Our daughter is six and we’ve gone through a few Isla bikes, all brill, then a Vitus 20, which has been brilliant and with the bigger wheels allowed her to do more challenging trails 🙂 she’s now ready for a more capable bike, so Santa is bringing a new Hellion 20 for her, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about a bike, it really is a thing of beauty and the design is spot on, roll on Christmas!
Just personally, the things I’ve learnt over the past few years, no matter how close she is to the next size bike, getting a bike that’s even a bit too big reduces her enjoyment of riding, hence the Hellion 20 which will probably only last a year or so. I think light, well designed bikes are a must. Several of Ambers friends were struggling with riding and not enjoying it on cheap, heavy bikes. The parents asked for assistance, we found second hand Isla bikes, added a tiny bit of encouragement and off they go, miles of smiles. I think kids bikes are probably one of the best things I could spend money on! I may not be saying that in a few years when my ten year old daughter is dropping dad on the hills...
Whereabouts in the country are you? I may be able to help but you'll need to DM me.
Thanks sandwich just tried twice but got 'privacy settings do not allow it'. Have you for a setting blocking pms?
I'm South London, SE19.
is your child just riding round the estate or do you have delusions of grandeur of their abilities?
Sophie had cheap second hand bikes to get her going. When I started taking her "off road" I wanted a bike that would brake well and fit properly. Got a commencal ramone 16 now.
wouldn't spend much on a first bike. They will out grow it quickly. Got Sophie's from a local bike charity. Tool it back when she out grew it and got a bigger one. Spent around £35 for 2 bikes.
well that comes across very anti bike, and on a bike forum. No she isn't the next Laura Trott or Shazneh Reid, she is 'Just riding around'. I want her to enjoy the bike, ie it fine and be confident on it, that's all, and very happy to put a bit of time and money into finding the right bikes along the way to give her the opportunity to like bikes as I do and be confident riding them to school for fun and what ever. SHe's far from the best at physical things so far, and very sure if i'd not got a nice balance bike for her she'd not be riding at ll yet, but she is, and quite well and enjoying it. I'm keen to ensure that continues and while I know she will ejoy the belter 16", at the moment its wrong for her. I am not a push dad trying to create the next olympian, just a dad trying to give his daughter a chance to enjoy something and also learn a skill I think is valuable.
Thought about running the stem backwards to see if it's just reach? I doubt she would notice any handling difference
I did for a moment but ruled it out as i think it will make a huge handling difference
Update and next question:
Eldest is now riding her belter! Proud dad here. I rolled the risers back bringing the bars a cm closer and tried again and she was much better! After a couple of goes using it as a balance bike I put the pedals back on and it wasn't long before she was off and going, yay!
Next.... Youngest, 2 years 4.5 months, is much more physical than big sis so doing well on the rothan which she's had about 9 months now and of course after seeing big sis pedal she wants to as well. So I'll need a 14" after all. She's not big enough for that yet but but will be in 2-4 months I guess. I'm looking at cnoc 14 small but it seems there are many more large and many more of the older 14's on eBay, so my question is, does anybody know how the older cnoc 14 compared size wise? Ie, what was the minimum inside leg for the older cnoc?
I'd love a belter 14" really, but not seeing any on eBay at all
You could try facebook marketplace and gumtree as well as ebay..........
I still have our old Dawes Academy, stick some normal risers on and it's a Squish with a different paint job otherwise it's a BMX version.
It's a bawhair off an Isla in weight terms and was happily cycled for miles at a time. Also in good nick. I've resigned myself to taking a hit on depreciation, if you're interested let me know.
Hi squirrel, just looked it up, the Dawes is very light! Depreciation on anything other than Isla or early rider is nuts, I actually made a profit on the rothan.
Where are you?
does anybody know how the older cnoc 14 compared size wise? Ie, what was the minimum inside leg for the older cnoc?
Pretty sure that the "old" cnoc14 was the same size as the new 14 Large. So 38-48cm. The new 14 Small was added for small but capable sprogs. Cnoc were always 3+ age anyway.
FWIW I got my youngest riding (quite tall - 97th %) on the 14" at 3years and 11 months, and by the time she was 4 she'd already graduated to a Frog 16"! She'd been on the 14" for about 6 months as a balance bike with pedals off and front brake disconnected.
At 4y and 7m she looks a bit big for the 16", in terms of reach, and she runs out of crank speed. Beinn 20 (old style) next, once I've moved her brother up from it (he's a small 6y 11m).
Isla is always worth a phonecall - they're pretty helpful.
The Dawes looks good as well! Just bear in mind that whatever you get, she won't be on it for that long.
We had a Cnoc 16 (that is now enjoying a new life in Doncaster) and ran it with both kids until the seatpost was at the min insertion mark. Both moved smoothly onto a Beinn 20L.
For Isla at least if you stick to the alternate sizes progression it seems to work.
I'm up in Scotland but would post, can't be hard to find a box that would fit! Can dig out pictures if you're interested.
Hi again squirrel. If it's like the squish it seems it's min inside leg is 40cm so 6cm taller than the cnoc 14 small, so unfortunately I'll pass. Although the eldest is tall and has taken until 4 to master the balance bike and hence was able to go to the 16", the youngest is shorter and is totally gung-ho, hence mastering the balance bike already and she's still 3-4cm too short for the small cnoc. She's so gung-ho that even a full speed otb with the bike summersaulting over again and smacking her on the head didn't put her off! Once I'd dusted her down she sat straight back in the bike and rolled away! She currently thinks it's hilarious to zoom down the hill with me shouting 'brake!' while running along side holding her coat hood to prevent warp speed. She can brake fine, and control the ensuing skid, but thinks it's funnier to give daddy a heart attack :/
I must be mad thinking of putting her on a pedal bike.
Yep, standover height is about 40cm at the centre of the top tube so as you say that's way off. Your daughter sounds like a hoot (if you're not the one having the heart attack), hope you find what she needs.
Carrera star 14 has v low stand over with a dropped cross bar
Try a frog 40 for size - my 2 year 9month old boy is on one and pedalling it.
Smallest inside leg bike I could find available in the U.K.
@neillnevill, apologies I have been distracted and missed your reply about message settings. If you're sorted no worries otherwise hamster1 AT icloud DOT com will fine me by email.
