good places to look for youth sized bike

good places to look for youth sized bike

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Discussion

sawman

Original Poster:

4,919 posts

230 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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my 12 year old had grown out of his old bike, but as I suspect he is heading for a growth spurt sometime soon I am not sure that I want to invest in a massively expensive new one that will need replacing in a year.

I have been scouring ebay & gumtree for a small adult bike, without a lot of success ( am am in the North east, which doesn't seem to help). So, are there any other places I could look at??

Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Monday 17th April 2017
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Any idea what size? 700 wheels or smaller?

Some mention Facebook for local buying and selling.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,919 posts

230 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
he is 5ft 1 so I an guessing 14- 15inch frame on 26's - or would I be better looking at 24 inch wheels?

chatting to him today, he likes the look of some of cyclocross type bikes with drop bars and hard tail MTB's we mainly ride fairly smooth trails, so would probably avoid road bikes,

I'll have a look at FB, hadn't thought of that....

Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
You'll have more options and spend less if you avoid road bikes in my experience.

poah

2,142 posts

228 months

Wednesday 19th April 2017
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Wouldn't bother with 24 inch wheels new at 12. Depending on how much you want to spend I'd be looking for an xs 26/27.5 bike.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,919 posts

230 months

Thursday 20th April 2017
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cheers, Guys, search now focussed, looks like its just a waiting game. Timing isnt critical, but it would be nice to have something sorted for the summer hols

poo at Paul's

14,144 posts

175 months

Thursday 20th April 2017
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I'd say he is big enough for a 27.5 MTB, small or xs depending o9n manufacturer. The 26 stuff is so much rarer now, it does limit choice, and the 27.5s roll so much nicer, ride over the terrain nicer etc.
Definitely look at 27.5 stuff and consider a bigger frame than you think he needs, the front wheel gets awful close to feet on some of the smaller bikes with 27.5.

And as you say he will grow up v quickly!

My 9 yr old daughter is on a 27.5 Cube Womens Line in xs and it is a stonking machine. She rides it very well, off road only, and does 20 miles in a morning no bother. Plus, it was cheap on sale, has great airforks (Manitou 30s) and she can potentially ride it for many years. Whereas the 24 inch Cannondale lasted less than 12m before she was maxed on out the stem and seatpost. And she is only 145cm.

PH5121

1,963 posts

213 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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poo at Paul's said:
I'd say he is big enough for a 27.5 MTB, small or xs depending o9n manufacturer. The 26 stuff is so much rarer now, it does limit choice, and the 27.5s roll so much nicer, ride over the terrain nicer etc.
Definitely look at 27.5 stuff and consider a bigger frame than you think he needs, the front wheel gets awful close to feet on some of the smaller bikes with 27.5.

And as you say he will grow up v quickly!

My 9 yr old daughter is on a 27.5 Cube Womens Line in xs and it is a stonking machine. She rides it very well, off road only, and does 20 miles in a morning no bother. Plus, it was cheap on sale, has great airforks (Manitou 30s) and she can potentially ride it for many years. Whereas the 24 inch Cannondale lasted less than 12m before she was maxed on out the stem and seatpost. And she is only 145cm.
I can echo the above comments. My 9 year old son has an extra small 27.5 inch Specialized Hardrock mountain bike having outgrown his 24 inch wheeled Specialized Hotrock, and he isn't a tall kid.

I don't know how far you would travel but last week I was in the Lake District and noticed that the bike shop at the forestry commission site at Grizedale Forest (located between Hawkshead and Coniston) were selling off their 2016 hire fleet and had the same xs Hardrock disc bike that my lad has, the cost was about £250 from memory.


Edited by PH5121 on Friday 21st April 08:06


Edited by PH5121 on Friday 21st April 08:06

Randy Winkman

16,127 posts

189 months

Friday 21st April 2017
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http://www.islabikes.co.uk/

Islabikes: "High quality lightweight children's bikes". They sell bikes of all sizes.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,919 posts

230 months

Friday 21st April 2017
quotequote all
PH5121 said:
I can echo the above comments. My 9 year old son has an extra small 27.5 inch Specialized Hardrock mountain bike having outgrown his 24 inch wheeled Specialized Hotrock, and he isn't a tall kid.

I don't know how far you would travel but last week I was in the Lake District and noticed that the bike shop at the forestry commission site at Grizedale Forest (located between Hawkshead and Coniston) were selling off their 2016 hire fleet and had the same xs Hardrock disc bike that my lad has, the cost was about £250 from memory.


Edited by PH5121 on Friday 21st April 08:06


Edited by PH5121 on Friday 21st April 08:06
bike rental old stock is a good shout - we are in northumberland so theres a few places to look at, I'll drop some emails. Currently scouring ebay gumtree etc, including retrobike, got my eye on a fairly tidy kona at present

kurt535

3,559 posts

117 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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My 12 y/o son rode his junior Giant.......once...and decided road riding not for him....I must sell it...wheels full size.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,919 posts

230 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
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bagged this retro ride for the lad, should keep him going for a bit