Posted by "The Swingset Scene" at user160.net814.nc.sprint-hsd.net on April 30, 2004 at 11:57:21:
In Reply to: OT- any bike experts out there? posted by Fourbutts on April 30, 2004 at 10:55:56:
: Ok, so my son wants a new bike for his birthday, but there's a catch. He wants a "trick" bike as he says, meaning he wants a bike where the handle bars flip around and stuff like that. My question is this: How do I describe this to salespeople? I mean, I'm thinking that a "freestyle" bike is what I'll be shopping for, but then someone told me that freestyle doesn't necessarily mean it'll be good for a "trick" bike. WTF? Can anyone break it down for me in simple terms?
-Ok, I haven't ridden in a long time, but I used to have freestyle bike. If it has changed since then, I am not sure, but there were basically two kinds of bikes back then, racing, and freestyle. The racing ones were really light, didn't have a gyro to let the bars spin, and mostly only had back brakes. Freestyle bikes have pegs on the axles, possibly a footstand on the frame under the seat (although I think they faded out), a gyro allowing the bars to spin, and front and back brakes.
-The only changes I can imagine would be further specialization of the bikes specifically for street riding, ramp riding, and possibly "flat ground" riding, which might called "freestyle" because it's just you and the bike with nothing else. Find out what your kid does.
-Back in the day some good brands that I remember were Haro and GT. I road a Haro.
-And buy a helmet.