to go salvage some to complete my assembly.

Keyword : road+bikes

Polar F4 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Blue Ice)

Decent watch, lousy instructions

My problem with this unit is that the instructions for setting the watch did not match the actual behavior of the unit. That is, displays that were supposed to appear when pressing the "ok" button did not - others appeared instead. I did manage to get everything set up after experimenting with it for about half an hour. An email to Polar customer service didn't help. They responded by sending a PDF copy of the same wrong user's manual. The watch itself seems solidly made, and the readings seems to be accurate. If it weren't for the setup problems and poor customer service, I'd give it four stars.

Extremely disappointed

Polar F4 Heart Rate Monitor Watch I purchased this monitor through Amazon in January '08 and had really looked forward to receiving it and being able to monitor my heart rate along with calorie expenditure. It was fairly easy to program especially with the on line tutorials from Polar. But, what a disappointment. After a couple of uses, I noticed that the heart rate seemed to stick in one place no matter how hard or easy I exercised. Even adjusting the chest monitor didn't help. Then sometimes the bpm would suddenly jump as much as 30 bpm or suddenly drop. I contacted Polar and was advised to return the watch and monitor at my own expense, which I did. After three weeks, I received my heart rate watch and monitor along with an invoice saying that the battery had been replaced and that there had been loose parts in the monitor that had been fixed. There was no charge as the item was still under warranty. Two days after receiving it back, it started doing the same thing. It will stick at one rate, even when I discontinue exercising altogether. And sometimes it will just 00 out with the heart beat symbol still beating. I reported this and my disappointment to Polar via email whereby after several days they replied suggesting several "fixes". These "fixes" did not help and the watch/monitor still do not work properly. There were some things that I did like about it, but what good is it, if it doesn't perform the primary function as advertised? I am out $89.95 for a useless piece of equipment. I would NOT recommend this product, nor will I purchase any other from Polar. Also, I have the black with amber face, and it is very difficult to read. There is not enough contrast between the face and the numbers.

Love it

I'd been trying to use the heart rate feature on the equipment at the gym, with limited success. This monitor has been great and I've been able to do more challenging interval training. I love the color--it's not black and it's not white. If you like tracking your progess and performance over time, it has some great feature. I haven't used them yet. The only thing I miss is having a back light. It's sometimes hard to ready in spinning class.

polar F4 heart rate monitor

I've only had this for a month but so far so good. I haven't had a problem at all.I was looking for a basic monitor that counts calories, time,and HR, this one has been great.

Good product

I have been using this heart rate monitor for 1 month now and I have no complaints. My heart rate is always accurate (against the machines at the gym and taking my pulse manually) and the information on the wrist unit is easy to read.

Keyword : road+bikes

Iron Horse Victory 3.0 Adult Road Bike

Great bike for the money

I have had this bike for 6 months now and I have logged at least 3000 miles on the bike. It has performed very well except for one problem which Ironhorse rectified when i notified them. I doubt you can find a better deal for a bike like this with a 105 drivetrain. It isn't perfect but it is worth the money. The problem I had was that the wheel hubs are made by joytech and not really servicable. It would be much better if they provided shimano hubs. Since getting the bike I have swapped the cassette from an 11-23 to a 12-27 since I live in an area with a lot of hills. And I'm considering swapping the rear deraileur with a short cage deraileur since it is a double ring front.

Keyword : road+bikes

GMC Denali Boy's 24-Inch Road Bike

Great starter bike for 9 yr old

I have been road biking for 20 years. I wanted to get my grandson something to replace his "half ton" single speed bmx . I did not want to spend a lot. Read a lot of reviews and chose to pass on this bike until I saw one in a bike stand. After looking at the frame and components I decided to buy it from Amazon. It was delivered no charge in two days. It has been perfect for my 9 yr old grandson. We are both biking together. It did require a few adjustments that anyone with metric allen wrenches can do. One suggestion, my grandson has big hands and even with these the brake levers are difficult. He now has mastered them, but a typical 9 year old will have trouble. These levers are for a full size adult. They should be replaced with levers to fit a 9 to twelve year old. Value for the cost is excellent and when he grows out of this bike I have three more grandsons to pass it down to. I would recommend this bike over the trek and other bikes for this age group thereby saving about $500 to put towards his next bike. I think that the grip shifters are more user friendly to a 9 years old then STI's especially since there is a numerical readout that allow him to know where he is when shifting. The most important critic is my grandson and he loves it.

Great Bike

Unbelievable value for money. My 11-year-old loves the bike. He says to only give a four-star rating because the brakes could use some improvements. Still, he rides all day!

