Kids bike recommendations, for a 5 years old...
Discussion
My 5 year old daughter is learning to ride on her current bike, but it only has 12" wheels, since we bought it a couple years ago and it hasnt really been used that much.
Now she is keen to learn properly, I think it's time for a new bike, and wanted to get a recommendation on what to consider.
She is quite a small 5 year old, so wouldnt be able to get anything bigger than 16" wheels, and it would need to be able to take training wheels while she learns. I dont want to buy something throw away, but also dont want to spend a fortune, just want something that isnt built like a plastic kids bike, must be able to last her to 7 or 8 when she'll be riding with her friends.
Needs to be light as well, and preferably robust enough to be handed down to her two little sisters when the time comes.
Any recommendations?
Now she is keen to learn properly, I think it's time for a new bike, and wanted to get a recommendation on what to consider.
She is quite a small 5 year old, so wouldnt be able to get anything bigger than 16" wheels, and it would need to be able to take training wheels while she learns. I dont want to buy something throw away, but also dont want to spend a fortune, just want something that isnt built like a plastic kids bike, must be able to last her to 7 or 8 when she'll be riding with her friends.
Needs to be light as well, and preferably robust enough to be handed down to her two little sisters when the time comes.
Any recommendations?
Might go against the grain here, but I wouldn't put stabilisers on the bike, makes it much more difficult to learn, as a 3/4 wheeled machine handles completely differently to a 2 wheeler. If necessary, remove the pedals and cranks until she's comfortable scooting around on it and balancing, then stick the pedals back on at that stage. Don't be tempted to go for something too big either as that will dent her confidence.
Thanks Steve, will definitely get one that fits her, but the bike shops near us are all quite small and each have limited ranges, so wanted to get a recommendation of which ones are worth a look, then go to the shop that has them.
So you recon leave the training wheels off? I'll try that initially, though her confidence on riding without them isnt very high, even on her little current bike. I did a bit of the classic running behind holding the bike with the training wheels off, and got told off a lot for going too fast, before she got off in a huff and wnated training wheels back on, guess I'll just have to persevere.
That's girls for you though
you cant do anything right, and I have three daughters, so two more to go after this, and if they think Im ever giving them driving lessons...
So you recon leave the training wheels off? I'll try that initially, though her confidence on riding without them isnt very high, even on her little current bike. I did a bit of the classic running behind holding the bike with the training wheels off, and got told off a lot for going too fast, before she got off in a huff and wnated training wheels back on, guess I'll just have to persevere.
That's girls for you though
you cant do anything right, and I have three daughters, so two more to go after this, and if they think Im ever giving them driving lessons...Can't really help with specific bikes, but there are a few links on this article on BikeRadar that might point you towards a few specific models:
http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/gear/article/bu...
And I feel for you with the girls, if I ever have any and they turn out anything like my wife, I'll not be attempting to teach them anything, for fear of having my head bitten off.
http://www.bikeradar.com/beginners/gear/article/bu...
And I feel for you with the girls, if I ever have any and they turn out anything like my wife, I'll not be attempting to teach them anything, for fear of having my head bitten off.
Really good article, thanks Steve. Pothole, my concern with getting a balance bike is she will be 6 soon, and I can see her being a little embarrised to be on a balance bike at 6. It also means as soon as she's learnt we have to buy her another bike.
I think I'm going to have to fast track her as far as is safe, get a well fitted bike and try to get her riding it properly. Maybe leave training wheels and just do a whole lot of running behind (or find a really big hill and leave her in the hands of the Bicycle God )
From what I can see the bikes are divided into dolly seat/lots of plastic types, or more serious types, but I dont even know what to budget. Looks like £100 is about right, although some are £150 odd, maybe worth it for lightness?
I think I'm going to have to fast track her as far as is safe, get a well fitted bike and try to get her riding it properly. Maybe leave training wheels and just do a whole lot of running behind (or find a really big hill and leave her in the hands of the Bicycle God
)From what I can see the bikes are divided into dolly seat/lots of plastic types, or more serious types, but I dont even know what to budget. Looks like £100 is about right, although some are £150 odd, maybe worth it for lightness?
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/cnoc16.html
If you can stretch to the cost you won't regret it.
I'd echo the others in saying don't get stabilisers - it just makes it harder for them to learn. "This ones a big girl bike, it doesn't have stabilisers". If she really struggles then take the pedals off and let her use it as a balance bike for a while.
