[Closed] MTB riding with my eight year old: Saddle height? Dropper options?

I think the bigger issue will getting it inserted and then at min length and extended length being too long, i also think at 8 he'll struggle with the actual action/timing etc and possibly cause more issues than it resolves.

Most 8 year olds would struggle with the extra things to be remembering to do, I'd guess.

Most droppers are air sprung though aren't they? So they'll work with a light rider just put less pressure in.

Re saddle hieght, just put it as high as the kid can handle and ignore the fact it's not at optimum height. It's not that big of a deal.

Jesus, let him ride his bike and enjoy it before going for upgrades that he'll forget to use and probably won't be heavy enough to shift.

For a short ride I would agree that somewhere in between works fine, but to progress from that and get up bigger hills it is far from ideal. Maybe I should look for flatter trails to ride?!

Just give him time. He'll get better as bike handling and climbing soon enough then it might become worth it.

Or maybe just talk to him instead of us? The way that STW parents talk you'd think that their kids were just some kind of passive pliable beings ready to do whatever Daddy says...!

My 9yo daughter does not like me pissing about with her bike.

Me: "You know, having the saddle higher makes it easier"
DD: "No"
Me: "Do you want me to make the bars higher? That might help your confidence going downhill"
DD: "No thanks"
Me: "Would you like some different pedals, maybe that'll improve security?"
DD: "Dad stop"
Me: "But it'll help"
DD: "Leave me alone"

That is the main question, is there a suitable dropper on the market? Fair enough to compromise on mild ups and downs, but a biggish climb needs good saddle height, especially given how heavy kids bikes are compared to their body weight! There is at least one Dad on here who's son is the same age and races XC, so how are they dealing with it?

samuel had a trans-x post on his riprock 20. He wasn't heavy enough to drop it so he/me had to do it manually but it was handy to put back up. His new bike doesn't have one and he misses it.

but a biggish climb needs good saddle height, especially given how heavy kids bikes are compared to their body weight! There is at least one Dad on here who’s son is the same age and races XC, SO HOW ARE THEY DEALING WITH IT?

Nopes, not seeing it.... My lad races both XC and enduro, i've never seen a kids bike at an XC race yet with a dropper and i've watched a fair few... if it's a slog he'll get up out of the saddle due to low bodyweight. Simple as that. Mine is now 10 but nothing has changed in that context since he was 6 🙂

He's not a small boy for his age, but he'll dance on the pedals like Contador when he needs/wants to. I've tried the seat higher, lower, middle... he ends up with it in what you'd think is too low a position but that's where he wants it.

You're thinking too much 🙂

I tried my lad with a Tmars when he was 8/9 ish and he could't work the lever well enough to use it whilst actually riding. He's 10 now and rides an small Giant Trance but the frame doesnt have enough seat tube before a bend to slam a dropper in far enough that it will be low enough at full  exstension.

Thanks weeksy, a very useful answer, I will wait and see how he gets on and will leave my own seat position compromised to even the playing field, until he starts beating me anyway.

Maybe girls are different?!

More toys and gadgets son?
Yes please Dad, the more the merrier!

to even the playing field, until he starts beating me anyway.

If you're anything like me and my lad, that will be a while yet.... Although on very short climbs of say 100-150m in length and 5% then he'll give me a race.... He stands up and fires it up the hill.... BOOM ! but anything of a decent length of say 1km, then he's fading as he'll go too hard too early and i can cruise up to him easily... The time will come when he destroys me... but that time is not here yet. 🙂

Maybe girls are different?!

More toys and gadgets son?
Yes please Dad, the more the merrier!

TBH i think it's YOU 🙂 harsh as that may sound.

I change things on my lads bike and he doesn't even notice. The only thing he's really notcied was going to better level Shimano brakes from his 315s.... That's because the 615s are night and day better. In a weird twist of fate, i now run his 315s on my HT and they work well 🙂

I adjust lever positions, lever span, saddle height... ."feels the same daddy...." can we go jump stuff now?

Try a quick release seat clamp. Incredible invention - lets you put up the saddle for a big climb, and leave it alone the rest of the time.

Anybody else just let their kids go out on their bikes with their mates like we did at that age?

Weeksy, that comment was aimed at molgrips father daughter dialogue. Some of the upgrades were purely my own doing, things I had that would improve things, like dropping 350g off bars and stem and proper grips, the ones that came on the bike were too big for my hands, never mind his. He didn't have the hand strength to properly stop, hence hydraulics.

He has a quick release, but not the strength in his hands to quickly or easily use it.

geex, things are very different to when I was that age, the number of cars around being pretty significant If my son was playing with mates it wouldn't matter, but trying to do a trail ride with Dad (because he wants to) is a different matter.

Yes Geex, mine and his mates do it regularly, i keep on top of him having a phone etc

He has a quick release, but not the strength in his hands to quickly or easily use it.

The Whyte ones are lots lots easier.

geex, things are very different to when I was that age

Yeah. I know. We had common sense, were allowed proper freedom away from worrying parents and were more streetwise for it by 6yrs old.
Many Kids these days can't even tie their own shoelaces at 10.

I would agree with most of the above, just let him ride for now. He'll soon go up to a small 26'er perhaps and maybe then is the time - lets face it, we didnt miss them when we were kids. There are some techy sections on the Longslade and the up's can be a challenge for the fully grown let alone an 8yr old - peacocks pass, climb up to Empire etc. The end of the Longslade has the BMX type run and thats where I take my little one's on balance bikes to practice. But, if you cherry pick the easier sections then no reason to change unless you want a change; Rushmere is great too. Kudos for getting out with him.

There are some techy sections on the Longslade and the up’s can be a challenge for the fully grown let alone an 8yr old

Age might not be the hurdle TBF

but a biggish climb needs good saddle height

Not really. It might shave a minute or two off his time but so what? My daughter's saddle is too low, she still managed a 200m climb last time we went out. Whined like hell though. But that's just her.

Maybe girls are different?!

Yeah of course, all girls are the same aren't they? **** off, seriously 🙁

Anybody else just let their kids go out on their bikes with their mates like we did at that age?

Not yet, there aren't enough local mates so she'd have to go with her sister who's too young to be trusted and the older one is not old enough to watch her properly; and the roads where we live are too busy at this age.

Age might not be the hurdle TBF

Temperament and desire are the issues. My daughter's just not that bothered about doing stuff like that video. And too nervous to do the stuff she does want to do. That's people for you, we're a diverse lot.

#Genes

Genes are a thing yes. Who're you insulting here by the way? Me or my daughter?

My two (10 and 12) both got droppers (2nd hand from here cheap) last year.
It’s their favourite thing on their bikes and it’s made our lives so much better! They like riding DH with saddles down and appreciate a higher saddle for climbs and pedalling.
The faffing with QRs is not something I miss at all.
It took my daughter about half an hour to get used to the action of pressing the lever and pushing down with her bum cos she’s quite light.