How experts fit a kid's bike (part 2) bike shop Norwalk

Pat's 605 bike shop in Norwalk is running this series on bike fit for various types of bicycles. Today we bring you part 2 on fitting kids' bikes.

After you have selected the right wheel size for your child, it is time to adjust for their proportions.

You can use these guidelines to adjust this bike as your kid gets taller. Ideally, you'll be able to adjust for your child's growth before the bike needs to be replaced. 

First of all, check the standover height. Have your child straddle the bike's top bar. There should be 1-2"  of space between their crotch and the bar. 

Next, adjust the seat. Position the seat so that the child can be in an upright, comfortable riding position. Their elbows should slightly bend while they grip the handlebars, not hyper-extend. Similarly, there should be some flex in their knee when at the bottom of a downstroke on the pedals. 

Come into our shop in Norwalk for help finding the perfect, quality bikes for your children and the right safety equipment so they can safely enjoy riding their bikes.

How experts fit a kid's bike (part 1) bike shop Downey

Pat's 605 has a large selection of quality kids bikes

Pat's 605 bike shop (near by Downey) has been sharing the bike expert's secrets to fitting bicycles. 

Each style of bike has varying fit guidelines. We began with mountain bikes, and today we are going to share how to select fit on a kid's bicycle. When we were growing up, this involved sticking a kid on the largest bike they could physically reach the pedals on, and lowering the seat, right? Actually, it is dangerous for children to ride a bike that is too large for them. We recommend getting a bike that fits them now, so they can be safe, confident, and comfortable when they ride.

Kids’ bikes are sized according to the wheel size. There are general age guidelines to help you know where to look, but it is the child's size, not their age, that tells you what bike to go with. 

Average wheel sizes by age are as follows:

14"-  4 to 6 years 

16"- 5 to 8 years 

18-20"- 7- to 10-years

24"- 10 and up

After you have found a bike that you think is right for your child, the shop will check for fit, and make adjustments as necessary. It is always a good idea to purchase your child's bike from a quality local retailer that has the expertise to help you get a good fit.

How experts fit a mountain bike (part 2): bike shop (near Downey)

In our last post,our bike shop (near by Downey) shared our expert secrets for fitting a mountain bike for it's rider. Approaches in mountain biking are as varied as body types, so some may prefer to tweak these guidelines for their personal style. These general guidelines should provide a good starting point, however. Our earlier post dealt with standover height and reach adjustments. 

Here are other spots you may want to adjust for fit:

3. Saddle height: If you are seated on your bike, your legs should still be gently bent as you reach the bottom of your pedal stroke. If your feet can simultaneously rest flat on the floor while you are in the saddle, you will need raise your seat.

4. Stem: Have someone hold the bike steady so you can sit in the seat with your hands on the grips. If you are reaching or your elbows are locked, your stem will need to be adjusted or replaced with one that is the right length and angle for you.

5. Saddle position: The saddle is generally parallel to the ground, with the knee directly over the ball of your foot. When you pedal, your shin is angled slightly forward. 

If you have any trouble achieving proper fit with your bicycle, or you are looking to buy a new bicycle, come into our shop and we can assist with getting your bike fitted for the perfect performance, fitness, and comfort. 

How experts fit a mountain bike: bike shop (near Santa Fe Springs

At Pat's 605 bike shop (near Santa Fe Springs), we can help you select the proper frame size for your new mountain bike. Not only that, but our experts will adjust the whole bike to fit your proportions and preferences exactly.  

Having proper fit is very important for getting the best ride possible. It will maximize the performance, fitness benefits, and comfort of your ride.
The following are a few of the ways we adjust fit on a mountain bike. Individual riders may opt to tweak these guidelines for their comfort or to change the way the bike responds. However, for many riders these adjustments will provide the most satisfying ride.
1. Standover height: Straddle your top tube, and lift the bike off the ground. On a hard tail , you should have at least 2" clearance between the tires and the ground. You may prefer up to 3-5 inches of clearance for aggressive riding. On a full suspension bike, 1" clearance may be enough, because the compression of the suspension will lower the bike's height when you are seated.
2. Reach: Sit on your bike with your hands on the grips. Your elbows should be slightly bent, rather than hyper-extended. This allows you to absorb the impact of bumps and rough terrain. If you have to reach or lock your elbows, you need to adjust for reach.

