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This probably seems like a silly question but my 7 and a bit year old is starting to look like a frog on his 20" wheeled FROG Bike.
Courtesy of someone on here I've stretched the reach out with a slightly longer stem and the seat post is on the limit.
This leads me to think that he's ready for a move up.
BUT if I look at the size charts for most of the online retailers (including Islabikes) and online for my LBS which stocks Cube & Ridgeback and for Frog (current bike) the inside leg measurements etc. put him firmly in the middle of 20" wheels (he's about 54cm, websites are suggesting minimum of c. 60cm), which seems to be total **** to me when he barely fits on it.
My instinct is he's big enough (he can ride my full size BMX round the garden with ease) but just wondered if anyone could reassure me that some of these measurements are some piece of H&S nonsense and are based round touching the ground with your feet while sat on the saddle rubbish?
I will of course try him on a couple but if anyone's got any first hand experience of the move to 24" around this age that might help would appreciate it.
Also anyone gone for the drop bar/CX bike option at this age? He's a mad Le Tour fan and really wants to try drops. If he does I want him to have the versatility of a CX type set up but if it's a rubbish idea I'd rather put him back on an MTB. He rides out with me in the hills as well as old railways and the local trail centre blue and is more climber than descender.
Many thanks for any input
Mine were small so I went to the 24 "
Personally given the cost and pain - IMHO there is no decent quality 24 out there as they can do proper rides I wish i could have waited and gone straight to 26. Wheels and forks are neither cheap nor easy to source IME
Initially it will be like a barn door but you will get a pretty good spec 26 er for the price of a poorish 24 er and not have to upgrade for ages assuming tall for his age. Mine are small for theirs hence I got 24 " but it was about £300 each ish using a lot of my spare kit - all shifters and mechs for example. I did not change the cranks from donor bikes but everything else went.
A few threads on here is you search - I think poah did a bling one and blog on this???
YMMV
If I only had one bike I dont think I would pick my CX bike personally. Its definitely faster up though assuming you have grip. postie rich has one for sale IIRC
I found a second hand Cannondale trail 24 for my daughter not that long ago. The wheels are light, it's got an airsprung fork (F1rst) and the only downside is gripshift, which is easily enough to rectify.
There are good 24" bikes out there, it's just a case of getting hold of them fast because it's such a small market.
My lad went to 24" beinn24 age 6.5. He is not particularly tall for age. Isla 24" bikes are considerably lower/shorter than most other manufacturers. Moving to Beinn26 small now, 2 years later.
My lad moved from a 20" wheeled carrera blast up to an xs Genesis core 650b he's 9 but generally average sized for his age.
Didn't look at 24" bikes as there not worth it for the amount of use it would get .
Cracking deal on the Genesis though £365 from my local shop seen on line your getting them for £399 in my eyes total bargain and well worthy of upgrading then moving parts to new frames as he grows
I moved my kids up to the next size when their inside leg was long enough to straddle the wheel. Which has worked well so far, but does mean I should be riding a 33er!
Thanks all.
The amount he rides he can't really stretch this bike another year or two, which I reckon is the time to get to a gate like 26" (15 miles and over 1000ft of climbing over the course of a day out with him isn't that unusual). It will also get doubled up on use as little brother will use it too later (age gap is such they don't overlap) so I don't mind the cost so much.
Thanks also for the cx style bike feedback.