included. I got one three years ago and have enjoyed it. I bent a rim in a crash and replaced it, but other than that it's been a great bike. I'm no professional, but the parts have held up and everything seems to work well for me.

I know lots of people who put in thousands of miles every year who have bikes from bikesdirect.com. I'm not sure why your experience was so bad but it's definitely the outlier. Full disclosure, I don't know any kids with their bikes, just adults and all mountain bikes.