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More Info On Scott Mongoose:

Well, this is certainly a controversial, complicated and constantly evolving topic. There are so many bicycle manufacturers, bicycle types and popular brand names sold in the US, that it can be difficult to find a comprehensive summary and to sort it all out.

The top 20 most popular bike brand listing that I've compiled here is not based on the number of bikes sold alone or on the quality or perceived quality of the bicycles. Most of the bike manufacturers listed here also sell different bike types (road, mountain, hybrid, etc.) and the list below is not broken down by bike type or category.

This listing is intended to be a guide as to what bike brands are currently the most popular in the USA, at the time of this writing (since bike brands come and go and the sales of various bike types rise and fall).

The Top 20 Most Popular Bike Brands and the bike types that they sell

1. Trek - Road, Triathlon , Mountain Hardtail , Mountain Full-Suspension , Urban , Bike Path, Cruiser , Women's , Kids
2. Schwinn - Road, Commuter, Comfort, Cruisers, Electric, Mountain Bikes, BMX, Kids
3. Giant - Road, Mountain, Giant for Women, Lifestyle, Hybrid (HCT), BMX, Kids
4. Cannondale - Road, Mountain, Women's Recreation (many sub categories)
5. Mongoose - BMX Bikes (Team Bikes, Freestyle Bikes, Dirt Street Bikes) Mountain / Pavement (Dual Suspension, Jumping, Hardtail XC, Comfort, Commuter, Road Alternative, 
6. Raleigh - Road, Performance Hybrid, Hybrid, Comfort, Mountain, Cruiser, Women, Youth
7. Specialized Road, Multi Street, Globe (commute, comfort), Dirt/Street/Vert (BMX), Kids ATB
8. Diamondback - MTN Full Suspension , Mountain Hardtail , Devine Designs , Comfort ,Cruiser , Performance Hybrid , Hybrid , Youth , BMX
9. Fuji - Road, Mountain, Specialty, Women's, Lifestyle, Kids
10. Haro -All Mountain-Freeride, Dirt Jump/ Urban, XC Trail / XC Sport, 650B, 29er, Metro, Comfort, Cruiser
11. Shimano - Road, Mountain, Comfort, BMX
12. Huffy - since 1892 - Mountain, BMX, Kids, Road
13. Gary Fisher - 29ers, Full Suspension,  Genesisters, Hardtails, Kids, Pavement, Road
14. Ellsworth - High end Mountain Bikes
15. Klein - High end Mountain and Road Bikes
16. Jamis - High end Full Suspension, Hardtail, Road, Street, Sport Comfort, Youth
17. Bianchi - Hors Categorie (HOC), Born for Performance (B4P), Coast to Coast (C2C), Dama Bianca, D2, Special, Classica, Road Steel, MTB Performance, MTB Leisure, Sport, Cross-Terrain
18. GT - Mountain, BMX, Road, Womens
19. Rocky Mountain - Mountain, Road, Urban & Path, Ladies Only
20. Scott - Mountain, Road, Women's Junior's

Some of the popular bike brands listed here can only be purchased at specialty bike shops or independent dealers. Although this marketing technique makes these brands harder to find, in some cases this it improves the perceived quality of the bikes over brands that are distributed to the mass market or that can be easily found at sporting goods stores or even online.

I have included the bike types or bike categories that each manufacturer sells under the brand names listed. The bike type descriptions were, in most cases, taken directly from each bike manufacturers website in order to not only let you know what kind of bikes they make but also how the company perceives the bike types that they make and how they market them to you.

Visit www.about-bicycles.com for more information on bike types, bike brands, bicycle accessories and a lot of great Chicagoland bike trail information.
Rob Chapman, http://www.about-bicycles.com

Little Know Tropical Get-A-Way

Caneel Bay of the Caribbean offers what every beach
vacation should - beautiful surroundings, luxury service,
and gourmet dining. This exclusive beach resort is nestled
within the 5,000 acre Virgin Islands National Park on the island
of St. John in the Virgin Islands.

Two thirds of St. John is a U.S. National Park, and here you
see what the world is like when nature takes care of itself.
Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park volunteers
staff an information kiosk here. Spend day after day
on beach after beach, each with its own panoramic view.
Let a friendly mongoose lead you along a woodland trail.
Many of them end on a plateaux high in the sky,
offering panoramic views of white beaches, emerald cays,
and turquoise waters.

There are tours of the National Park by safari bus or jeep,
and you'll find the drivers take a special pride in the
beauty of St. John. One well known taxi personality is
Miss Lucy Smith, her wagon can be identified by cow's horns
entwined with flowers on the hood. (Due to her Popularity
you must Book with her by reservation). There is a standard
rate for all tours, with stops at key observation points.
Island guides will charm you with ancient folklore and authentic
knowledge of the island.

You'll also see glimpses of abandoned 18th-century
sugar plantations, especially along the Reef Bay trail.
And you can even visit one--Estate Annaberg.

Ideal for beach lovers, Caneel Bay offers seven secluded
beaches - Honeymoon Beach, Caneel Beach, Little Caneel Beach,
Paradise Beach, Scott Beach, Turtle Bay Beach, and the
Hawk's Nest Beach. The resort is set on its own peninsula and
also surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

There are many different things to do here while on your
beach vacation, including snorkeling, nature walks, hiking,
sailing, kayaking in the sea, wind surfing, scuba diving,
and swimming. You can also order a private massage,
take lessons in watercolor, or just sneak away for a picnic.
The resort also offers you a fitness center and 11 outdoor
courts for tennis.

The resort of Caneel Bay offers 166 guest rooms and cottages
furnished with hand crafted furniture, woven fabrics,
natural wood, and native stone. The guest rooms also
offer patios and balconies that overlook the beaches
or resort gardens.

You can dine in several restaurants and bars that range
from fine dining to casual meals. The restaurants include
the Turtle Bay Estate House, Beach Terrace, The Equator,
Starlight Terrace, and the Caneel Bay Bar.

For those who are looking to work on their beach vacation,
Caneel Bay offers a business center complete with computers,
high speed internet access, printers, data ports, and even
telephones that offer free local calling.

Offering you everything for vacation bliss, Caneel Bay is one
place you'll be glad you found.

About the Author

Dan Farrell has many more travel and vacation articles and resources found at:

Online Travel

I am lookng to buy an entry to mid level MTB bike Hard Tail. Which Bike?

GT Avalanche 2
Scott Aspect 2
Mongoose XXXXX?
Silverback Nebraska

More than a brand buy a bike. Your Bike!
That means you have good choices, (and anybody could add others to your list). But, most important is which one of them will fit you better and by more adequate to the riding you will be doing.
Go to a good bike shop and let them counsel you. Try theire bikes, "feel", see what they "communicate" to you.
Then ask all you need to, and tehn ask a bit more. After the counseling, teh trying out and the asking, you will be able to answer the question yourself: Whick bike?
Enjoy the process!

PS: I agree a hard tail is the way to go as an entry level. Great bikes out there for the money.

Tree-dwelling mammals climb to the heights of longevity
The squirrels littering your lawn with acorns as they bound overhead will live to plague your yard longer than the ones that aerate it with their burrows, according to a University of Illinois study.

Thanks for visiting!