Giant XTC 24
We picked up a new bike for Rose yesterday. There is finally a good bike shop in Billings: The Red Rover Bicycle Collective (no website but they're on Facebook if that's your style). We swung by to start the process, and the first bike I saw inside the shop was a brand new 2014 Giant XTC 24. I have to give it to Giant & Red Rover: this bike packs tremendous value for the price ($375).
The frame is Giant's high grade aluminum, with a really cool triangular swooping modern downtube. It's a full Shimano groupset, everything looks great, and other than the fact it's a 3x, it works very well.
On a side note, now that 1x is more accepted, isn't it time to admit that a 2x or 3x system should never ever ever be on a kid's bike? Why torture them like that? Especially since it's a teeny little rear cassette, the same gear range could easily be achieved with a normal cassette out back and a 26 or 28 tooth up front. It would be lighter, cheaper, easier to setup, maintain, operate, troubleshoot; every single aspect of the idea makes more sense for kids than the alternative.
Anyway, there is a super simple 2" coil spring fork out front, rim brakes, it's ready to go. We are going to take it for a ride today, and we're all really excited!
Pics and more coming soon. . . .