Great bike at a fantastic value

This bike is a great buy. It is very difficult to find a junior road bike with 21 speed under $200.00 My son was not into the BMX stlye bikes or the Mountain Bikes with shocks. This bike moves realy fast! I took the advice from the previous reviewer and changed the handle bars to a straight bar because my son's reach to the curved handle bars was too far. It took my local bike shop about 1 hour to do and cost less than $60.00 for parts and labor. It needed brake handles and a handle bar and grips. I saw three other bikes in the same size in the bike shop that cost $600.00 and up! After comparing them to the components and weight, I am certain this bike is just as good and a great value!

Good for shorties

This "road bike" is basically a mountain bike on road wheels with a drop down handlebar. Even so, its steel fork and aluminum frame is still lighter than my $700 diamondback mountain bike. And in reality, for the price, this is an excellent bike. I only rated it 3 stars because the one I ordered took a lot of work to get it safe enough to ride. The derailleurs are still off but I'm too lazy to fix it. The brakes needed major adjusting; it was very difficult to align the pads next to the wheel. All in all, I am satisfied with it as a commuter bike. I am 5'2", and it is a perfect height for me. I also like how the tires are skinny and more like a hybrid size. It helps when I hop down curbs or bike on dirt and grass.

Great value - especially if mechanically inclined

Bought this bike for our 7 YO girl (23-24" inseam). She loves the bike. It was absolutely necessary to convert the handlebars to mtn bike bars and get those in-line brake levers. The drop bars and brake levers are just too far away for her to reach. We were looking at a $300 fuji kids bike at the LBS and it was nice. This bike is not that far off and its only half the price. The fuji had a slightly better component spec but weight difference was not noticable. The previous reviewers were right - the wheels needed slight truing, brakes needed adjustment, but everything else worked right out the box. The red bike is really cool - it is orange with red metal flake that gives it a red-pearlesent look. This is one of the nicest paint jobs Ive ever seen for a "starter" bike. Definitely recommend the mtn bike handlebar conversion for the younger kids. Couple items for you to note: 1) The original drop handlebars are split, so removing the grip shifters is easy. 2) the stem is the latest 30.8 diameter so buy mtn bars with teh bigger dia, if you dont want to use shims. 3) Performance has some nice in-line brake levers that work well as mtn bike brakes. These in-line brakes can be used later in conjunction with the hooded brakes when you put the drops back on and they have a set screw to limit the amount of reach needed for your kids smaller hands. Other reviewers talk about new tires - these are schrader valved and seem to be fine right out of the box. They have an annoying white stripe on the sidewall that is not even so it looks like the tire is not seated properly. The only other complaint is that the front grip shifter is not trimmable so certain gear combos that my daughter rides in will cause the FD to rub. Not a big deal, but I forgot how nice a trimmable FD is... Im posting pics of the mtn bar conversion and my 7.5 YO daughter riding hers on a maiden voyage. Her inseam is 23-24" and the seat is all the way down. You can see shes got good leg extension but the bike is a little uncomfortable for her size (getting on and off). I think in a few months she will be able to get on and off and she will be totally comfortable. I almost forgot - we got the boys so that I can hand-it down to my son as also my daughter is finally tired of pink...

Keyword : road+bikes

Slime Smart Tube Presta Valve Bicycle Tube (700c x 19-25)

still had a flat

I bought these because I was getting frequent flat tires... After usuing this tube my tire went flat on the second ride.... Go figure!!!

3 Strikes, You're Down & Out

I had three tired blow-offs with these tubes, two different road bikes. I'm not enough of a bike mech. to give you the definitive reason, but my suspicions are these tubes are over-materialed and too soft, they bite and balloon on fast road bike tires - that's my opinion. You risk tire blow-off as a result. At speed and under load. This isn't a case of user error or defective rims, I've been manic about detecting the problem, avoiding pinches and twisted tubes, and it's come down to using conventional road bike tubes that are a true fit to a the 700 x 25c rim/tires. Problem solved. Whether I'm right, or just Slime cursed, I will never use this product on a road bike rim/tire again. Beware the Slime tube.

Slime smart Bicycle tube

The slime smart tubes work perfectly. Just be sure you check the size of your bicycle's inner tube before ordering.

