Mini-smashers - kids bike escapades - Forme Calver Junior and Vitus Nucleus 24

Thought I would do a CP for my 2 boys bikes, as they are both in need of new bikes. We decided a while back not to do the bikes at birthdays thing, rather to just buy them when they need them, as they ride so much and watching them struggle with a too small bike for months just seems unfair - I wouldn't want to wait if my bike didn't fit....

Currently, eldest has a Giant TCX Espoir24 and youngest an Isla Bein 20 small.

Youngest doesn't want the Giant - wants a mountain bike, eldest is insistent that he wants another CX bike (he had got really into racing before Covid)

So....

I have ordered a Vitus Nucleus 24 for the youngest: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-nucleus-24-youth-hardtail-bike?sku=105155750

And a Forme Calver Junior frameset for the eldest...

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Ooh TA kids bike. Like the black and yellow. Sub'd

looks great, I need a bike for my soon to be 8 year old daughter, she wants to ride on a bmx track

do you think the wiggle is okay for that?

The 24" up there will ride nicely on a bmx track. Unless it's actual coaching/training sessions you're thinking of.

Yeah, bmx track should be fine, unless as psg1ben says she wants to race / do proper bmx.

It's by all accounts a pretty sorted mountain bike - with decent modern geometry, something a lot of kids bikes struggle with.

Will report once they arrive - Wiggle are saying about a week for the Vitus and I have just had a dispatch notice from Paul Milnes for the Forme...

Going to be on the lookout for cheap parts for the CX bike.

Have a set of STIs, seatpost, saddle, pedals and probably a rear mech and cassette

Need cheap 12mm thru axle wheels, flatmount shimano hydro calipers, 150/155mm cranks and bb, stubby stem - 50mm probably and short reach drop bars.

Forme frame arrived today - I am pretty impressed, especially that it came with liners pre routed for the cables and a little bottle of touch up paint.

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And the Vitus arrived lunchtime today.

Seems pretty well put together and doesn't feel a huge amount heavier than his old beinn 20.

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How old is your son on the Vitus please?

I’m looking at this and the Frog 62 MTB

He will be 7 in just over a month but is fairly tall for his age.

I make the Vitus 11.6kg - will be looking at whether I can run the wheels tubeless to save a bit of weight there first I think.

Picked up some cheap wheels which arrived today and have some 152mm trailcraft cranks on their way.

Slowly getting there

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Bar tape still to do and brakes need another bleed, but eldest is pretty pleased:)

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And done.

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Yes that is leopard print bar tape.

Good. 😀

He was very specific about that and didn't want me to finish it until it arrived, despite having plain tape available.

It's nice that he knows what he likes! Anything that improves enthusiasm should be encouraged

A few tweaks - replaced the brake pads with some uberbike race matrix ones and swapped his saddle off his old bike and his spds.

Need to pick up some cx tyres and take it off road next.

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You're an awesome dad. :) Fantastic bike!

Hah, cheers - he is very happy.

Just back from our first proper outing together across town to a club mate to pick up some WTB Cross boss tyres.

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He looks dead chuffed. He’ll cherish these days!

Legend. The tape is fire. I’ve got it on my commuter but it’s just about worn out now