If you can stretch to the cost you won't regret it.
I'd echo the others in saying don't get stabilisers - it just makes it harder for them to learn. "This ones a big girl bike, it doesn't have stabilisers". If she really struggles then take the pedals off and let her use it as a balance bike for a while.
Cool, training wheels now off the list.
That's a really nice litle bike Mr Will, but ouch, £200!! The other issue is despite them having what looks ike a good fitting guide, if I was to spend that much Id really want her to be able to sit on the bike first, and being in Kent means their fitting studio is too far away.
That's a really nice litle bike Mr Will, but ouch, £200!! The other issue is despite them having what looks ike a good fitting guide, if I was to spend that much Id really want her to be able to sit on the bike first, and being in Kent means their fitting studio is too far away.
Our Son's second bike was a Specilized Hotrock 16 - it was a great bike, he's got the bigger version now.
I know it's been covered but stabilisers are the work of the devil and should never be fitted to a kids bike, they don't teach balance and they fundamentally change the way bikes steer, our little lad just kept crashing when we took them off.
He learnt to ride without them about 18 months ago, this was him at the weekend - Kids learn FAST!
http://youtu.be/O7F_tktxmXw
I know it's been covered but stabilisers are the work of the devil and should never be fitted to a kids bike, they don't teach balance and they fundamentally change the way bikes steer, our little lad just kept crashing when we took them off.
He learnt to ride without them about 18 months ago, this was him at the weekend - Kids learn FAST!
http://youtu.be/O7F_tktxmXw
I'll second the Islabike recommendation, and give you a dose of man manths to go with it.
We've got the balance bike for the 4yr old, a Beinn 20 for the 8yr old, and a Beinn 26 for the 10 year old. Compared to what their mates are riding, these are a cut above. They weigh nothing, and all the components are sized to kid fingers, legs and bums. I would not buy anything else for a kid, having experienced these.
Here's the man manths bit. Having looking for an age on eBay, I realized that yes, the cost of entry is steep, but I'll be able to run all 3 of my kids through these bikes, and still be able to sell them for at least 50% of the purchase price in 10 years. So really, it's not a £200 (or £300) kids bike. It's more like £100, and your kid gets to ride the best bike in the school bike shed, bar none.
We've got the balance bike for the 4yr old, a Beinn 20 for the 8yr old, and a Beinn 26 for the 10 year old. Compared to what their mates are riding, these are a cut above. They weigh nothing, and all the components are sized to kid fingers, legs and bums. I would not buy anything else for a kid, having experienced these.
Here's the man manths bit. Having looking for an age on eBay, I realized that yes, the cost of entry is steep, but I'll be able to run all 3 of my kids through these bikes, and still be able to sell them for at least 50% of the purchase price in 10 years. So really, it's not a £200 (or £300) kids bike. It's more like £100, and your kid gets to ride the best bike in the school bike shed, bar none.
Are you crazy? dont throw man maths into this equation, this could get seriously expensive!!
It's in my head now, so I'll now have to try and get the man maths past the missus, and that's not going to be easy.
She is of the opinion that a kids bike is a £50 purchase, I managed to reset her expectations to a more realistic £100, then the hotrcok mentioned above reset mine to £150, and now this one is £200!! Would this bike be a step up from a Saracen Bella JNR for example, those go for £160, and also have an Alu frame, but possibly a little heavier, is this Islabike the sort of Rolls Royce of 5 year olds bikes? I bet it costs a fortune to service, and only takes Super unleaded.
It's in my head now, so I'll now have to try and get the man maths past the missus, and that's not going to be easy.
She is of the opinion that a kids bike is a £50 purchase, I managed to reset her expectations to a more realistic £100, then the hotrcok mentioned above reset mine to £150, and now this one is £200!! Would this bike be a step up from a Saracen Bella JNR for example, those go for £160, and also have an Alu frame, but possibly a little heavier, is this Islabike the sort of Rolls Royce of 5 year olds bikes? I bet it costs a fortune to service, and only takes Super unleaded.
If you think that's expensive...
My Boy's got his heart set on one of these next.... bloody hell.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Kona-Stinky-2-4-24w-2013-J...
Thankfully he's a couple of year away (I hope) of being big enough.
My Boy's got his heart set on one of these next.... bloody hell.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Kona-Stinky-2-4-24w-2013-J...