I Will Buy More

Last week, I went on my longest ride of the year. I bonked with 20 miles to go on a hot day. Then to add to my suffering, with 10 miles to go my rear tire started to go flat quickly. (More than a thorn hole.) I bought a set of these smart tubes a year ago, and this was my first flat! Well, I pulled over and pumped up the tire. And I was able to ride another 3 miles with my 200lb weight loading the rear tire before the tire started getting too low on air pressure. I pumped it up again and was riding 2 minutes later, and it held the air well for me to cover the next 3 miles. One last fill of air, and I rode home no problem. Amazingly, a week later, the tire is still holding lots of air pressure from the last time I filled in on that trip! Do I still carry a patch kit and a spare (regular) tube? Absolutely! But this tire was worth its wait in gold in allowing to just get myself home when I was physically spent without having to hassle with repairing the tire in the heat.

Helps, but not enough

I've used this tube for a few months now on my road bike, and I've had 1 flat that sealed immediatly and only needed more air, and 1 flat that I had to patch or replace the tube. I would guess this helps reduce flats a bit, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra money, and you still need to carry repair and reinflating kits, so it doesn't save you space or weight on the ride. A great idea, but it doesn't quite live up to its promise.

Keyword : road+bikes

Giro Skyla Sport Bike Helmet

Giro Skyla Sport Helmet -- Met all my requirements

I bought this helment for a silly reason. I recently purchased a brand new expensive bicycle. I decided I wanted helmet that matched the bicycle colors which are teal and dark grey (no red). This is the only helmet I could find anywhere that was teal! I figured I would buy the helmet because of the color and hope the rest worked out. I was very excited about the price and that Amazon shipped it free. When the helmet was delivered, I was really excited to see that it was the EXACT color of the bicycle. Well, now that I had the right color, I figured I better find out how it fit! The fit is fantastic. There is an easily adjustable band inside the helmet that you tighten or loosen until you feel you have a comfortable fit. The straps that come down over your ears and then clip under your chin is somewhat difficult to use. I had to shorten it quite a bit and it took some effort. This could possibly be a safety feature to make sure the helmet does not become loose. The helmet is very lightweight and I don't even feel like I have it on. It also keeps my head cool. I used last weekend which was incrediby hot and although my forehead was sweaty, my head wasn't. I also wore it today after I took a shower and washed my hair. I put a bandana scarf on my head because I didn't want my wet hair in direct contact with the inside of the helmet. I didn't have any problem doing this and my head still stayed cool. It was 90 with 80% humidity. The visor does keep the sun off my face somewhat, but I still wore sunglasses. As for quality or longevity, I don't know enough to comment on that. Well, even you don't need to buy this for the color, if you want a comfortable priced-right helmet I suggest this one.

Great entry helmet, but its small so check sizing carefully

Having owned many Giro helmets, and currently having a high end model, this is an excellent Giro for the price. The expensive models really give you huge vent openings, but this one is pretty good. The styling is excellent and the dial fit adjustment is comparable to the RocLoc system of the higher models. If you need a nice bike helmet at a good price, this is certainly a great choice. However, make sure you measure your head! This is listed as a universal fit Womens model, which is a total joke. I bought this for my 3 year old daughter, who has a head that measures more than mid-way in the fit range, and it fits her great. On the other hand, my wife who wears a medium Giro Monza, a not-uncommon size for many women, could never fit into this helmet and it almost looks like she's trying to fit a kids helmet on her head. Obviously this will fit many women, but don't read "universal sizing" and order without measuring your head. The Skyla fit range is 50 to 57 cm. In comparison, a medium Giro helmet is 55-59cm (Roc-loc limits) because it also has a larger shell. By the way, the Giro Flume children's specific model has the same fit range of the Skyla of 50-57cm, and the Giro Rodeo toddler helmet is 50-55 cm. When a Womens helmet has almost the same range as a toddler helmet, you know Giro is trying to limit the number of women who will fit into this helmet, forcing many to move up to the more expensive models that come in sizes; and there are some good reasons to buy the expensive models like fit, Roc-Loc system quick adjustability, and increased air flow. But if your head fits, its a great helmet at a good budget-friendly price.

Pretty flowers

I bought this helmet upon getting back into biking and, after fiddling with the settings, find that it's light, comfortable and responsible. My first choice would be no helmet but, since I want my brains inside my skill, I wear the one with the teal and red flowers. One thing-I don't have a huge head (hat size 7 1/8") and on the very largest setting the helmet makes a mark on my forehead on longer rides. If you have a larger head than that...look for another helmet.

great helmet

The Giro Skyla Bike Helmet is a light comfortable helmet. I have never worn a helmet before and was hesitant since I am not fond of wearing hats. This helmet truly fits the bill. I barely know that I am wearing it, yet it is sturdy and well-cushioned.

