TGR":13qieo9r said:
"is this not just a function of a parent who loves cycling but didn't necessarily have the opportunities as a kid themselves and is making up ? "
I don't think it is, I think there is a more disposable attitude to things now - even bikes. In the 70's we had hand-me-downs, second hand stuff and the like. Now, things are cheaper and children want new stuff. I would like to provide for my child but i would do so in a sensible manner (hopefully) - my wife may disagree.
My niece and nephew grew up in the 90's and 00's and got new bikes almost every year. My suspicion is that the seats were never put up to account for their changes in height - easy option - a new bike was bought. That would never have happened in my youth.
I am building my daughter a Peugeot retro and i need it done soon before she is too big for it!!! We will see what that costs at the end - just to prove myself wrong!
Happy New Year,
Richard
I can sort of see both sides to this, really. Growing up in the 70s (and 80s, I suppose) money was tight, and certainly in the 70s, new bikes didn't really come - hand me downs, and all sorts. In the early 80s much of the same, really, tight budgets, better than BSOs probably but that was about it. Only when getting towards the mid 80s did I get my first, decent, new bike - and that was only a gas-pipe framed "racer", with steel / chromed rims. The first actual decent bike I got was one I bought for myself.
So for my kids, I've bought decent bikes, from new, a Ridgeback MX-14 as my eldest's first bike, then an Islabike Beiinn 20 (small) for his second. Both be decent and looked after, and they're fine for my youngest to use, so it's not without some sense - buy decent, buy once, I suppose. And I don't think I'm short-changing my youngest by doing so, because both bikes are still in great condition - it would be an utter waste not to reuse them, but as they are, and will be reuased, they make perfect financial sense - plus they show them the value of things, and not just chucking them out at the first opportuinity.
If my youngest ever truly wanted something different than was naturally being progressed to him, then I'd provide, too - because he should have something he's happy with, just like his older brother. When they're young, though, they don't really know what they want, so for the first few instances, they'll just have to trust my judgement.
I don't have a disposable attitude - it's probably one of the things that makes me a dinosaur and an anachronism in this day and age - but if I have the means, I do want my kids to get decent stuff, as and where I can. That's not to say they need high-end bike stuff - that said, if either of them took a real shine to it, and maintained a serious and sustained interest in whatever form of cycling, I'd certainly ensure they had something commensurate.
I don't want my kids to grow up with a disposable attitude, either - and get sucked in by wanton consumerism - not easy for kids, in a society that's significantly more consumerist than it was when I was growing up (and some parts of the family have more of a disposable attitude to possessions and things they buy, which does make it harder for them to sometimes realise the value of things). I want them to value the things they get - not be eternally grateful, mind - just appreciate and understand what it takes, and that it doesn't just all come on a plate, without effort.
) i loved that bike.
