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Hi
Just after people's thoughts on under 12's riding 29ers and 650b.
My son rode at mud sweat and gears on Sunday for his first race at hadleigh. He rides 26" wheels.
There was quite a few riding 29ers and 650b.
Some just looked to small for the big wheels, but I suppose if they are comfortable and capable riders then so be it.
I ride 29ers and believe they roll a lot faster for xc and I was going to move my son to 650b after 26" in the near future if I can find one suitable.
Does anyone else's kids roll on the bigger wheels?
Thanks
Like any bike - if it fits then fine. Will it fit ? Will he have the stand-over height ? Also will he look stupid on it ?
I've always struggled with this quandary - it's the big wheels versus nice position thing. My 10 year old is on 24" at the moment (MTB and cross/road). Going to build a 26" singlespeed for fun with him soon. I've always aimed for that good positive riding position, inevitably that tends to mean smaller wheels than some of his contemporaries are riding. I can see in races that hampers him, but I can also see that his skills and balance on the bike are usually much better than those riders. If it gets technical (sadly a rarity in this level of racing) then he's away.
You see a lot of riders on bikes that are basically too big for them. That used to be younger riders on 26", but in under 12s you are definitely starting to see kids on 29ers which look wrong. The problem isn't usually that they can't ride them, it's that they end up with very "bar high" positions and don't seen to be able to get over the front of the bike to move it around. They become passengers a bit, and I don't think that promotes good handling skills.
But having watched my 10 year old on his 24" cross bike (beautiful position, happily sliding the back end into corners) struggling to maintain the speed of his rival on 700c (looks ungainly, used to fall off it regularly) I can see the drivers for bigger wheels. But those drivers are to do with being competitive I think, not to do with enjoying riding or with getting better at riding.
It doesn't bother me if he's beaten in under 10 races - they're usually meaninglessly short anyway - as long as he's happy with that and doesn't think he has to take them too seriously. I know he's happier just ragging round the forest trying to ride drops and get air off everything, and if smaller wheels make that more fun then I'll stick with them 😉
Just after people's thoughts on under 12's riding 29ers and 650b.
have they standardised kids sizing like bikes yet?
Go with bikes that fit.
Sounds like a pushy parent to me 😉
As said by others, if the frame fits..
12 year olds on 29er's no IMO. Kids are better off with bikes that they can chuck around, and smaller wheels help here. Can move up to bigger wheels later.
My 13 & 11 year olds are on 26's, IMO they need to learn to master the bike and throw it around, not become a passenger. They need to develop skills not just speed, anyone can just sit down and pedal through stuff, developing flow is far more useful and skillful.
It wasn't that long ago when adults were doing OK on 26'ers....
what dragon says
Chucakble is worth something
May differ if they really race
At that age bigger wheels won't make a child faster, a lighter bike will though.
It's none of my business but I always feel sorry for a kid riding a bike that is too big for them.
Does it fit?
End of discussion.
Most importantly.. are the cranks an appropriate length?
Probably few to no oem 650/29 bikes with sub 170mm cranks
I just bought my daughter an XS size Ghost Kato with 650b wheels.
She's 12 and it fits perfectly.
My 8yr old son rides a 24" wheel Genesis but a 26" would be too big.
If it fits it fits!
I ride a 650b and there are loads of under 12 s taller than me 😀
However I do agree that smaller bike = easier to handle.
I agree with if it fits then it's fine.
Been through the whole shortened cranks and all.
There's certainly very few xs and small frames around second hand that's 650b.