Great Fit

I purchased the purple version of this helmet. It's a very attractive color. As the other reviews have said, this helmet has a great fit. It is very lightweight, but feels sturdy enough to protect you in a fall. I think it is great price for the quality. It keeps your head cool enough, and prevents the sweat from getting into your eyes too. The front lip doesn't really block the sun, which I thought it might do. Only suggestion would be to make the straps a little more streamline and flat. Otherwise, very pleased with this purchase!

Keyword : road+bikes

GMC Denali Road Bike

Great for the price

This product was an amazing purchase. I have always wanted to go cycling but did not have the resources. This bike has been a great solution to that problem.

Not worth the price or effort to even put it togther

This bike is extremely cheap and heavy. I bought one from Walmart and could only stand to ride it for about 2 days till I took it back. The components are extremely cheap, the bike is very very heavy and the brakes might as well not even be there since they are absolutely awful and dont stop anyways. Save your money and get a nice used road bike or an entry level trek or specialized bike for under 700 new.

GMC Denali Road Bike

I really like the bike. The only thing that went wrong for me was the way you are instructed to measure yourself for the bike. Unforunatly I ended up with a bike that is too big for me. Not by much but still too big. It is a great first time road bike. The price was right and the quality of the bike is pretty good. I did drop it off a bike shop to have them go over the bike to make sure everything is working order. I assembled it myself which was extremly easy. I am enjoying every minute I ride. Nice and smooth shifting and very quick. I happy with my purchase.

Good Enough

I have been riding this bike for seven months. It is my primary car. It has not fallen apart as some have said it would. It is also not the fastest ride on the block. I commute 5 miles daily and a longer 13 mile ride about once a week. It is good in that it is a bicycle that works. The main problems I have encountered are, where to mount the lights, (grip shifters sit in the exact spot that the headlight should), and how do you attach a cargo rack? The ring that tightens down the seat post is the only place to attach the rack, which makes it extreemely dificult to tighten the seat post. Also, the allen bolts used to tighten the seat post are fairly soft. I would prefer other shifters so that I have the bar space to work with for lights and a speedometer. As it is I have an extension bar attached to the headset for my peripherals. I have saved enough in gas that it has paid for itself already.

denali bike review

Shipped quickly with no damage. Easy to assemble. After extensive research this bike is the most bike you can get for the price. Bought the large 63.5cm frame which works perfect for my 33 inch inseam. Rides great and shifts great. The only negative is that you will have to retape the handle bars after the first couple of rides.

Keyword : road+bikes

Polar F6 Men's Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black Coal)

Worth the extra money

I love this heart monitor. It is precise and never gives me problems. Since I started using it a month ago I have lost almost 10 lbs.

Great HR monitor for the money!

Love this heart rate monitor. Easy to use and logs my workouts. Just wish I could see the time while I was working out. It is a watch, but I can only see the time when it is not in exercise mode. But that might just be me not knowing how to use it.

Polar F6 Women's Heart Rate Monitor

Purchased the Polar F6 heart rate monitor watch for my wife to use during her Jazzercise class. She has used it for about 3 weeks as of this reporting and finds it very helpful in monitoring her cardiovascular system during her exercise routine. She especially likes the color (Pink Coral; a typical woman's preference. Others in the class have another Polar model that is black in color, purchased through the Jazzercise franchise owner, that has less functionality but cost the same to purchase. The delivery process was flawless.

Polar F6

Received my Polar F6 Men's and Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watchfrom Amazon on July 20th and have been very pleased with it so far. It performs exactly as advertised and I have experienced none of the problems described by a handful of the other owners of this monitor. The plastic chest transmitter is not uncomfortable to wear and I don't think the added cost of the cloth chest transmitter would be necessary for most people. I am a 59 and appreciate the size of the watch face, which I can easily read without having to bring along a pair of reading glasses on my jogs. No problems with Amazon and received my monitor within 5 days of my purchase.

AWESOME..LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

I love love love this heart rate monitor and I love how it calculates your calories burned too!! It has so many great features!!! I would defintley say it is worth the money!!

Keyword : road+bikes

Bell Road Stash Bicycle Handlebar Bag

bike handlebar bag

WELL MADE,HANDY SECOND ZIPPED COMPARTMENT,NICE SAFETY REFLECTOR FRONT. NOT TO BIG WHILE NOT TO SMALL. FAIRLY PRICED

Converts into a fanny pack!

