After two Isla bikes, what next?
Discussion
My daughter is now 10 and has outgrown her current Isla bike (Beinn 20).
We went out on Sunday, and it was a bit comical really as she's clearly too tall for it.
It's her second Isla Bike, and while I love the idea of them, the next bike up (Beinn 26) is £399. I know you get a lot back when you sell, but for the amount it gets used, I'm thiking of alternatives.
Tried her on my wife's bike at the weekend - a full size GT MTB - and while she could ride it, it was clearly still a little bit too big for her.
What else do people go for at this age/size?
We went out on Sunday, and it was a bit comical really as she's clearly too tall for it.
It's her second Isla Bike, and while I love the idea of them, the next bike up (Beinn 26) is £399. I know you get a lot back when you sell, but for the amount it gets used, I'm thiking of alternatives.
Tried her on my wife's bike at the weekend - a full size GT MTB - and while she could ride it, it was clearly still a little bit too big for her.
What else do people go for at this age/size?
Just been through exactly this... bought a CBoardman cross - silver, good price at Halfords at the moment. LIttl'un is chuffed with the 27 gears!!! IB's dont do a front sprocket in this size - they said the little minds cant handle it - a bit of tuition and hes got the hang of it just fine - maybe helped with the nice shimano buttons rather than the difficult IB twist shift which was always quite stiff.
My ten year old went on a Dawes Espoir 3000, he grew out of it in a year, he's now on a Kinesis Crosslight.
Winstanleys have them on special at the minute.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/59361/Da...
Winstanleys have them on special at the minute.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/59361/Da...
pablo said:
Scott, Cube and Specilaised all do 24" wheel "junior" mtbs which might be a good alternative.
They do, but they're not much cheaper (and in some cases more expensive) than the Islabike Beinn 24, won't have anything like the same residuals, but above all are just staggeringly heavy!!!Islabike Beinn 24 - 8.82kg
Specialized Hotrock 24 - 13.8kg (exactly the same weight as my adult Full Suspension 650B Specialized Stumpjumper!!!)
Cube 240 All Road - 13.6kg
Scott Scale RC Junior 24 - 11.2kg
Of course the Spesh, Cube and Scott have all been lumbered with totally unnecessary front mechs, multiple chain rings and front suspension, but no 10 or 11 year old has any need for any of that, so why don't they just strip it out and make sensible kids' bikes instead?
Kermit power said:
pablo said:
Scott, Cube and Specilaised all do 24" wheel "junior" mtbs which might be a good alternative.
They do, but they're not much cheaper (and in some cases more expensive) than the Islabike Beinn 24, won't have anything like the same residuals, but above all are just staggeringly heavy!!!Islabike Beinn 24 - 8.82kg
Specialized Hotrock 24 - 13.8kg (exactly the same weight as my adult Full Suspension 650B Specialized Stumpjumper!!!)
Cube 240 All Road - 13.6kg
Scott Scale RC Junior 24 - 11.2kg
Of course the Spesh, Cube and Scott have all been lumbered with totally unnecessary front mechs, multiple chain rings and front suspension, but no 10 or 11 year old has any need for any of that, so why don't they just strip it out and make sensible kids' bikes instead?
Just to close out this topic, I remember reading someone saying one of the most important things when kids get to a certain age is letting them be involved in the selection process – which is exactly what I did.
Showed my daughter pics of lots of stuff, from Islabikes, Treks, Specializeds, Cubes, Boardmans and Halfords specials.
She picked the Halfords special.
Which in one way is ideal as it cost next to nothing, and in another is not great as it’s 6 kg heavier than the Islabike. But I think she wanted it as it’s a small woman’s bike rather than a big kids bike.
Also, put the Islabike up for sale on Sunday morning for £250 buy it now and by midday had three offers for £235, £230 and £180. Sold it for £235 - cash. Which is more than double what I paid for the Halfords special. Bearing in mind it cost £329 new, and was three years old, I think that’s pretty good.
It was in excellent condition however. The woman that bought it had just picked up another nearby and it was in a s
t state in comparison.
As for the one my daughter got? 14” Apollo elusion. The shame.
The outgoing bike:
The incoming - albeit in a smaller size:
Showed my daughter pics of lots of stuff, from Islabikes, Treks, Specializeds, Cubes, Boardmans and Halfords specials.
She picked the Halfords special.
Which in one way is ideal as it cost next to nothing, and in another is not great as it’s 6 kg heavier than the Islabike. But I think she wanted it as it’s a small woman’s bike rather than a big kids bike.
Also, put the Islabike up for sale on Sunday morning for £250 buy it now and by midday had three offers for £235, £230 and £180. Sold it for £235 - cash. Which is more than double what I paid for the Halfords special. Bearing in mind it cost £329 new, and was three years old, I think that’s pretty good.
It was in excellent condition however. The woman that bought it had just picked up another nearby and it was in a s
t state in comparison.As for the one my daughter got? 14” Apollo elusion. The shame.
The outgoing bike:
The incoming - albeit in a smaller size:
Edited by Kell on Monday 27th April 11:44
Kell said:
Just to close out this topic, I remember reading someone saying one of the most important things when kids get to a certain age is letting them be involved in the selection process – which is exactly what I did.
That's what I did with my son too with regards to his 10th birthday present coming up in September...As a result of this, I'm picking up a second hand 14" On One Inbred frame for £80 on Thursday, and the Pinkbike/Singletrack/eBay custom build will start from there!
He's going to get a unique bike, powder-coated in the colour of his choice, it'll cost no more than his sister's new Islabike, and it will actually be very, very good to ride.
Result = both son and father very chuffed with the outcome!
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