If you’ve ever eyed up the Islabikes range with envy – or perhaps even had a go at riding one – you’re in luck. The Shropshire based company that revolutionised kids’ bikes designs has expanded its Creig and Luath ranges to suit small adults. If you’re between 4’11 and 5’9, these bikes will now fit you.
The bikes have been designed to fit an adult – and luggage if needed – with a total weight of up to 125kg, or just over 19.5 stone. The spec of each bike is designed to offer a high quality entry point into the world of cycling, with an emphasis on durability and easy (and low cost) maintenance along with the perfect fit. There’s a range of Ortleib bags coming to fit the range too, so smaller adults can still head over the hills and far away with plenty of luggage.
Both models will come with Islabikes’ own design saddle, which has started from a fitting based on women’s needs. Islabikes has found that saddles designed for women are often comfortable for men, but that the opposite is not true.
Both also come with shorter than typical cranks, designed specifically for and by Islabikes. These are just 155mm long, and use a BB30 chainset with SRAM direct mount chainring. Typically only higher end bikes will offer 165mm cranks, and 170cm is standard. Islabikes believes that shorter cranks have ergonomic benefits beyond ground clearance, and that many riders can benefit from the different range of articulation offered by shorter cranks.
Let’s take a closer look at each model.
Creig
- Hardtail MTB for local trails and multi-day adventures
- Weight: 11.5 – 11.9 kg (depending on size) We put our size S at 12.13kg with pedals
- 27.5” & 29” wheels (depending on size)
- Colour: Gloss Blue
- Sizes: XS, S, M
- £1,249.99
This hardtail comes with a Judy Gold fork offering 100mm of travel.
The Creig has external cable routing, with internally routed dropper option, for easy maintenance. The ergonomic grips might look odd to many eyes, but Islabikes says they’re especially comfortable for riders who aren’t moving about on the bike as much.
The Tektro hydraulic brakes have been selected for their very short free stroke, which means you can wind the reach right in. They use M525 Shimano brake pads, which are easy to get hold of – again, part of making the bikes easy to maintain.
The drivetrain comes with Advent X gears, selected for the combination of price point, weight and performance, along with the short lever throw on the shifters – better for smaller hands. It comes with a 30T chainring as standard, but at purchase you can select from 26T up to 34T.
There are oodles of bottle mounts, so you can carry three bottles (two inside the frame, one under it). Bikes this small don’t often work well with saddlebags since there isn’t always the clearance needed between the saddle and wheel, so rack mounts are provided. Islabikes believes racks are often the better option on a smaller bike.
The Creig is tubeless ready, with Stans S2 rims for sturdiness, and Vee Tires tyres.
Luath
- Designed for road, gravel, touring, and multi-day adventures
- Weight: 9.6 – 10 kg (depending on size) (We put our size S at 10.09, with pedals)
- Colour: Gloss Blue
- Sizes: XS, S, M
- Availability: In stock
- £999.99
This drop bar bike is designed for road and gravel. It comes with shallow drop bars and cable disc brakes with a bespoke reach adjustment insert only available on these bikes. They’re specially adjusted to Islabikes’ specification at the factory. No hydraulic brakes with adequate reach adjustment could be found, and these are easy to maintain.
The Luath comes with a 36T chainring, though you can fit up to a 40T.
You can choose from Islabikes’ own tyres in road, mixed or CX format. It comes supplied with 127TPI 35C tyres, but can take up to 40C (35C with mudguards). They’re not tubeless ready, as Islabikes has used its Easyfit range, which makes changing tubes and tyres easier – better for newer riders who want the confidence to venture out alone.
There are two sets of bottle cage mounts inside the frame, plus Anything cage mounts on the fork.
Tim Goodall, Managing Director at www.islabikes.co.uk, commented:
“At first glance, our new Creig and Luath might look much like what’s come before, but look closely, and we’ve completely revisited what a bike for someone below 5’ 9” should be. And that’s a bike that has components that fit smaller riders. Making a frame smaller is the easy bit, it’s the obsessive attention to fit all critical components that separate these bikes from the crowd. And often it’s the seemingly obvious expectations someone has; like being able to reach the brakes on a bike with dropped handlebars if they have smaller hands. Sadly, something many people can’t do – and that’s nuts!
“The feedback we’ve had so far has been incredible; that after decades of riding and ‘making do’ with what was available, finally someone has noticed that if the frame is smaller, maybe the fit critical components should be too.”
The bikes are available now from Islabikes.
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