[Closed] Gucci eBikes for kids

I suppose it depends on whether you live in Reigate or the Pyrenees.

EDIT: or the Alicante mountains.

IMHO the place where eBikes make most sense for me is when two people want to ride together but their fitness levels are different.

Cost aside, I'd do a lot more riding with my 5 year old if he could keep up. With an eBike I'm guessing he'd manage 5-6 miles rather than 2.

That said, I did cringe a bit when I saw a group of (~14 year old) boys on bikes. Only the fat one had an eBike.

kid in an electric car going along at 3mph making a horrible noise.

Those things are the worst. Stupid, pointless, lumps of unrecycleable plastic that will get used for a couple of days, then spend the rest of their lives tripping their owners up in the corner of the garage until they get irritated enough to take them to landfill. Anyone that has one of those = instant judgement from me.

God, I sound like a judgemental ****, don't I?

1. Unless your kid has an illness / disability this sends entirely the wrong message.

Bollocks. They’re no different to mini moto’s, there are clubs/races for kids riding those pretty much from when they can walk. If a kid gets on a bike it’s because it’s fun to do, not because they want to maintain cardio health or build strength. Applies to a lot of adults too.

Be interested to know how they get around the 14 year old legal minimum age with these pedal assist ones though. Private land only?

2. 3 grand for a kids bike – show off nonsense – got to look yourself in the mirror if you are doing that.

To congratulate yourself on having a job that pays you enough to afford such luxuries?

Lots of video on youtube, where the parents have bought e-bike for their children, so they can ride together more. What's the problem with that? If you can afford it and want to spend time with your child, doing something you'll both enjoy, why are you judging them?

Ebike are here to stay, haters may be disgruntled, but that is not going to make them go away.

Haven’t seen any kids out on electric devices since – but lots of kids with proper bikes and scooters.

Yep, I'd give you a wide berth in future too.

If, i knew my lad would use it... i would
it would give him confidence and commitment to get up the hills and ride further

Superficial

God, I sound like a judgemental ****, don’t I?

You sound very reasonable compared to the OP.

Cost aside, I’d do a lot more riding with my 5 year old if he could keep up. With an eBike I’m guessing he’d manage 5-6 miles rather than 2.

BinDun. Just search the forum for tow rope. Absolutely brilliant way of aligning you and your kid's['] fitness, adrenaline and exercise requirements.

"I was down Reigate Park just after Xmas with my 5 year old"

Try taking him up the South Downs for a bike ride and see how you get on. Or somewhere with big hills or mountains. I have to do a lot of towing with my 5 year old, which has its own risks. Both he and his big sister love going downhill but neither of them have the uphill endurance to do much of it. Both struggle with manhandling their (really rather light) bikes though, so I'm not sure how well they'd cope with a heavier ebike if I had the money for some.

I can’t afford one (or two as I would need), but I can see the benefit in them. My kids are fitter than the average 12 and 13 year old, one is a ballet dancer and trains 5 days a week, the other is a tri-athlete who trains twice a day some days, but also 5 days a week.
When we go for bike rides it’s about having fun but limited time due to school work and other training. Generally the fun bit is the downhills, the uphills tend to be long and boring. We do a 12 mile ride with two big hills, those two hills take about 20 mins for the kids to climb. That could be halved allowing us time to play on the fun bits more.
If we had the cash I’d be getting them one each.

Tow ropes are great for what they do but they are only really for long draggy uphills, they don't work on undulating trails (I've had them go into wheels and snap), they're a faff to put on and off so short climbs are a PITA, and they don't work so well with groups. If I could afford it I'd much rather have hoppy Jr on a sensible e-bike to extend what we can do together.

This kid seems to hate this one.
Who cares what your kids ride. If they are out having fun carry on.

Psychological effects of spoiling a child

You can spend your money how you like, but there are consequences. We've all met spoilt kids - and I've taught a fair few.

I suspect its more about overcompensation by the parents for something in their own background, or feeling guilty about not being there. Whatever the cause, the effects are common.

I'm not against having nice things, but I'm rejecting the crass materialism of buying a young kid a thousands of pounds eBike. Or indeed a mountain bike.

I love riding with my kids but some days its certainly better than others , the key is to try and make it as much fun as possible and i'm sure these are great fun for the exact same reasons ebikes are fun for adults , ride further and more downhills  . My only concern would be that once you've put a kid on an ebike your going to have trouble to convince them of choosing to ride their normal bike , depends if that bothers you or not .

