You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Evening everyone, hope you're all having a good weekend?
Among my horde of kids there are two daughters (8 and 10) who are really getting in to going out on their bikes.
They currently have a Hotrock 20 each which are excellent, but the 10 year old is at the size limit and the 8 year old is almost big enough for a 24.
I'm gravitating towards a pair of Hotrock 24s, but wonder what else you have experience of which is tough, and comes in pink or purple? (At their insistence)
Cheers
#1 spawn got a Trek Wahoo 26 for her 8th birthday and it’s great aside from the horrid plastic tyres that got swapped out for Kenda SB8 Pros.
Need to find something for #2 as the Trek is now close to Isla in price and she’ll be out of her Beinn 20L by her next birthday…
I'd be tempted to look at something a bit bigger than a 24 - esp for 10yr old, and maybe 8 yr old. They'll grow out of the 24s v quick.
Take a look at islabike if you're feeling flush, just great bikes. Creig or Beinn are fab. Resale values make overall cost of ownership sensible too.
Spesh Jett 24 meant to have a lot of growth room in it…
Deffo 26+ for the 10 year old. My (just turned) 6 year old is on a Trek 24 which I bought from a guy who said his 9 year old had outgrown it.
Availability is likely to be an issue.
My 8 year old has a 24 inch vitus which i was really impressed with for the money , his mate is on a 26 inch which think is a bit to big for him . I'd like to of got him one of the nukeproof 24 inch as i think you can put 26 inch wheels in the frame ok so rather than a new bike when they grow you just need to fork out for wheels but they weren't available . I would of thought the 10 year old would be set for 26 though .
Lots of brands doing nice well thought out kids bikes now , hope you can find what you want in stock .
I skipped 24 for my very fast-growing daughter and got a Virus youth 26. She was a touch too small for it but is now comfortably riding it round.
Swapped the Nobby Nics out quickly for some RaceKings set up tubeless, Nics are far too draggy!
Hmm very interesting!
The 8 defo needs a 24 but hadn't considered a 26 for the 10.
Time for a trip to bike shop for some sizing! Might be worth a new one with a 26 as she might get a few years out of it!
Cheers all
My 9 year old is just outgrowing his 24" wheeled bike (a Vitus). As soon as I can find him the next bike size up he will be on that. I'm hoping to find an XS or S 650b for him.
He's reasonably but not stupidly tall for his age.
The 12 year old is riding a combination of my old XC bike and his mum's small 26" Gary Fisher hardtail (which fits him very well much to her chagrin!).
Very happy with the Forme Kinder 24"I got my 9 year old this year. I'd definitely have it over an Islabike or frog. And the Forme Cubley 16" I got the 5 year old.
Also ticked my box of trying to buy British brand bikes (for no better reason than I live on that particular but of earth)
Our two daughters had an Islabikes Creig, which was a fantastic bike. If one comes up second hand, be quick - they sell in a few hours, and like everything are very hard to get new.
I second the Vitus mentioned above. Just recently got my 8 year old boy a 24" Nucleus, as he wanted a bike with front suspension. For the money, it's very good and he hasn't managed to wreck it yet, which is also good!
Orbea bikes are nice. 24 Mx with discs here. The laufy 24 is slightly more modern geometry.
Go for 26 for both if I was you. My 8 year old is 136 and is nearly to big for it now, has been on it since 6/7.
Hoy Bonally 24 are great bikes
Orbeas too
10 year old Id consider 26, depending on her height
always s/h, some mint bargains to be had on ebay, pinkbike etc & resale will see you good, geometry matters & Id prioritise lighter weight over suspension & discs tbh
Are the Hoy and Wiggins ranges current? Neither Evans nor Halfords seem to have any details…
I’ve got a 24 Creig I’m about to sell, message me if you’re interested
Look at the MERIDA Matts J24 Plus just recently purchased for daughter great bike and really light.
My 10 y.o daughter is on a 26" Islabike Beinn. I think my 7 y.o could probably get on it with the saddle right down.
How tall is the 10yr old, as my (birthday in April) 9yr old at 4'6" is on an XS Sepsh Rockhopper 27.5 with a decent amount of post showing, so looking at a 24" bike may well be pointless and short lived.
My 7yr old, same birth month (something going on here) is on a 24" Vitus Nucleus which he got for his 6th birthday and I reckon he's got another year or so on it, he's about 4'2". He's not as confident / skilful as his elder brother so the smaller bike suits him a bit more.
We got orbea mx when each of our daughters were at 24 size. We liked them.
But that was before they were 8, and a 24" will be very small, if it fits at all, by age 10.
I'll third the Vitus bikes - not available in pink or purple but the red is lovely. Mini a11y's at 8yrs (138cm) and 6yrs (132cm) both fitting the 24" well. Suspension surprisingly good, air adjustment rather than coil is ideal, especially for youngest who's only 25-26kg.
I've got 2 of the 26" versions stashed away for when they're ready for them.
Another view.
We have a ten year old boy on his mum’s old Orange Five Diva.
Gearing is important but it works well.
Not cheap, but second hand so what you spend you should get back (give or take) when you sell.
He also rides a road bike a lot, is fairly strong for the climbs, and is happy on most (rollable) trail centre red stuff - some 10 year olds will be far more capable than that, some less, and appropriate bikes will vary.
From the "recommend what you have" approach: pick up a knackered 24" bike on ebay/facebook/whatever and pimp it with durable components. Then when it's time to move to 26", buy a frame and move everything but the wheels and fork over.
I've done this once and will be doing it again shortly, both times the first bike was a Carrera Blast. Stripped entirely, cleaned, nice new forks (carbon rigid), Zee 1x drivechain, Deore brakes, decent shortish cranks (152mm Suntour), etc. When my eldest needed bigger wheels we got a Brand-X HT-01 and moved over everything but the wheels and forks. Now on the lookout for a suitable 650b frame for my youngest to move to over the winter.