Anyone bought a kids' bike?

Whilst my son was playing football with some friends. my 6 year-old daughter decided to borrow one of their bikes and, unassisted, taught herself to ride in just under an hour. She's now taken to doing mini laps of Clapham Common on a borrowed bike. Obviously I'm proud and she's a natural - and her reward is a new bike for her birthday next month. Has anyone bought a kids' bike recently? The ones I've looked at are ridiculously heavy and invariably covered in Barbie stickers. If anyone has a recommendation.....

i don't have children but serious cyclists get their kids bike from here http://www.islabikes.co.uk/

+1 for islabikes, and this lot are worth a look too http://www.edinburghbicycle.com

my (tall) 5 year old girl did pretty much the same thing & was insistent on a blue bike. I ended up getting her a boys 20" wheel diamond-back outlaw - losts of scope toadjust the saddle, and bombproof without being incredibly heavy.

Though I saw a grifter for sale on the 'bay today...

ask sano

my (tall) 5 year old girl did pretty much the same thing & was insistent on a blue bike. I ended up getting her a boys 20" wheel diamond-back outlaw

+1 for not promoting gender stereotypes. No reason in the world that a 6-year old girl needs a step-through frame any more than a boy. And as for that pink/blue "When I grow up, I want to be a princess/soldier" brainwashing BS.. Pah.

80s flouro-core: gender neutral, forever fashionable.

kidz need bmx.

+1 for not promoting gender stereotypes. No reason in the world that a 6-year old girl needs a step-through frame any more than a boy. And as for that pink/blue "When I grow up, I want to be a princess/soldier" brainwashing BS.. Pah.

80s flouro-core: gender neutral, forever fashionable.

do you have children?

Buying bikes new for kids is an expensive business, as they out grow them pretty quick, and cheap ones really are crap. If you thought Halfords adult bikes were bad, their kids bikes are downright dangerous. The upside is, that because they get outgrown quick, there are loads of second hand bargains.

I bought a Trek mountain lion for my daughter from Apex cycles in Clapham High St. It's got a proper Shimano deraileur and Tektro brakes (kids bike brakes are usually unbranded shite). Save for a few scratches it was good as new. I paid 75 quid for it, and will probably sell on for not much less when the time comes.

do you have children?

Nope. I was one once.

+∞ for islabikes.

kidz need bmx.

+1! you can't get a kid a road bike with drop bars, it's just wrong!

You're just scared of being overtaken by a kid.

Another Islabikes vote here. One of the few companies who don't over build their bikes unliked all the big companies who's 20" wheeled bikes weigh in at around 30lbs.

Also I think this is good value for money £169.99 and pretty light would probably need another saddle.
18" wheels so good for 5/6 years on.

You're just scared of being overtaken by a kid.

it's true.

My 4 year old daughter now has a Puky Z6 in pink of course. Panzer built. Give it a few years and she will want a bmx.
My 6 year old son has a Haro 20" Group 1 mini bmx racing. He uses it at the track and cycles to school.

another one for Islabikes. My son loves his. It's light and well built - actually just feels like a smaller version of an adult bike with proper components.

She's been looking on line and is strangely attracted to the upper end of the price range! But at least pink doesn't seem to be a deciding factor. Given her name, the GT Lola has now moved into pole position but, with tassles and a basket, she ain't getting it.

I was one of these Islabikes today

Was rather odd, seeing a bike without drivetrain, but with a threadless headset.

[edit] saw one of these, rather than was one ;)[/edit]

I was one of these Islabikes today

You are Josef K and I claim my 5 koruna...

www.islabikes.co.uk are excellent I brought one for my little cousin and he loves it. BUT thats because he liked to look of it in the first place. If your little girl wants a pink bike with Barbie Stickers then get her one. I doubt she will care how much it weighs or what it is made of.

www.islabikes.co.uk are excellent I brought one for my little cousin and he loves it. BUT thats because he liked to look of it in the first place. If your little girl wants a pink bike with Barbie Stickers then get her one. I doubt she will care how much it weighs or what it is made of.

Not necessarily true - we bought my son a matt black hardtail with tribal / skate style graphics from Halfords. He got lots of envious looks from other 7yr old boys, but it was so fucking heavy, the chain kept on coming off and the brakes kept on jamming. He just didn't ever want to go cycling.

The Islabike is more sedate looking (actually a lot classier) but is in another league altogether and he adores it.

[QUOTE=Vinz; If your little girl wants a pink bike with Barbie Stickers then get her one. I doubt she will care how much it weighs or what it is made of.[/QUOTE]

I don't think she does actually - and if she does, she's not getting it - I need to be able to pass it on to her youngest brother when she grows out of it. I took a look in Apex and Evans in Clapham today and there's a pretty good choice.

I need to be able to pass it on to her youngest brother when she grows out of it.

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+1 for not promoting gender stereotypes. No reason in the world that a 6-year old girl needs a step-through frame any more than a boy. And as for that pink/blue "When I grow up, I want to be a princess/soldier" brainwashing BS.. Pah.

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Maybe - the reality is, neither of my boys would ride a pink Barbie bike. Whether or not I should encourage them to, to challenge gender-stereotyping, is another matter. The reality is that I don't have a lot of spare cash and the bike will have to earn its keep.

It's interesting though. With 3 kids - a girl and 2 boys - we were determined that the whole girls and Barbie, boys and guns thing wouldn't happen. Once they start school, much of it is out of your hands, and you just have to ensure that you don't reinforce it too much at home. Fortunately (or not), my girl's favourite colours are now yellow and black?! She seems to be over pink....