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not resolvedA colleague of mine is looking for an Isla bike for his 3 or 4 year old boy (think he's a small 4 year old)
He's <100cm and small for his age.
He is looking currently at a "cnoc 14" but is wavering about whether this is right or if he'll grow out of it too fast.
Does anyone have experience of these? Does anyone have anything sensible for sale? What size should he get?
Please help me remain the person everyone asks about Bike stuff.
We've got an islabike cnoc 14 and a fairly knackered 16 which I bought cheap pondering the same as your colleague presumably. I wrangle a fairly average sized 4 year old and she'll get plenty of life out of the 14 before she needs to move up I reckon and the 16 is a fair bit too big for her. If you check the islabike site it'll inform you about inside leg measurements which is the most important consideration.
I'd recommend getting the 14 - getting a 16 early would potentially put his son off. It's worth the investment in my opinion.
Yip 14. Bigger ones are bigger to small people than the smaller ones are too small when the rider gets bigger.
There are now two 14" Islabikes, this http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/cnoc-14-large and a smaller one. Almost all secondhand Cnoc 14" bikes will be this size.
The site has good info on sizing.
Looked after, secondhand Islabikes can expect to sell for much the same price even after another year.
Don't be tempted to get any bike for a child that's too big.
Cnocs have reasonable long seatposts and also riser bars that can be adjusted for reach. Newer ones have aheadsets so don't have the simple vertical adjustment option with 'normal' stem. Some early ones chipped badly, which may put some people off - but usually reflected in price. Some early ones don't have two cantilever brakes, which may or may not bother purchasers and/or young users.
I think my grandson is fairly average height. He got a 14" for his 3rd birthday and a 16" for his 4th.
For a smaller child, new to cycling, a secondhand 14" makes more sense. Resell when grown out of (before reaching maximum possible adjustments if that realistically makes the bike too small).
Frogs may or may not be as well made/specced and hold price as well, but I have no direct experience.
Also
IF first bike, NO stabilisers and remove pedals and use as a balance bike for a while.
IF first bike, NO stabilisers and remove pedals and use as a balance bike for a while.
Do you then go straight to adding the pedals, or go via pedals+stabilisers first?
No stabilisers
Just prolongs the unbalancing stage.
In extreme cases, rear wheel completely loses traction!
Kids as young as two manage balance bikes quite quickly, but don't rush to pedals, need to deal with going in a straight line and dodging pedestrians first.
Older children (5+) who have never had the chance to learn to cycle usually only need a couple of hours without pedals (in stages) followed by some time with an adult making sure they don't fall - holding shoulders or back of saddle - whatever works.
Not great exercise for adult backs...
After a surprisingly short time child is amazed to realise you are not holding on and everyone is very happy.
A lot of growing happens between 2 and 4 -
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