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When my 9 year old rode on the trails at Swinley yesterday I started to feel slightly guilty about the shortcomings of his bike (10+ year old Hotrock24). It’s well maintained but all stock (apart from I changed it to trigger shifters), so ancient Suntour forks, V-Brakes and 3x7 Shimano Altus\Tourney mix.
The forks are pretty useless, the brakes are OK – but not sure about if it had been wet. He got up most of the ‘hills’ (they’re hills for him), but the 3x7 is very clunky and quite a narrow usable range.
I’m thinking of fitting my old Reba’s (80-115 external adjustment) and my old but trusty Mono-mini’s by using an A2Z adaptor for the back. Next step could be to do something with the 2x10 stuff I just took off my own bike. I would also need new 24” wheels to run rotors!
Am I wasting my time and money with this – would I be better off looking out for an XS 26” frame and building that up from my spares instead? Size wise the ’24 fits him perfectly at the moment.
Am I wasting my time and money with this
Quite probably when you consider you can get proper kids 24" MTB's with proper air forks valved for themm hydraulic brakes and 1x drive trains for not an awful lot of cash.
My lad has one of these and it's bloody brilliant Saracen mantra 2.4 24w for £459
This is him (winning at Cannock Chase this weekend in teh WInter Classic Rouges Race) on the Mantra and he's not an overly tall nearly 7yr old, my mates lad has one at 10 and he fits on it just nicely
A more subtle paint job and similar components Vitus Nucleus for £399
We did our daughters Hotrock in 2003 for her first Alps trip due to the fact that there was nothing else on the market at the time. She was six at the time. As above you now have a lot more to chose from and would probably be better with a newer bike and may work out cheaper.
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Move on to 2019 and we are still sorting bikes our for her.
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Thanks for the thoughts both. Sounds like good advice. Very impressive seeing these young kids winning races, bet you are super proud!
I’m just glad to have the kids out riding with me at the mo. and am trying to make sure they get the most fun. My oldest has had a rough time at school recently and it really brought the old him back when he finished the ride in one piece! There’s no rush, the Hotrock is ‘OK’ but looks like I need to get saving, (again)!
My oldest has had a rough time at school recently and it really brought the old him back when he finished the ride in one piece!
And that's what it's all about
Second the Saracen Mantra 2.4. Brilliant little bikes. We still have 2 in the garage even though my eldest is now on a 26er.