650c kids bike

I recently swapped a balance bike and some money for a frame, fork and front wheel.

This is my first build from the frame up, so bear with me and my inexperience.

It's a small Planet X frame for 10-11 year olds (ish). My kids are 6, 4 and 4, so it is likely to be a slow burner.

I'll be trying to do it as cheaply as possible, but I have a feeling it'll end up costing more than a few, or all, of my bikes.

Here it is in its current state. Please excuse the mess and the rubbish phone photo. Beer bottle for scale

1 Attachment

I've spent £13 on it so far, seat post collar and Stronglight headset

Love it! I’m trying to avoid doing similar and stockpiling smallbikes for the kids!
Is this drops or flat? Might be worth being gear ratio compliant in case they ever do a BC race?

I hadn't really thought about it, there is some good information here.

https://kidsracing.co.uk/blogs/bikes/british-cycling-triathlon-youth-gear-restrictions

I doubt my daughter will ever race, but the boys might.

I've got a carbon disc wheel and trispoke coming next week, the disc has a cassette so I'll see what ratios it has.

I think I'll go for drops, if I can find any narrow and shallow enough

wheels

1 Attachment

seat post, Chinese crabon saddle, quill stem and Bontrager drops.

I've built a giant balance bike

1 Attachment

The Corima disc came with a 10 speed Dura Ace cassette, so it'll probably be 1x 10.

I'll need to start collecting the next lot of bits soon.

My daughter needs to grow about 6 inches though, so no rush

Mad.

I've got some choices to make now, 10 speed Tiagra shifters and front mech with 105 rear, or old Ultegra 9 speed.

I'm thinking about a Stronglight XD kid crankset, it'd be double and comes in a variety of lengths.

That leaves the brakes to think about

slowly coming together, shifters, Specialized Bar Phat tape, front and rear mechs fitted. Not to mention the all important dbad sticker.

Those hornet stickers were put on by the previous owner to cover the old Corima stickers. You can just about make out where they used to be

1 Attachment

20 inch running pushchair inner tube to stop the handlebars moving

1 Attachment

Those levers are great for small hands. I’m a bit worried if a kid can handle those wheels in the wind though

I've got some other wheels for windy days.

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/324329/

I thought we could share wheels

do I need a new fork? or super long drop brakes?

1 Attachment

Long drop brakes, forks are too rad to let go of.

Brakes are 57mm drop already. Need about an extra 20mm or so.

What about I spend mo money on these similar forks?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-650C-Aluminium-Fork-Threaded-7-5-steerer/173771221898

Or https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/black-tektro-r559-caliper-brake-5573-mm-very-deep-drop-nut-fitting

Not quite as blade-y though? But beyond 73mm reach is hard to find so new fork seems to be the best option.

Bummer. Still, I've got around 1200 days before my oldest will be tall enough to ride it

what about this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Litespeed-Bicycle-Fork-Carbon-650c-Yellow-1-Threaded-Kinesis-EMS-Composite-VTG-/223381898502

Positively blade-y!

Do it! (steerer length considered, of course...)
Super rad forks, will work well with the frame!

I'm picking this one up next week. Which means a new headset, new stem, taking the bar tape and shifter off to get the old stem off etc etc.

Luckily there are still a few years left before anyone rides it

1 Attachment

I've got one of these frames for my daughter too. We built a 20" wheel one a while ago but she's getting too big for it now.
I'm looking for some forks so let me know if you find any more!
I'll watch your build with interest, and post ours when I make a start...

Here's the 20"- https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/301477/?offset=25#comment13575899

Your build was my inspiration for this one!

There are some forks in the US on eBay, I've sent you the link

Slow progress. Got a fork, changed stem, retaped the bars a few times

1 Attachment