KIDS BIKES
Often an afterthought for some bike shops, kids bikes (and kids in general) are a very big deal to us. We're no dummies, we know who our future customers are and since we plan on being around for a long, long time, it makes perfect sense for us to make sure we take care of our younger customers the right way.

Be forewarned. While we offer bikes for almost any budget, we simply refuse to sell crap... So if what you're looking for is a super-cheapie discount-special, we may not be your first stop. But if you want your kid toENJOY biking, if youwould rather your little dude or dudette not end up like thatkid down the block that lives in his basementplaying XBOX360 on the nice days, then drop on by, we'll show you how a bike should fit and how a bike should never outweigh its user. We'll also explain to you why you're doing your child a disservice (and possible serious injury) by cramming him into a bike 3 sizes to big and we'll disarm you price-wise with low prices and our hard to pass-up Bike Trade-In Program.

BRANDS
It's a fact! We offer more brands and models of kids bikes than anyone in Winnipeg! We start with the very cool ELECTRA line-up of kids pavement bikes (more on that later) and then segue into our sweet line-up of NORCO and MIELE bikes... Next comes the very nice performance bikes from JAMIS, ROCKY MOUNTAIN and MARIN. Not to mention the sweet BMX line-up of Intense and Norco. Have no worries, if you're looking for a quality bike for your kid at a reasonable price, we have your back.

Our ultimate goal is to not just sell you a bike for your kid, our goal is much more ambitious, our ultimate goal is to create a life-long bike rider!

Norco Kids Bikes
Jamis Kids Bikes
Electra Kids Bikes
Miele Kids Bikes
Rocky Mountain Kids Bikes
Marin Kids Bikes

No we don't carry every model from every manufacturer but this can give you some idea of what's available. Once you've done some homework (for those who just must) come and visit either our Kenaston Location or our Donald store and lets fit your kid up with the right bike! Remember: An inexpensive, proper fitting bike is always better than an expensive bike that could ultimately injure its rider! .

KIDS OF MUD!
So you're sold on getting your wee-one a nice bike... Now what? How are you going to teach the little dude or dudette the skills? Here's an Idea: Gord's Kids of Mud!

Here we are, proudly entering our second season in the Kid's of Mud. This year we plan on taking another step forward with our little club within a club. (all Kid's of Mud members are also associate members of Gord's Bike Club) We have big plans, growing and improving on our first season... With new coaches, lots of returning coaches, a new coordinator (Thanks Lisa!) and lots of great ideas, we're all very excited about 2008.

KIDS HELMETS
Let's start with the hard sell from our scary friends at www.helmets.org: If you're not convinced already that helmets are a good idea for your kid, here are the hard facts: Medical research shows that a bicycle helmet can prevent 85% of cyclists' head injuries. More than 600 bicycle riders are killed in the U.S. every year, almost all in collisions with cars, and 75% of them die of head injuries. Eighty-five percent of them are not wearing helmets. Many thousands more suffer less severe but still debilitating injuries that are far worse than the physical pain of scraped skin or even broken bones. Your child can suffer permanent personality changes and learning disabilities from a brain injury, and both of you will be aware of what they have lost. Common long-term effects include concentration difficulties, aggressiveness, headaches and balance problems. Imagine your anguish if this happens to your child.

Here's the bottom line: Parents should wear a helmet in order to make sure that their children wear one too. If you refuse to wear one you can be absolutely certain that your kid is looking at you, wondering at what age he/she gets to take theirs off too. And it'll happen sooner than you like... most definitely when you're not around.

Now that we have your attention. let's talk Q and A:

1. Why buy a better helmet?
Better helmets last longer, are more comfortable and cooler (which results in kids not wanting to take it off due to discomfort), they look better so that kids are happy wearing them and they offer better protection due to better retention systems.

2. Will they outgrow it quickly ?
No. Heads grow at a much slower rate than legs and feet. Keep in mind that many child helmets come with variable size adjustments (like foam inserts of different sizes), the better ones have comprehensive anti-roll systems and neat adjust systems that span up to 4 head sizes... And if you buy a good one it may even be passed down. Just make sure it isn't damaged.

3. Will my child actually use it?
Yes, if other children wear one, their parents use one, the teacher at school has told them how much good helmets do, and if the child has picked out a model or color they really like of course they'll wear it!

However, if the helmet makes your child feel like a geek, nobody else uses one and it does not fit well of course you're going to run into resistance.

Interesting fact: Seventh grade seems to be the most resisting age for helmets, when the feeling of invincibility is strong and the rage for fashion is undeniable. The key motivator of helmet use for kids is fashion, not safety. Try to make use of that.

4. Does My Toddler Need a Helmet?
A child of any age needs head protection when riding, but a toddler's neck may not support the weight of a helmet. For this and other reasons, nobody in the injury prevention community recommends riding with a child under one year old. If in doubt, take child and helmet to a pediatrician for advice. Toddler heads vary in shape, so pay careful attention to fit. The helmet should sit level on the child's head, and fit securely with the strap fastened.

Now a few words about fit:
There is no golden rule for sizing other than the helmet shell should be as close to the head as possible, too much room, padded or otherwise between the head and the actual inner casing of the helmet may be as dangerous as not wearing a helmet at all. Remember, some kids have big noggins and ergo they should be in adult helmets...

Please don't show up at the shop with a tape measure of your kids head, it simply doesn't work that way. We've turned away one too many puzzled parents for this very reason. We need your kid and his or her head. We will take the time to fit him or her properly, show them how to put their helmet on, show you how to adjust it and make absolutely sure the fit is perfect. After all, we both have a vested interest in their survival.

A final work on helmets and kids:
While researching for this article we stumbled upon a very interesting link about kids and their perception of bike helmets from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that we though might be worth a gander :