[T77911S]

department store bikes are measured by wheel size, your bike shop bikes are measured by frame size.
I have an 18in mtb, I am 5-7 and it is a bit too big for me, but I got a great deal on it. I would have preferred a 16. better to be small.

we bought 2 from walmart for needy kids this year. I was a bit impressed that when I got it home and put it on my bike stand it was actually put together quite well. just had t make a minor rear derailleur adjustment on one.. they were about $80 each. 24in. seemed like a decent bike.
make sure the brakes are adjusted properly and the gears shift properly. put the front chain ring in the small gear and shift the rear thru all gears. then put the front in the big chain ring and repeat.

if they are just riding in the neighbor hood a cheap bike is not a bad deal. any kind of off road riding on any regular basis and the walmart bike will fall apart.

trek makes really good bikes. really good entry level.
you will find that that the frames at the different levels are about the same for each level, but the components on it get better as the price goes up. then you will move up to a better frame with cheaper components and it starts all over again until you get in the hi end, then its just good everything.


I use to race and work on bikes.

If the bikes are a surprise, and you are shopping at a bike shop, this sounds a bit odd but you might take a pair of their pants to the shop so the guys can get a better idea of frame size.