This bag is cheap and roomy and stays secure on the handlebars. I bought this and a Bell under-the-seat model, and this bag is much larger and more useful. The best part of the bag is that it comes with a strap so you can turn it into a fanny pack. When I get where I'm going, I take it off the bike and strap it around my waist. No worries about having the bag stolen while I'm running errands or whatever. The bag does get in the way of my front reflector, but I just tilt the reflector up and out of the way before attaching the bag to the handlebars. The strips on the front of the bag are reflective, so this is not a major drawback. I haven't had the bag long enough to comment on the durability, but at less than $10 I'm not too worried. I'm very pleased, overall.

Good value for the price

Between this and the under seat bag I have enough room for lunch, cell phone, wallet, keys, spare tire, spare tube and a bicycle tool. The rear bag alone is barely adequate for even small items. The combination provides a reasonable amount of storage space and doesn't add too much weight. If you need more room, the next step up is panniers.

I foresee the velcro strip wearing out with use

I think I am better off with a backpack. It holds more and I don't have to velcro and unvelcro it everytime I ride.

Great small bike bag

The Bell Road Stash Bicycle Handlebar Bag is exactly what I was hoping it would be. It fits my bike well without being too bulky or getting in the way. It is roomy and can hold several small items (sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.). You can take out the plastic to make it less stiff or keep it in to give it more form. The only thing I wish is that it would come in other colors.

Keyword : road+bikes

Topeak Road Morph G Bike Pump with Gauge

Best bike pump out there. Highly recommended.

Light-weight, sturdy, and well-designed. Easy to get your tire to 100 psi or more. Handy storage clip to put it on the seat tube or top tube. And with the pressure gague in the hose, you don't have to carry a tire pressure gague with you. I've had mine for a couple years and it is doing fine. I think this is the best bike pump out there. More than satisfied with this product.

Great pump for the price

This pump works pretty well and is great for the road if you don't mind mounting it to your frame or putting it in pannier bags. The mounting hardware is a nice touch and is pretty low profile if you have an extra set of water bottle holes to fasten it to, otherwise you have to use zip ties, which come in the package. For the moment, this is my only pump, but I recommend getting a floor pump with a gauge for convenience. Overall, I like the pump. Be careful with the hose and other moving parts. I haven't broken anything, but some people think these things should be indestructible. The pressure gauge is a nice touch, but realistically gives you a +/- 3 to 5 ballpark psi, but it's better than no gauge at all. It's pretty easy to pump too, especially if you keep one hand on the aluminum cylinder.

Road Morph Pump

This is an excellant product, works as advertized, is light weight, and includes a cradle for fastening on the bike. It fits under my top tube perfectly and is unobtrusive.

Excellent Cstomer Service!

I like the pump, haven't tried others, but I am 100% satisfued by Topeak's customer service, a sad rarity these days (I'm looking at you Dell!) I somehow lost the internal ruber thing inside the part of the pump that attaches to the tire, rendering it useless. I sent Topeak an email asking where I could buy one. the response? "It's in the mail." No cost to me, and it arrived in less than a week. Topeak has a customer for life.

very happy about this product

Good product and work smoothly. I used it for my kid's 12" bike, my 26" road bike and my wife's 24" mountain bike, it does very good job. Even my 6-year-old son can use it without any problem. I also use it for my kid's air bed while camping out, just work! I'm very happy to have this light weight pump.

Keyword : road+bikes

Paceline Chamois Butt'rSkin Lube 8oz

Good stuff for Ergomaniacs

I do a 10K on a Concept II Ergometer (indoor rowing machine) virtually every morning. After about 10 months of this I developed a sore spot from chafing about the size of a quarter on my butt. I found this stuff in a bicycle shop, marketed to bicyclists with a similar problem. Now I smear it on my butt before every workout, and it has worked both as a cure and a preventive measure. I missed nary a workout while my skin healed itself, thanks to Chamois Butt'r. Excellent product. Expensive, but worth every penny.

Keyword : mountain+bike

Mongoose Maxim 26-Inch Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

GREAT!!!

Great bike!!! The sual suspension really works and it is great to use Only problem is that the left shifter sometimes slips the chain off of the gear and has to be re-attached but that is very easy. I Love It!!!!

Excellent Bike and Excellent Price

This is an excellent bike for $150. Worth every penny. Assembly took a few hours to tweek everything perfectly such as brakes and shifters. Next assembly would take about an hour if you have all tools and know what you are doing. Assembly instructions are not the best and could be simplified in 3 pages.

Availability

Amazon used to be the best deal around. But lately I have found their pricing becomes less competitive than before. Many items they are selling now can be found at equal or cheaper price at the local store. Mongoose Maxim bike is listed at $149 6/12/08 on Amazon but I found the exact same bike on sale for 99.99 at Meijer from 6/12 - 6/18. Meijer regular price for the bike is 129.99.

Keyword : mountain+bike