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146cm, ten years old. Not hardcore, but she likes a bit of trail now and then and a better bike would make her feel more stable. My other kid got a Whyte 604 which is great, but they are now £125 more than we paid and I'd like to keep it under £600. And given the lack of stock on the Whyte website looks like supply might be limited.
So, what's got decent geometry, what's in stock, what's good value, and is there anything with an air fork? £600 ish or under.
Have a look for a 2nd hand Islabikes Creig 26
The Trek Marlin 5 was what I was looking at for my 10year old in a few months time when I can kick off another C2W scheme. They've a few different models in the range with different levels of spec.
However, the 5 comes in the special XXS size: The XXS is 26" wheel, XS and S I think are 27.5 and the the M, L and up are 29ers.
The Trek Marlin 5 was what I was looking at for my 10year old in a few months time when I can kick off another C2W scheme.
Might need to look into employment legislation regarding children first there I reckon.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vitus-nucleus-26-youth-hardtail-bike/blockquote >
+1 to that, and they're miraculously in stock at the moment in both colours. The red's a lovely colour, if that matters. I've got 2 of these for mini a11y's but mine aren't quite tall enough to make the move from 24"-wheelers yet.
What I liked about the Whyte for my eldest was that it's a proper shreddable HT that looks brilliant, it has decent sized bars and 66.5 degree HA. Most of the kid bikes or lower end bikes just have old fashioned trundle-focused geometry. Now she's not a hardcore rider but I don't want her to feel less stable on technical stuff than she needs to be.
Lots of bikes in this price bracket don't even publish the geometry.
69.5 on that Marin.
At 145cm tall she'll easily fit on XS sized Spesh Rockhoppers, my lad is 143cm tall and rides his with consomethinge ease, the frames really are small.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51884004574_b5dcd50d0c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51884004574_b5dcd50d0c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2n3P5X1 ]Tommy on Stone Drop[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/140228292@N02/ ]Steve Bowman[/url], on Flickr
If you can go to just over £600 the 2022 Rockhopper Sport 27.5
Ooh, I recognise that stone drop, back of Delamere between the Old Pale and Gresty's Waste.
That Vitus I linked above seems to be in stock, has a 67 degree head angle, 40mm bb drop, and air fork and hydraulic discs. What’s not to like for £530?
Hmm yes I didn't see the geo chart. Yeah it's certainly compelling with the air fork, but the 'youth' part puts me off a bit. The XS Specialized above has 27.5 wheels, and maybe a bit more growing room (not sure) but it's got coil forks. However she could get a test ride on one.
My brother got one of those Trek Marlins for his 12 year old daughter. She loves it. They ride round Epping Forest trails regularly as it's near them and has done the blue at Dalby and Sutton Bank when up here visiting relatives. She likes it but is not a big gnarr kind of rider.
Budget £600
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https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/trek-fuel-ex-jnr/1413153131/a >
Bloody hell. All I got offered at that age was a 2nd hand Raleigh Chipper
Might need to look into employment legislation regarding children first there I reckon.
🤣🤣
All I got offered at that age was a 2nd hand Raleigh Chipper
Were your parents obsessed with bikes?
I had a £99 racer at that age with 650b wheels or something.
My kids and I ride with a 9yo girl who is the bees knees on a Nukeproof Cub Scout. Might be a bit pricier than you're looking for, but it has the air fork.
My eldest has an older Marlin 5 that i upgraded the fork on.
My 2 daughters both have a Trott MTB1, great spec if you can find one second hand.
I built this up for my daughter....
She's now grown out of it and the frame/forks/headset and some other bits will be for sale soon #stealthadvert 😄
Is a 650b / 13.5 frame.
I bought it as soon as she was tall enough for 650b wheels - the idea being I could just upgrade the frame in the future and save some cash in the long run. However what with the pandemic and price inflation of 2nd hand bits it's taken me a year to find another larger suitable frame, and of course I've upgraded bits along the way. So I'll be sticking it on eBay with frame/forks/headset/stem/seatpost and saddle maybe bars just to match up the complete branding and colours.
How tall was she when she grew out of it?
She's about 5'5" now - I've only swapped it out for a 15" brand X.
Bought a 2021 Liv Tempt 1 from Don Skene for a bit of a discount, in MEDIUM ffs. But it fits her now fairly well, with about 20cm of seatpost showing, and might even do her til adulthood. It's got an air fork (Giant branded) with adjustable compression and rebound; Deore 1x10 and huge 760mm bar that she insists she wants to keep just like her older sister did with hers. And it's a cool sparkly purple/brown/bronze/dark pink multicolour type effect which is a hit for her.
Minortaur next weekend then cycling proficiency test at school!