See our next post for more tips on mountain bike fit...

Norwalk bike shop's First look: Trek 2013 Fuel EX mountain bike

Here at our bike shop in Norwalk, we've been checking out all the new 2013 models from Trek. One of the bikes that has made an impression this year is the Trek Fuel EX. This favorite trail bike from Trek has seen a number of improvements and refinements in 2013.
 The new Fuel has more travel now at 130mm instead of 120, but what is perhaps even more notable is the changes that have made the 2013 Fuel a much more relaxed, plush ride. Using a dual-chamber shock and fork, Trek has tuned this bike to be both smooth and responsive. 

2013 changes:

• 130 mm of travel from 120 mm last year.
• new suspension kinematics where main pivot is moved forward for better pedaling performance
• Lower standover
• 5mm lower bottom bracket height when sagged
• 10mm shorter chainstays
• Lighter frame weights from 3.9 lbs to 5.4 lbs
• Fuel 9.9 complete bike is now 24.5 lbs
• Internal cable routing for all shifter cables and even the Rockshox Reverb post cable
• Fuel EX 5, 6, 7 weigh 2466 gram
• Fuel EX 9.9 weighs 1760 grams or 3.88 lbs

Review of 2013 Trek 7.2 FX by LA Times Writer Roy Wallack

He wrote "Bike for Life:  How to Ride to 100," and Roy Wallack recently reviewed four fitness bikes in a column for the Los Angeles Times.  Here is his thoughts on the growing category called fitness bikes:

If you're ready to ride a bike for fitness but not ready to hunch over like a Tour de France racer or tackle death-defying single-track trails in the mountains, a single-speed, bulbous-tire beach cruiser won't do. You need a "fitness bike," what the industry now calls the broad category that combines the large, fast-rolling 700-C wheels of road bikes, a tough multi-tread tire and the straight handlebars of a mountain bike. Formerly known as hybrids, these lightweight aluminum-frame bikes have become more refined, stylish and specialized; all work for commuting while sporting varying capabilities for pavement and mild dirt paths.

Roy really gave the 2013 Trek 7.2 FX Fitness Bike a big thumbs up:

Trek 7.2 FX: The all-conditions performance fitness bike for road, trail and commuting comes with 24-speed Shimano Alivio drive-train, puncture-resistant tires and mountain-bike style V brakes.
Likes: Fast, quick and balanced on road and mild dirt paths. Like the Specialized, it has more of a leaned-over, high-performance position than the Electra or the Felt, plus just enough style (note the red accents) to feel hip. Fender mounts make it a worthy all-weather commuter. It's also available in a women's model with altered dimensions. The FX's higher-end models have disc brakes and better components. For more off-road capability, go to the Trek 8 Dual Sport bikes, which have a light suspension fork.
Dislikes: None.

First look at the stunning 2013 Trek Lineup

We are waiting with great anticipation this year for our bike shop in Norwalk to have all the 2013 Trek bicycles in. We already carried Trek's bikes because we know them to be quality machines that can be counted on, both for road and mountain biking needs. But this year promises to be a sort of revolution of sorts for the Trek models we have grown to love. 

Trek's image since its 2007 has been that of a technology-focused bike, they continue to deliver bikes with an eye for cutting-edge technology. The 2013 lineup includes some of the most advanced models yet, breaking through limits of weight and speed. These bikes are light, fast, and devastating.

Get the full break-down of the Trek 2013 highlights from Bicycle.com, and watch our blog for our announcements about the new models as they arrive on the shop floor. 

We can't wait to get to take these beauties for a ride, and we hope you will come on down to the Norwalk shop to see them for yourself when they arrive.