The cost is not an issue for me , we cant afford them anyway , but i'm not sure its good parenting to basically say you know that thing you find hard , the best way to get better at it is to buy something expensive to make it easier  .

You can spend your money how you like, but there are consequences. We’ve all met spoilt kids – and I’ve taught a fair few.

Isn’t spoiling a kid more about giving in to their every whim, rather than how much a single item costs. For example a kid with thousands of beanie babies, vs one with a 3k bike?

*IANAParent

What a strange argument, so if you enjoy an activity and can afford it you should still give your kid a cheap bike that reduces their enjoyment and restricts your ability to enjoy the activity as a family because they might be spoiled?

The very act of enjoying family time together is beneficial to the development of the child. Being able to engage with groups on a more level position is beneficial.

Isn’t spoiling a kid more about giving in to their every whim, rather than how much a single item costs. For example a kid with thousands of beanie babies, vs one with a 3k bike?

i would go along with that , if that kid is out every weekend on that 3k bike then that's all good surely .

"I’m not against having nice things, but I’m rejecting the crass materialism of buying a young kid a thousands of pounds eBike. Or indeed a mountain bike."

I don't think that spending a lot of money on a bike for a child means that you're spoiling them, it's a lot more complex than that.

Comes down to why the hell not, if you can afford one and the kids will get enjoyment out of it go for it. To those who can afford them, £3k will no doubt be a drop in the ocean of readies (or mountain of CC debt) they live with, so who really cares.

OP sounds like the kind of person who wouldn't let his child be friends with someone who has the present they wanted for Christmas (battery car) because he doesn't like them.

My eldest is 8 (9 this April) and is into the world of dinky adults bikes already, he got a XS Spesh HT for crimbo with 27.5" wheels, he's capable of doing 20k with a moderate amount of climbing off road, double blue at Llandegla (when we could go to Wales) granted it takes a bit longer than if I go out on my own, but he's 8. If we lived in one of those proper mountainous areas (not Cheshire) then I reckon he'd be down to about 10k and wouldn't enjoy the slog up as much so if I could afford it and he wanted one he'd have one.

You can spend your money how you like, but there are consequences. We’ve all met spoilt kids – and I’ve taught a fair few.

I suspect its more about overcompensation by the parents for something in their own background, or feeling guilty about not being there. Whatever the cause, the effects are common.

I’m not against having nice things, but I’m rejecting the crass materialism of buying a young kid a thousands of pounds eBike. Or indeed a mountain bike.

My lads bike is far better than mine in terms of Spec, and cost.
He has no idea what it cost and doesn't care.
He's a six year old who loves riding bikes, and we all ride together every weekend.

I am sure some judgmental clown might look at the bike and assume he is spoilt, or imagine whatever fantasy suits them, but he's not bothered. He's just riding his bike and loving life.

That's a bit harsh.

I think I've touched a lot of sore nerves with this one.

Basically suggesting;

1. Healthy kids shouldn't have an electric assist rather than a real bike - inactivity will be a massive killer of their generation.

2. There is something obscene about spending that amount of money on young kids. Look at the size of some of those bikes - they are for really young kids. I'm anti consumerism and I'm anti conspicuous consumption.

That's not that people don't people need things, that things aren't nice, or we should all become hermits on an island - so don't try to straw-man me on that one - there's a middle way between turbo-consumerism and monasticism.

For me MTB is about getting into nature, exercise, it being about you and the bike. Simplicity.

Its not the same as a go-cart, or a dirt bike.

I suspect that for most of us we started on a single speed, a bmx, a dodgy old bike, we got the thrill and then when it turned into a passion we upgraded, maybe as the knees went we got an eBike.

Think of a youngish kid now - straight onto an eBike. Will they ever ride a proper bike? I think that is tragic.

On a health level, a ecological level, an aesthetic level.

Maybe they won it in a competition?

For me MTB is about getting into nature, exercise, it being about you and the bike. Simplicity.

And that is where your whole argument falls down.

Think of a youngish kid now – straight onto an eBike. Will they ever ride a proper bike? I think that is tragic.

Think of a kid on a bike now, I had to walk.

Think of a kid on an ordinary, I had a hobby horse.

Think of a kid on a safety bicycle, I had an ordinary.

Think of a kid with a freewheel, I had a fixed wheel.

Ad nauseum.

Healthy kids shouldn’t have an electric assist rather than a real bike – inactivity will be a massive killer of their generation.

