You can get some really good deals at the local bike shops this time of year, and a grand for a hardtail (and a hardtail is fine for this area's terrain) will get him a really good bike to start with.
Since he sounds like the kind of kid that will need some repairs now and then (boy does he fit in with this crowd!) I'd suggest this to help him get started on a relationship with a local bike shop- cause it can be SOOO helpful in the long run!!
Pick the 2 or 3 bike shops that are closest to you and go talk to them about what you want. If he's not going with you because it's a "surprise" for christmas morning, you should be able to answer at least the following questions:
How tall is he?
How much does he weigh?
26er or 29er?
gearing setup- singlespeed, 1x9, 2x9, 3x10, etc?
Also- (if it's a surprise) how they would feel if you bought him a $900.00 29er 1x10 and he wanted to exchange it 3 days after christmas with 0 miles on it for a $700 26 inch 3x9 setup or somehting else that they have in stock. This way he gets to light up on Christmas morning but if it's not EXACTLY what he had in mind, he can go get what he wants.
I think you'll find most shops in this area are pretty cool about this kind of thing. The shops in this area all kind of have a different "feel" about them, some are very race oriented and some are pretty laid back, so while your looking at bikes, also think about the people and the vibe that you are dealing with, as in, is this a place where we'd feel comportable coming back in later and asking questions about upgrades etc. While the shops are all very cool in their own way, some people are more comfortable with one shop than another and you should at least give this some consideration. You want to buy from a shop that you are comfortable with!
While most of us that ride all the time do some shopping on line, we also do a LOT of buying at the local bike shops because they are pretty much on an even cost when you add in shipping and as a bonus you can go talk to the doods for advice on upgrades and repairs. If he's going to ride a lot, then he'll be glad he started working with a local bike shop!! (As an great example, no one in this area carries the brand of bike I plan on buying next, but I asked my local bike shop to check into it, and they talked to the factory and can get it for me for the same price as online, and I don't have to pay 100.00 for shipping! Sincerely, sometimes working with the LBS's is absolutely the way to go!)
Last edited by Vibrato; 11-29-2010 at 10:33 AM.
Believe in yourself? Well sure, of course. But be aware that "believing in myself" has been the root cause of most of my injuries.
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"I feel sorry for people who don't do this." -Badfish41- after bombing the Hermosa's at Levis Trow.
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Originally Posted by SSS
