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Following on from my previous thread about kids bikes, i'm pretty keen to get the go-outdoors bike.
Im now confuised about sizing; maybe I'm being a bit cautious but I don't want to go into a store with Covid and I'm struggling to get through to the stores on the phone.
The 14in minimum inseam is 40cm and height range 90-100cm; the 16in is min. inseam 47cm and height 100-110cm ( http://wildkidsbikes.co.uk/size-guide/ ). My child helpfully has an inseam of 41cm and a height of 101cm.
I'm guessing that the height range is less important and I should go for the 14inch? Lots of other brands just use inseam (e.g frog and forme).
Are kids forks the same diameter steerer as normal bikes so as she grows can I just switch the stem for something a touch longer? Its super short at the moment.
Also lots of generic size guides (e.g. halfords) that use height, sugest a 14in bike for for up to 120cm (I appreciate geo. could be quite different).
Help me from this indecision! Its the only brand I've found that is actually in stock, in budget, the right colour and not a couple of kilos heavier. If the 14in is too small the colour rules out the 16in so I'll ahve to think again anyway!
Don't know about the rest, but our kids bikes have been 1 inch steerer, not 1.125.
And ours had grown out of 14 inch well before 120cm.
Prob not helping with the indecision - sorry
Haha no, not massively, but thanks, at least it means I know stem switching isnt necessarily viable.
Decided to go for the 14in so no-one comment now to say thats a stupid idea!
I have just bought my son a new bike, a 16inch wheel, and he is 102cm tall.
No idea what his inside leg is, but he is getting too tall for the Islabikes cnoc 14 small that he has.
Argh, i was jsut abotu to click buy and now I'm confused again 🙁
just as well its a while till christmas! what bike did you get @jonzi ? how does it fit your son?
Re: stem switching. We used a 1-1.125 shim which allowed the use of cheap DH stems. We may have needed a handlebar shim too but it was a while back.
However if he’s tall with short legs then he’s going to need the longer frame (or bigger) for the reach.
It may be that a different bike is the way to go with different ratios of reach to standover.
PS he’s a Cnoc16 on the Islabikes website. Ok maybe a 14, but close enough I’d go 16 on that one.
And 16” wheels make the trail come alive.
Just buy the both (using PayPal) and send the wrong one back for free.
Don't overthink it.
Tbh if you get 8 months at that ages before it's too big or small you've done well, they grow so quickly.
I would just pick what's right for today and expect to sell in 6-8 months.
That's why most of ours were used and still are.
weeksy +1 - I think sweajnr's 16" spawn lasted less than a year.
Personally I'd go more for inseam than height as for me the critical thing is being able to put feet down (ideally on both sides) with the saddle at minimum height.
I have friend who's son is on a bike that's a bit too big and it's painful watching them start / stop as they don't yet have the "rhythm" of pushing on the pedal and starting etc.
Good point Weeksy / Sweaman2.. as I sold her balance bike for a reasonable amount, even if I sell it half price in a few months i won't have lost much... no more than if we get her some other christmas present that gets used for a few months before falling out of favour anyway!
Tbh if you get 8 months at that ages before it’s too big or small you’ve done well, they grow so quickly.
+2
the critical thing is being able to put feet down (ideally on both sides) with the saddle at minimum height.
Putting feet down anywhere not flat and level is just a fast track to A&E.