EBay/Gumtree is awash with 20″ wheeled bikes, giant/ridgeway/specialized/etc, search local (barely anyone wants to post a bike), set a budget limit and stick to it.
£50 got me a pink hotrock last year, I have done the following mostly from the spares bin:
-Front hub axle converted to QR, rear wheel Re-hubbed with claris 9speed (130 OLD), being able to whip the wheels off for mini road trips is invaluable.
-Bars changed to cutdown EA30s.
-Foam BBB Loc-ons
-Avid FR7 (I think) brake levers, kept the original tektro V-brakes, fresh pads they’re pretty effective brakes.
-A velo VL5062, kids specific saddle which I was quite impressed with.
-9speed 12-30 HG50 cassette
-Tiagra mech
-Initially I fitted an LX shifter, she didn’t get on with it, so I found a SRAM rocket halfpipe Gripshift on fleabay for pennies and she’s much happier.
-New BB
-I pulled apart, cleaned and lubed, then took a spring out of the Suntour fork to try and achieve some sort of useful function, but they’re still too stiff.
Still to do:
I have some cheap old cranks ready for shortening (already got the drill/taps) just need to get round to actually doing it. And a 30t N/W ring…
And I’ll be getting some better tyres eventually, spesh stock ones are OK still, more volume might improve longer ride comfort (whinge) factor…
This bike is currently being used by My 7.5 old, her younger sister will inherit it so it’s a pretty worthwhile investment and will probably come up cost neutral in the long term despite not being an isla…
I am keeping an eye on these threads and local ads for the next bike in the chain (24″)…
Question for the collective;
How deeply held is the opinion that their first 24″ bike should have discs? It’s one of the appeals of the carerra blast/lunacy/detonator/solo frames but I am not sure my eldest’s riding will ever quite demand discs, maybe when she’s 26″ sized, but I have noticed carerra also do some kids 24″ hybrid bikes with aluminium frames, which look like they’d maybe still clear a 2.0″ tyre and work out lighter given the same parts bin treatment…