CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Kids' bike recommendation

(15 posts)
  • Started 1 week ago by Dave
  • Latest reply from shuggiet
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. Dave
    Member

    We've always had Islabikes Beinn whatever for the kids, and we recently got the next size up on autopilot (they're 8) but now I'm having second thoughts.

    They don't really use their bikes to get about locally (I'm not comfortable with the road conditions) and we want them to be able to enjoy going to Glentress or into the Pentlands where I don't think the thin tyre clearance on the Beinn is ideal. Kids suspension MTB seem incredibly heavy, more heavy than my own commuter.

    Anyone have recommendations for rigid kids' bikes with decent clearance etc. that are going to be happier off road?

    Posted 1 week ago #

  2. acsimpson
    Member

    At that age my kids have used frog bones at Glentres. I've never noticed the tree clearance causing issues

    Posted 1 week ago #

  3. gembo
    Member

    Tyre

    Posted 1 week ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    “now I'm having second thoughts“

    Yes, dilemmas.

    Islabikes were/are fabulous.

    Initially they were the ‘only option’, then existing brands took notice, followed by some new ones like Hoy and Frog. (The latter is probably one/main reason that Isla ended bike production.)

    Single chainring gear setups make sense for younger children.

    When my GS was 9 I got him one like this (£100 eBay) -

    https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/hardrock-650b/p/115480?color=208598-115480

    Very small frame, he’s still riding it 2 1/2 years later.

    Lighter than you might think, but yes…

    Of course this happened at a time when single chainrings and mega cassettes became the ‘new norm’.

    Don’t suppose this has filtered down to kids bikes yet?

    Posted 1 week ago #

  5. Baldcyclist
    Member

    We've typically just bought from Halfrauds for my son. They don't last long as they grow out them in 2 years, and he typically wrecks bikes due to lack of care and chucking them about, so we just bought cheap. I was concious bikes were heavy but he never seemed to mind.

    For xmas we bought him a 26in MTB from Decathlon, he's 10 now and seems more interested in doing trails, and is old enough now to care for bikes a bit more. It was expensive, but was still about £50 - £100 cheaper than the Sprcialized/Trek/Giant branded equivalents.

    It seems a decent bit of kit, and he's really happy with it, and he feels like he has a grown up bike now, looks cool as well, unfortunately out of stock now though>
    https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-mountain-bike-26-9-12-years-expl-900-yellow/_/R-p-330692

    Posted 1 week ago #

  6. neddie
    Member

    Would recommend a bike station bike

    Our 14 year old grew out of his bike and was looking at £1500 bikes. I was like, er no, not when you’re growing out of it in 2 years.

    In the end, we managed to get a £250 road bike from the BS at the first outing (small adult size). Not perfect in terms of short mudguards, but good enough

    Might be more tricky to get smaller than small-adult sizes, and avoid trying to find a gravel bike, as they are all the rage.

    Posted 1 week ago #

  7. DuddingstonDomestique
    Member

    We used second hand Hoy Bonaly bikes for off-road biking for my two children. We had the 20" and 24" versions. They are very light and quite study. They do have cable V brakes and it was a bit of a struggle to find rear mudguards that fitted under the brakes. I put a set post mounted guard on the 24". They come up regularly for sale on Gumtree.

    When my elder daughter outgrew the 24" Bonaly she moved on to a Voodoo Nzumbi with 26" wheels. This has suspension forks and disc brakes. Not as light as the Bonaly but reasonably light all the same; She seems to manage to pedal up the access roads in Glen Tress without too much complaints.

    Posted 1 week ago #

  8. urchaidh
    Member

    We went with Orbea Team 24s when ours moved up around that age. No suspension and rim brakes, but handled local duties, trail centres and some longer off road adventures. Don't think there's any benefit to suspension for kids that size and, as you point out, adds a lot of weight.

    #3 is now on one of them, I have upgraded to disc brakes as it needed new wheels anyway and the frame had mounts.

    p.s. as a fellow twin parent, I empathise, it's an expensive business.

    Posted 1 week ago #

  9. Dave
    Member

    Yes, no hand me downs here either!!

    Posted 1 week ago #

  10. SRD
    Moderator

    We have an islabike luath 700 small that we bought from shuggiet. Both my kids have ridden it A LOT. Will probably be available to pass on when we get organised and find a slightly larger one for micro-srd.

    consider this early warning.

    Posted 1 week ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    Reminds me- I. Meant to say I spotted the bold @Shuggiet on the towpath a couple of weeks back. Shuggiet not just for Velo Games

    Posted 1 week ago #

  12. urchaidh
    Member

    If anyone knows anyone looking for a smaller bike, have a 16" Isla bike in red, reasonable nick, owned since new, used by two kids. Converted to trigger shifter instead of the awful grip shifter. £125.

    Posted 6 days ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    “Converted to trigger shifter instead of the awful grip shifter.“

    Always a wise upgrade, especially on kids’ bikes.

    Posted 6 days ago #

  14. urchaidh
    Member

    Update: it's a 20” Islabike I have for sale, not a 16”.

    Posted 5 days ago #

  15. shuggiet
    Member

    @gembo that would have been the meadows then? a long time since the last passing welcome wrist breaker.

    Posted 5 days ago #

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