Road bike for 8 year old (triathlon)
Discussion
My son likes his cycling and has recently taken up triathlon. He has an Islabike Beinn which he loves and which is great at all things, but I've noticed him shooting admiring glances at the other kids' tasty road bikes. He's not the only one, there is something about the relative geometry of proper kids road bikes that makes them look ace!
Naturally he's asked for a road bike for Christmas. The default option would be another Islabike - we've had four and the quality and sizing etc. is always spot-on - but for some reason the Luath doesn't appeal as much as, say, a Felt F95. There's also the delivery anxiety to work with; we've been left wondering in late December if Santa was going to turn up with an Islabike a few years ago and it is not a pleasant experience!
Only problem is, when looking about most shops only have one or two bikes suitable for that age and it seems that Felt and Moda are pretty much the default options. He's quite big for his age and is on a 26 Small Beinn at the moment, but I presume I'm still looking at a 24" road bike.
Are there any other brands I should be seeking out? Or shops that have a decent selection? I admit I've gotten bored looking after the usual suspects (Evans, Wiggle, CRC etc.) and a few of the bigger independents, but there doesn't seem to be a go-to place for junior bikes.
Before anyone suggests my LBS, he's an arse and won't be getting another penny out of me
Naturally he's asked for a road bike for Christmas. The default option would be another Islabike - we've had four and the quality and sizing etc. is always spot-on - but for some reason the Luath doesn't appeal as much as, say, a Felt F95. There's also the delivery anxiety to work with; we've been left wondering in late December if Santa was going to turn up with an Islabike a few years ago and it is not a pleasant experience!
Only problem is, when looking about most shops only have one or two bikes suitable for that age and it seems that Felt and Moda are pretty much the default options. He's quite big for his age and is on a 26 Small Beinn at the moment, but I presume I'm still looking at a 24" road bike.
Are there any other brands I should be seeking out? Or shops that have a decent selection? I admit I've gotten bored looking after the usual suspects (Evans, Wiggle, CRC etc.) and a few of the bigger independents, but there doesn't seem to be a go-to place for junior bikes.
Before anyone suggests my LBS, he's an arse and won't be getting another penny out of me
pablo said:
do they have gear restrictions in triathlons? Islabike seems to be the obvious choice
If they do, certainly not at that age.He's OK to compete on his MTB - indeed some kids apparently drag nasty BSOs round - but for every one like that there seem to be ten with natty road bikes with carbon forks etc. "just like Dad's"
My 8yo has done a couple on his mountain bike. I think the kids always do their bike legs on grass, so a proper road bike may not be the best option. I've seen quite a few on the Moda cross bikes which seem ideal for the job, but they aren't cheap. There were some very good discounts on them online a month or two ago though.
TBH I find there are a few too many kids with shiny kit and pushy parents at these events. Plenty are on their regular knockabout bikes though. I've never detected any kit snobbery, and the kids should just be there to enjoy it and learn to love the sport rather than to get a great result. Just my 2p.
TBH I find there are a few too many kids with shiny kit and pushy parents at these events. Plenty are on their regular knockabout bikes though. I've never detected any kit snobbery, and the kids should just be there to enjoy it and learn to love the sport rather than to get a great result. Just my 2p.
Birdthom said:
My 8yo has done a couple on his mountain bike. I think the kids always do their bike legs on grass, so a proper road bike may not be the best option. I've seen quite a few on the Moda cross bikes which seem ideal for the job, but they aren't cheap. There were some very good discounts on them online a month or two ago though.
TBH I find there are a few too many kids with shiny kit and pushy parents at these events. Plenty are on their regular knockabout bikes though. I've never detected any kit snobbery, and the kids should just be there to enjoy it and learn to love the sport rather than to get a great result. Just my 2p.
Oh, absolutely. Thing is, it's either a new bike or a console for Xmas and I know what I'd rather he get.TBH I find there are a few too many kids with shiny kit and pushy parents at these events. Plenty are on their regular knockabout bikes though. I've never detected any kit snobbery, and the kids should just be there to enjoy it and learn to love the sport rather than to get a great result. Just my 2p.
Plus, once he's got a shiny new road steed it'll be a lot easier to convince SWMBO that Daddy needs a road bike to be able to keep up with him...
p.s. His first proper event is the Hillingdon duathlon which is on tarmac, but apparently most are on grass as you say.
loudlashadjuster said:
Oh, absolutely. Thing is, it's either a new bike or a console for Xmas and I know what I'd rather he get.
Plus, once he's got a shiny new road steed it'll be a lot easier to convince SWMBO that Daddy needs a road bike to be able to keep up with him...
In that case, I think he really needs something a bit more premium ;-) Plus, once he's got a shiny new road steed it'll be a lot easier to convince SWMBO that Daddy needs a road bike to be able to keep up with him...
I coach the junior section of our tri club and the most popular bikes for your age range seem to be Moda Minor 24. They appear to stand up well to training and competition and there's a healthy second hand demand for when they outgrow them.
There are no gear restrictions this year but its coming in from 2015
http://www.triathlonscotland.org/files/Youth_gear_...
HTH
There are no gear restrictions this year but its coming in from 2015
http://www.triathlonscotland.org/files/Youth_gear_...
