You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Loooking for a new bike for my step daughter. Trying to find something that might make biking click for her. We've got really steep hills where we live and quite rough tracks as soon as you get off road so it's been quite hard for her to enjoy biking as a regular activity. But now she's getting older, with the right bike I think she could start enjoying it. I was thinking of getting her a half decent hardtail and trying to keep the weight lowish but I've just spotted one of these second hand not too far from me and it got me thinking about whether a full suss would be more fun for her. It has wide range 12 speed for the hills and the suspension will obviously make the lumpy stuff more enjoyable. But will it be just too heavy fopr a 12 yr old? It's over 15kg I think. Any thoughts or other suggestions on what might be suitable would be great. Budget £500 ish, a bit more at a stretch.
One of the joys of this group is the upgrades we've done to kids bikes - just about to start that with my daughters latest bike.
But if she doesn't currently like cycling where you are, is there somewhere you can travel to that would be easier that she may enjoy? Or is it riding with you she doesn't fancy? Girls that age are wired funny.
I don't understand why, but also some people just don't enjoy cycling, and at that age I'd be wary of pushing her down a route she really isn't interested in. Especially if that's £500 off your own bike funding.
One mistake I made early on with my daughter was following Internet best practice and getting the "right balance bike", etc., etc. and getting nowhere. Instead I asked her what she wanted to ride and since then it's been relatively plain sailing. I'd show her the Titan X and then "go shopping" together for the alternatives, she might decide it's the best anyway. After that it's the usual stuff, let's ride to the Cafe, etc. That the route goes cross country is purely coincidental.
It's not that she's dead against cycling or doing it with me (I think!), just that it's hard around here for kids as it's steep and she hasn't been introduced to cycling from an early age so hasn't built up to doing the hills so it's a bit off putting. But she's getting bigger and stronger now so I think she could get into it with the right bike. She's currently got a rigid frog bike which is getting too small. It's light but doesn't have a great gear range and I imagine will feel pretty rough on anything more than a canal path. Hence looking for something with suspension.. Most of the hardtails I've been looking at around that price range have a crap fork on them that probably won't feel much better than a rigid fork but the Titan x actually has half decent suspension on it. Just don't want to weigh her down with an anchor that makes the hills even more unappealing.
Travelling to cycle is difficult as we have young ones too..
I think you're right Johnnystorm, kids have got to be inspired to do any activity or else it will be a thankless task. She rode a friend's kid's voodoo nzumbi and was way more interested than on her current bike which makes me think getting the right bike (for her) could make a huge difference.
The problem I had with the last one was she *really* liked the Cannondale Trail 24 in yellow, but of course, could I get one anywhere?! 🤣
Luckily was offered a Ghost in equally nice colours and now she mocks my wife because her bike has suspension forks like mine and her Mum's doesn't. 😀
Yes, the element of choice does bring its own issues!
She rode a friend’s kid’s voodoo nzumbi and was way more interested than on her current bike
In stock at Halfords, £500, lighter than the carrera, would she want one as well?
The AA etc. do 10% off vouchers and there is also quidco cash back...
*edit* scratch that, saw it was for 9-12s so will be outgrown rapidly! Maybe a 27.5 voodoo?