Kids bikes

getting good report s about these new suppliers

http://www.frogbikes.com/

was training a little kid on one of these. the bike was well made, reasonably light with proper parts such as gears a small child could operate (i am fed of of kids on faux sus BSO's with gears i cant even change)

so if any parents are looking for a bike or if anyone asks what bike to buy a kid, frog bikes can be listed along with isla bikes as an excellent choice

Best quality kids racing bikes ive ever seen;

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBBATJUNIOR/battaglin-junior-alloy-road-bike

Very good value in my opinion, would destroy ISLA etc..

Defintely good value, but it's not quite right (adult-sized handlebar for one).

what else than the bars?

Thats the only criticism I can see, as some parents may not realised how long the reach is on the bar.

next level internet bike fit

would destroy ISLA etc..
not sure... I'd think that the cheap steel frame would make it much heavier than an aluminium Isla

Have you even seen Islabikes DFP? the quality and build are amazing, extremely well thought out right down to the component.

nice old viking project for a young 'un

skully ?

If you want a new 'off the peg junior bike' have a look at Ridgeback. I sell them and can't fault them. A few quid more that the rest but good value I say

Ridgeback are average, you really do have to properly build it up in order to make it easier for the child to operated it.

I usually spend quite a long time with the brakes to ensure the levers is aligned correctly, housing lubricated and reduced the friction from the rear as much as possible to make it feel as good as the front, even if that mean taking off the cable and trimmed the housing edge.

If it build poorly, it'll feel like a BSO.

My mate wants a bike for his kid. She's tiny, even for her age. But he being a cyclist is pushing her to ride asap. She has a balance bike but apparently she's ready to pedal.

He's trying to find a 'lightweight' kids bike. He's done some research and found an Isla bike thats 5.8kg and a Frog thats 6.7kg. Apparently thats too much (in fairness its quite a lot for such a tiny simple bike). I guess out of light, cheap and strong the manufacturers have gone for light and cheap (the market presumably won't support superlight but expensive and strong kids bikes).

I don't have kids so I've never given it much thought but he's asking me for advice.

Is he being unrealistic?

Should his kid HTFU?

Any suggestions of bikes?

He asked me if I could build a frame (I don't think he realises how bad my welding skills are) so he must be desperate.

The Isla bike is world apart from the bike that get made nowaday, his best bet is to simply buy an Isla bike second hand.

Tell him it's best to let her get into cycling, no kids like being pushed into doing something parents want them to do.

Sorry, just reread his messages. Isla's would be ok but only start at 14" (he needs 12").

So any recommendations of a light as poss 12"?

Used to sell Ridgebacks years ago and they seemed ok (I'd probably swap the brakes personally though).

I agree Ed but in fairness she seems to really enjoy cycling.

I think he'll likely just wait for her to grow a bit more and get her the 14" Isla.

She has to learn skateboarding first anyway so may as well crack on with that. :)

Possibly the wrong thread, but has anyone built up a fixed or single-speed for a teenager? Anything extra to consider?

The main problem seems to be how fast they grow. My son is 12 and 5ft 1" and grew an inch in the last three months. So I'm thinking a 51cm or 52cm frame would be about right, and would last a year or so.

Wont last a year, ive moved from a 54 to a 58 in around a year. Id work on having nice components that last long and basic framesets that you would eventually swap out for something nice when his growing slows down.

This sounds far more sensible.
Try and stick to standard thread/seatpost sizes so you won't need to change anything but the frame as they grow.
Can start off with bargain basement conversions and save the bling frames til they're old enough to appreciate.

Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Something beaterish (but safe) would work because he'd like to leave it locked up now and again. Thanks Full_Metal_Sprocket and edmundro