Kent Sierra Madre Men's Comfort Bike

Kent Sierra Madre Men's Comfort Bike

The Kent Sierra Madre Men's 26-Inch Comfort Bike has an 18-inch lightweight aluminum frame and is equipped with dual suspension to absorb shock and offer a smoother ride. The bike features a high-quality Shimano Revo Megarange Gripshifters and a 21-speed index which makes it easy to ride on a variety of grades and terrains. And the ProMax linear pull brakes combine strong power with light lever action so you can stop on a dime. Its adjustable alloy stem ensures a proper fit and its soft saddle ensures a comfortable ride.

About Kent Bicycles
A family-owned company, Kent's history dates back to the early 1900s when the current President's grandfather immigrated to the United States and got a job working for the owner of a bike shop in New York. During the process of restoring old bike frames, a love for cycling was born. In 1909, he opened his own bike shop on the Lower East Side of the city. This small bike shop led to a larger store in New Jersey where his father developed his own passion for the business. In 1947 he was inspired to start his own company, Philkam Cycle, supplying bikes and parts to stores all over the Eastern part of the United States. In 1958, the company changed its name to Kent International and has been supplying Kent products to fun-loving parents and their children across the nation ever since.

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide
Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra-lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottles and bottle cages
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Customer Review: Better quality components than Walmart Next Avalon
My men's Sierra Madre shipped extremely fast (via "free" ground) and arrived with only minor damage (broken front reflector, paint/words of right handlebar shifter rubbed off by friction with box enclosure). Although the packaging is not very protective, the bike does come with a 6 months warranty for parts and I'm happy (replaced both reflectors with head and tail lights; never notice rubbed off paint on shifter when riding).

I ride on 3/4 mile of dirt road and grass to get to a paved road. Although no bike is totally comfortable, this one is surprisingly so. Note that the rear suspension pivot is behind the crank so that one's feet are insulated from shocks (and the distance from seat to pedals remains fixed). The tires are large (26 x 2.125) with 50 psi max with no kevlar and with cheap tubes (plan on replacing these to prevent flats). The other components are inexpensive but name brand and they look good. If I didn't have to go uphill on grass, I might not need the granny gear. One poster mentioned the quirk shifting from 1st to 2nd chainwheel. FYI, there is no problem shifting between 2nd and 3rd chainwheel, and from 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. On paved road I use 2nd and 3rd chainwheels only. I will drop to the granny gear (1st chainwheel) while going uphill on grass. The rear sprockets shifting system works perfectly.

Walmart has a sort-of similar model named the Next Avalon (same manufacturer). The frames are practically the same, but the gearing (21 speed vs. 7 speed), brakes, shifters, etc., are different (more toy-like, as on their other below $100 bikes). I also bought an Avalon for my wife recently. These two bikes have the same frame features and the same seats. The rest of the components are different and I can see and feel the quality differences. I'm tempted to return the Avalon and get another Sierra Madre (for the better quality, not the extra speeds which my wife doesn't need).

I found Kent International very responsive to my questions. Should I decide to change bikes in the future, I will surely consider their products for purchase.
Customer Review: Great Bike - Could be packed better for shipment.
This is a great bike; my husband loves it. The only problems we've had are more to do with the way it was boxed than the quality of the bike itself. The box was too narrow for the bike so, rather than use a wider box, the manufacturer CUT A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BOX to accomodate the derailleur! Who does that?! Because of the poor packaging, there were minor scratches, that didn't bother my husband, and one of the wheels had a broken spoke, which cost us about $12 extra to fix and balance, on top of the $35 to assemble the bike at a local bike shop. My husband says the bike is estremely comfortable but doesn't pedal as smoothly as my Trek, which is to be expected.