Bikes for daughters
Discussion
So my two daughters are just outreach for 26" wheeled bikes.
The eldest is at the seat post limit of her 24" bike and the younger is going to he half way into a 24" straight away so to me it makes more sense to get her on a 26" wheel as well..
A quick visit to the bike come car come camp shop confirms the youngest would fit on a 13/14" frame and the eldest on a 15/16" version, but what to get.
Now they are in bigger sizes we are happy to look at lighter alloy bikes, but still only want to spend £300 each absolute max, ideally closer to £200.
What's out there, what's recommended, it's been ages since I have looked seriously at bikes.
V.
The eldest is at the seat post limit of her 24" bike and the younger is going to he half way into a 24" straight away so to me it makes more sense to get her on a 26" wheel as well..
A quick visit to the bike come car come camp shop confirms the youngest would fit on a 13/14" frame and the eldest on a 15/16" version, but what to get.
Now they are in bigger sizes we are happy to look at lighter alloy bikes, but still only want to spend £300 each absolute max, ideally closer to £200.
What's out there, what's recommended, it's been ages since I have looked seriously at bikes.
V.
Have a look at the bTwin range of bikes from Decathlon. Seem to get very good reviews in the cycling world with regards to spec and value for money...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes
covmutley said:
My daughter has a frog and it is great.
The other option people will mention, but is more expensive, is an islabike. They do hold their value very well though, so you get much of the initial outlay back.
Daughter's on her 2nd Frog, and many friends too. Ace bikes, built for kids and a full range of sizes. Old one sold for a good sum too!The other option people will mention, but is more expensive, is an islabike. They do hold their value very well though, so you get much of the initial outlay back.
Looks like a Frog 62 for the young one and an Frog 69 for the older. Looked after you'll get a big chunk of the outlay back when selling on.
You should be able to find a local stockist too
https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/h...
My 6 year old has been riding one for nearly 2 years now, it gets hard use and still runs very well. I have had to replace brake cables and a chain along the way but that's to be expected for the all weather/terrain use it gets
You should be able to find a local stockist too
https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/h...
My 6 year old has been riding one for nearly 2 years now, it gets hard use and still runs very well. I have had to replace brake cables and a chain along the way but that's to be expected for the all weather/terrain use it gets
have a look around online, my gf bought a Raleigh from this site: http://www.rutlandcycling.com/1150/hybrid---commut...
they seem to have a decent sale on at the moment (sort by price)
Have a look at Wiggle too, I bought some stuff off them too before http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/kids-bikes/26-559-wh...
i suspect you'll be buying them a lot more than bikes soon pal!
they seem to have a decent sale on at the moment (sort by price)
Have a look at Wiggle too, I bought some stuff off them too before http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/kids-bikes/26-559-wh...
i suspect you'll be buying them a lot more than bikes soon pal!
I bought my 9-year old this: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-aspen-5-speed...
I'm quite impressed with it. It's light and easy for her to manoeuvre. Simple 5-speed gears to get her used to using them.
ETA I realise it's a 24in wheel but the seat post is adjustable enough that she should be ok with it for a few years.
I'm quite impressed with it. It's light and easy for her to manoeuvre. Simple 5-speed gears to get her used to using them.
ETA I realise it's a 24in wheel but the seat post is adjustable enough that she should be ok with it for a few years.
What sort of riding are you going to be doing with them?
My daughter (13) had a 26" Islabike, but as we do plenty of trails riding, I ended up selling it and getting her an entry level women's Giant (which they call Liv for some reason) hardtail. Yes, it's about twice the weight of the Islabike, but with 3x9 gearing and front suspension (once I'd binned the fork it came with and put on a Rockshox Recon), she's far, far happier with it for the sort of riding we do.
My 10yr old son is on an extra-small On-one Inbred 26" steel hardtail. The only thing I regret on that is setting it up as 1x10 with an extender, because he does struggle on the climbs, but he handles it bloody well going downhill, and really enjoys that part of the riding.