Thankfully he's a couple of year away (I hope) of being big enough.
An example of Islabike quality; I'm only 11 stone but that's still a lot more than any kid; I sometimes (today for example) ride my boys CNOC 14 to demonstrate stuff like what happens when you brake too hard; I have total confidence in the hubs, rims, why yet it's still light and the brakes are totally kid friendly.
Great little bikes!
Great little bikes!
Iklwa said:
Are you crazy? dont throw man maths into this equation, this could get seriously expensive!!
It's in my head now, so I'll now have to try and get the man maths past the missus, and that's not going to be easy.
She is of the opinion that a kids bike is a £50 purchase, I managed to reset her expectations to a more realistic £100, then the hotrcok mentioned above reset mine to £150, and now this one is £200!! Would this bike be a step up from a Saracen Bella JNR for example, those go for £160, and also have an Alu frame, but possibly a little heavier, is this Islabike the sort of Rolls Royce of 5 year olds bikes? I bet it costs a fortune to service, and only takes Super unleaded.
I'd wager that the Islabike will be worth at least £40 more than the Saracen when you come to sell it. That means it's the cheaper bike, surely? It's in my head now, so I'll now have to try and get the man maths past the missus, and that's not going to be easy.
She is of the opinion that a kids bike is a £50 purchase, I managed to reset her expectations to a more realistic £100, then the hotrcok mentioned above reset mine to £150, and now this one is £200!! Would this bike be a step up from a Saracen Bella JNR for example, those go for £160, and also have an Alu frame, but possibly a little heavier, is this Islabike the sort of Rolls Royce of 5 year olds bikes? I bet it costs a fortune to service, and only takes Super unleaded.
I can't honestly speak from experience regarding the Saracen/Hotwalk/Etc level but I can say that the CNOC 14 I bought my daughter for her 3rd birthday has been better than I ever expected. I went through all the same deliberations you are now about it being a lot of money, etc but it's been worth every penny. She took to it amazingly quickly and still absolutely adores it. We cycle together almost every time she stays at mine and at 4 and a half she's now comfortably doing 10+ mile rides and wanting to go further. All in all, this tiny little bike has done at least a couple of hundred miles and still looks and rides good as new. Her 5th birthday present will be a Beinn 20 (because she's desperate to have gears!) but there's no deliberation over the price this time.
If I can get this kind of money for her old one, it'll just be the icing on the cake: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Islabikes-CNOC-14-childr...
Iklwa said:
Really good article, thanks Steve. Pothole, my concern with getting a balance bike is she will be 6 soon, and I can see her being a little embarrised to be on a balance bike at 6. It also means as soon as she's learnt we have to buy her another bike.
I think I'm going to have to fast track her as far as is safe, get a well fitted bike and try to get her riding it properly. Maybe leave training wheels and just do a whole lot of running behind (or find a really big hill and leave her in the hands of the Bicycle God )
From what I can see the bikes are divided into dolly seat/lots of plastic types, or more serious types, but I dont even know what to budget. Looks like £100 is about right, although some are £150 odd, maybe worth it for lightness?
not sure why it's more embarrassing to be whizzing about on a balance bike than dragging a noisy plastic wheel around while achieving Sarronesque angles of lean, but then I've never been a 6 year old girl and balance bikes hand't been invented when I learnt to ride. I did spend a long afternoon up and down the drive until I could do it properly, though. No stabilisers required.I think I'm going to have to fast track her as far as is safe, get a well fitted bike and try to get her riding it properly. Maybe leave training wheels and just do a whole lot of running behind (or find a really big hill and leave her in the hands of the Bicycle God
)From what I can see the bikes are divided into dolly seat/lots of plastic types, or more serious types, but I dont even know what to budget. Looks like £100 is about right, although some are £150 odd, maybe worth it for lightness?
Balance bikes seem like a waste of time and effort to me, not to mention money, I don't get the idea of buying something with the intention of trying to get the kid to stop playing with it as soon as possible. Having said that I have taken the pedals of our boys bike as he's only 2 and kept t
tting his shins on them.
Decathlon do the best kids bike in my opinion, the 16" ones should be fine for a 5 year old but they do a 14" one aswell.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes
tting his shins on them.Decathlon do the best kids bike in my opinion, the 16" ones should be fine for a 5 year old but they do a 14" one aswell.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes
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