HTH
Frog bikes look ace, available in Team Sky colours too if that floats his boat, if no one local speak to Rob at Propel http://www.propelbikes.co.uk/
The Dawes is very heavy (at least our friends Giro 300 is). Last year most of our friends at Team MK used the Islabike. They bring them to training sessions and often sell them on to the younger families for very good money as they grow up and progress. One lad did have the Moda but I think thats unnecessarily heavy and I've not seen anyone do particlarly well on one. Hoys and Frogs are still thin on the ground as they're so new but I'm surprised that no one on the racing scene uses them. Other popular bikes for youth road and tri are often cyclocross bikes so you see Specialized Crux and Scott Addict CX quite often but they're for over 10s...
...but, the new big thing which has swept across Central region at least are Worx bikes. The owner is an ex racer and his lad is little Froomey in the making so they're really focussed on youth racing. I would say that the Worx bikes are starting to get a good rep and our friends son is probably the fastest 11 year old triathlete in the country on a Worx Crossworx and their 8 year old also has one. Last weekend at Central CXL rnd 3 at Culham there were a lot of Worx bike. The girls U12 winner was on one as was the 2nd boy in U14 to name a few. (Edit) My lad tells me the U10 boy also won on a Worx.
http://worxbikes.com/product/juniorworx-ja24/
...but, the new big thing which has swept across Central region at least are Worx bikes. The owner is an ex racer and his lad is little Froomey in the making so they're really focussed on youth racing. I would say that the Worx bikes are starting to get a good rep and our friends son is probably the fastest 11 year old triathlete in the country on a Worx Crossworx and their 8 year old also has one. Last weekend at Central CXL rnd 3 at Culham there were a lot of Worx bike. The girls U12 winner was on one as was the 2nd boy in U14 to name a few. (Edit) My lad tells me the U10 boy also won on a Worx.
http://worxbikes.com/product/juniorworx-ja24/
Edited by Bobley on Friday 24th October 09:19
http://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/bikes/road-racing-bike...
found this good round up of kids bikes, has got me thinking if there is a market (or even a supplier!) for carbon kids bikes......
found this good round up of kids bikes, has got me thinking if there is a market (or even a supplier!) for carbon kids bikes......
Good thinking pablo
You'd have thought there's a big market for decent kids bikes, both road and mountain. But the sad truth is for 99.99% of parents the sales price ceiling is £400. (for non cyclists this is about £150). My lad attends the local clubs' pedal power sessions, usually about 30 kids and parents, all enthusiastic club cyclists themselves, I've heard many moaning about spending £350 on something not brilliant. Even with their good residuals, not many splash out on an Islabike.
It'll cost more to build a proper kids bike than an adults (availability of decent cranks and other parts for small people). And the main marketing problem is they'll grow out of it.
You'd have thought there's a big market for decent kids bikes, both road and mountain. But the sad truth is for 99.99% of parents the sales price ceiling is £400. (for non cyclists this is about £150). My lad attends the local clubs' pedal power sessions, usually about 30 kids and parents, all enthusiastic club cyclists themselves, I've heard many moaning about spending £350 on something not brilliant. Even with their good residuals, not many splash out on an Islabike.
It'll cost more to build a proper kids bike than an adults (availability of decent cranks and other parts for small people). And the main marketing problem is they'll grow out of it.
Kind of in the market as a competitor to Islabikes for kids is Frog bikes. Just got my 5 year old a Frog 52, can't really fault it at all. Big advantage I see over Islabikes is you can usually find a local bike shop with them so the kids can try. Unless you live near Islabikes it's a bit of a shot in the dark.
they do Road bikes too
http://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/ro...
they do Road bikes too
http://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/ro...
There is a US brand whose name evades me who make a carbon youth bike. I've only seen one in Holland at the European Youth Tour. The lad had Dura Ace DI2 on it and all the trick bits and a fancy helmet but he got dropped by the peloton on the classic road stage and finished about 5 minutes down. This often happens at races where parents will pay through the nose. At my lads first race he signed in and noticed a Cervelo carbon road bike parked up and asked me how he was expected to compete with that on his ali CX bike. I said you'll just have to pedal a bit harder. He beat her comfortably. Since then we've progressed gradually buying nicer parts off the web when they come up cheap and his bike does look pretty trick but he trains hard and studies his cycling technique so he gets parts as and when he deserves them and the cost is written down on the kitchen blackboard which he pays back out of his pocket money and christmas presents etc.
I always say to him that its 95% rider and 5% bike. You cant buy yourself a win.
I should start a business leasing out Islabikes!! At £10/month I'd be quids in... maybe
I always say to him that its 95% rider and 5% bike. You cant buy yourself a win.
I should start a business leasing out Islabikes!! At £10/month I'd be quids in... maybe
I think between my two children we are on our 7th islabike (all bought new) and you almost rent them anyway. on average they have them for 12-18 months and I have sold all for within £60 of what I paid for them new. They are currently both on craig 26" MTBS and the price of those was eye watering
My son (11yrs) is now just big enough for a full sized road bike so I built one up from parts, total cost £200 and that is with an aluminium/ carbon frame and carbon fork (£50 of fleebay) and tiagra bits.
it certianly gets cheaper when you can use adult parts, and its always a good excuse for me to upgrade and move bits down the line
My son (11yrs) is now just big enough for a full sized road bike so I built one up from parts, total cost £200 and that is with an aluminium/ carbon frame and carbon fork (£50 of fleebay) and tiagra bits.
it certianly gets cheaper when you can use adult parts, and its always a good excuse for me to upgrade and move bits down the line
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