If you're only going to be taking easy trundles down canal paths on family outings, then ignore all of the above. If you're going to give the bikes some serious battering, consider getting them proper mountain bikes if they're up to 26" wheel sizes.
My daughter (13) had a 26" Islabike, but as we do plenty of trails riding, I ended up selling it and getting her an entry level women's Giant (which they call Liv for some reason) hardtail. Yes, it's about twice the weight of the Islabike, but with 3x9 gearing and front suspension (once I'd binned the fork it came with and put on a Rockshox Recon), she's far, far happier with it for the sort of riding we do.
My 10yr old son is on an extra-small On-one Inbred 26" steel hardtail. The only thing I regret on that is setting it up as 1x10 with an extender, because he does struggle on the climbs, but he handles it bloody well going downhill, and really enjoys that part of the riding.
If you're only going to be taking easy trundles down canal paths on family outings, then ignore all of the above. If you're going to give the bikes some serious battering, consider getting them proper mountain bikes if they're up to 26" wheel sizes.
One of my best moments as a kid was my dad buying me a new Carlton bike when I was about 13 (big enough to get a grown up bike now he said). I always had hand me downs until then. I can still remember the excitement of waiting until I actually got to ride it. Used to go everywhere on it for years.(It turned out to be a bit rubbish long term but that's a different story).
So as a doting father I've tried to recreate that with my girls. Helped them choose what they wanted and then the big unveil on their birthdays. All suitably happy and impressed. Bike rides arranged, picnics etc. Lovely.
3 years on...can I get the little sods on their bikes, can I flip. They're just no longer interested and it seems there's nothing I can do to encourage them. So I have 3 lovely (and quite expensive) bikes sat in the shed unused. They use buses and mum's taxi for transport.
Harumph.
So as a doting father I've tried to recreate that with my girls. Helped them choose what they wanted and then the big unveil on their birthdays. All suitably happy and impressed. Bike rides arranged, picnics etc. Lovely.
3 years on...can I get the little sods on their bikes, can I flip. They're just no longer interested and it seems there's nothing I can do to encourage them. So I have 3 lovely (and quite expensive) bikes sat in the shed unused. They use buses and mum's taxi for transport.
Harumph.
My daughter is now 11 and has had two Islabikes in the past. Great bikes with unbeatable residuals.
But even though I recommend them highly and buy into the cost of ownership argument, I couldn't justify the initial £399.99 outlay for the amount of time she rides it. If it was every weekend, then maybe.
What I found this time echoes what other people have said in that she's at an age where she didn't just want to be bought something, she wanted to be involved in the process.
In the end, we sold her Islabike and got her a new Appollo Elysium with a 14" frame.
She's happy because it's not a kids' bike, I'm not happy because it weighs a ton and the brake levers are designed for adults, so they're a little hard for her to pull. But overall, she likes it, and is happy and willing to ride it.
If you go out a lot, I'd say get a kid specific bike because the geometry will suit them better. Frog, Isalbikes as already mentioned are great but expensive. I think Ridgeback do kid's bikes too.
But even though I recommend them highly and buy into the cost of ownership argument, I couldn't justify the initial £399.99 outlay for the amount of time she rides it. If it was every weekend, then maybe.
What I found this time echoes what other people have said in that she's at an age where she didn't just want to be bought something, she wanted to be involved in the process.
In the end, we sold her Islabike and got her a new Appollo Elysium with a 14" frame.
She's happy because it's not a kids' bike, I'm not happy because it weighs a ton and the brake levers are designed for adults, so they're a little hard for her to pull. But overall, she likes it, and is happy and willing to ride it.
If you go out a lot, I'd say get a kid specific bike because the geometry will suit them better. Frog, Isalbikes as already mentioned are great but expensive. I think Ridgeback do kid's bikes too.
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