I mean, it’s been a unpredictable year, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that a few kids, with rich parents, on ebikes will not kill a generation.

There is something obscene about spending that amount of money on young kids.

What, specifically?

Are we not allowed to have a debate about this without it being about X person's kid, or bike?

I know I've used my own experience, so fairs fair, but it seems like we aren't able to comment on this trend without it all getting very personal.

Emotive.

singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/gucci-ebikes-for-kids-2/#post-11673004

Fair point frogstomp. I'll take that on the chin. Back to commenting on how best to clean a chain for the 100th time then.

TBH, it's all relative isn't it? The near £300 spent on your lad's Squish (by you or the original owner if 2nd hand) would be obscene to many..

Looking at it another way, should up-and-coming young athletes (e.g. Harry Schofield) not have access to equipment that is suitable for their skill levels?

3 grand for a kids bike – show off nonsense – got to look yourself in the mirror if you are doing that. What is the message you are giving them? Pathetic.

A lot cheaper than a kids MX bike.
I dought they even noticed you never mind trying to show off to you.
Not everyone judges things the same as you thankfully.
Non of the kids I grew up with racing MX have died from lack of pedaling an MTB.

i would go along with that , if that kid is out every weekend on that 3k bike then that’s all good surely .

When i was a kid I had a new MX bike every season. But I had nothing else for birthdays or Christmas. All my pocket money went on racing and race gear.
Was it because my parents were trying to compensate for something?
I think it was maybe more to do with the fact my dad loved racing himself but gave up to give me a good shot at it than anything else. ..

"That’s not that people don’t people need things, that things aren’t nice, or we should all become hermits on an island – so don’t try to straw-man me on that one – there’s a middle way between turbo-consumerism and monasticism."

Yes and that middle way doesn't mean you can't have an ebike. I've been commuting on a Levo for the last two years and it replaced my full-sus as well as a 50cc scooter that had died. When we do family bike rides one of us is on the Levo (usually turned off), the other is on my fairly fancy hardtail - which itself might look a ridiculously over-the-top bike to have a WeeRide toddler seat on, but it's the only bike I have that'll fit it (and then it'll return to proper MTBing duty). My kids are on nice bikes too - but I have three and they're getting passed down and they depreciate slowly.

But you'd probably pass harsh judgement on what you see, without knowing even the little I've written above. And you wouldn't know that a lot of our purchasing is secondhand, we pass on or resell things we're getting rid of, repair broken things where possible, don't drive far, don't fly often, are eco-minded with the house, and generally trying to minimise our impact within a fairly normal lifestyle.

I’m rejecting the crass materialism of buying a young kid a thousands of pounds eBike. Or indeed a mountain bike.

Our entire lives are crass materialism to some extent. SUVs, fruit in plastic wrappers, made in China, etc etc.

One of my neighbours has bought a number of electric vehicle (admittedly basic bikes/carts) for his young son, I regularly see them out and about, going or coming back from the park. He lives alone with his son and seemingly does nothing but devote his time and money to bringing up the lad. I have nothing but admiration for this young bloke, please explain to me how he's spoilt?

I think these are ace, and I may well get the FS one for my youngest child.
I can imagine resale will be good, so its probably not as big and investment as it seems.

I too instantly judge those horrid little white rangerovers with drill motors in them, hotwheels plastic tyres. Yuck.

I also judged the little prick in full Motocross gear on a little quadbike tearing around the kiddies cycle learning track in the park, barge arsing smaller kids on their new balance bikes and pedal bikes which his parents thought was hilarious TYRONE PUT THAT TODDLER DAAAN.

But if a well thought out £3k hard tail means i can take my kid on "proper rides" rather than having to drag them around a green trail moaning at every incline, then i would be ruddy tempted to see that as an investment.

I havent yet admitted to myself that i'm E-Curious.

I think I’ve touched a lot of sore nerves with this one.

Basically suggesting;

1. Healthy kids shouldn’t have an electric assist rather than a real bike – inactivity will be a massive killer of their generation.

2. There is something obscene about spending that amount of money on young kids. Look at the size of some of those bikes – they are for really young kids. I’m anti consumerism and I’m anti conspicuous consumption.

It's not really that you have touched a sore nerve, it's more that I think you are talking nonsense.

1. No otherwise fit and healthy kid is going to become obese by riding an ebike.
2. You need to be more specific about what is obscene about getting kids out on bikes enjoying themselves.

As long as people can afford whatever they buy, and aren't burying themselves in debt by buying it. What is the problem?