OK, so mini-me is coming up to his 5th birthday. His Ridgeback MX14 has been a great bike, but it's rapidly getting too small for him.) it seems very short in length, so his knees almost hit the bars. (he's very tall for his age So do I move up to a 16" wheel bike or try and fit him onto a 20" wheeled bike. Other option is to go for a BMX instead? not sure he's ready for any gears yet so this could be a good option....
your thoughts appreciated.
My eldest went from a 14 to a 20. Had to chop a bit off the seatpost but other than that no issues.......cracking bike for the money if your not a brand snob.....
Same as I paid plus you can get cash back.
As for gears - it has Twist grip so dead easy. Can always just leave it in the easiest until required.
brand is largely irrelevant, as long as it's well made and light. one of the reasons I went for the Ridgeback was the weight - his mate has a steel framed bike, it must weigh 30lbs!
any other parents out there with good options?
saracen to a great alloy frames 20inch singlespeed called the amplitude, never really get why 5 year olds need 6 gears
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn20lrg.html
Or the slightly smaller
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn20lrg.html <
Islabikes Beinn 20 Small at 5 here. Top tube a little long so an in line BMX seat tube went in and the 60mm stem got swapped (with a couple of shims) for a 40mm Holzfeller.
Now spot on - he took to it like a fish to water - and the original parts will go back on as he grows.
Normal Ilsabikes high quality and sensible thinking of course. The only thing they should change is to go 1 1/8" stearer and oversize bars to allow a good range of short stems to be readily available - the shims cost less than £10 though.
sssimon - Member
saracen to a great alloy frames 20inch singlespeed called the amplitude, never really get why 5 year olds need 6 gears
me either, something else for them to break - just can't see my lad using them - that saracen looks really smart
Re: gears. Depends on what riding thay are doing...general road stuff nah not much point...route in the forest with some hills then they are as much use to them as they are to you.
I have just got the ridge back Melody for my daughter (girls version of the MX16).
I went for that as all of the larger ones have gears and I didn't want to unnecessarily confuse her, just get out and enjoy being on the bike for now.
Get the latest copy of What Mountain Bike, it has a 20-odd page special on kids bikes and advice on teaching them.
Just got my 5 year old son, a bmx as he put it,"I'd like the yellow one with fire on it", phoned the shop and job done.
sniff - Member
Re: gears. Depends on what riding thay are doing...general road stuff nah not much point...route in the forest with some hills then they are as much use to them as they are to you.
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I'd agree, except round here it's all pretty hilly, not sure I could think of a route that was short enough and wasn't too hilly to put him off!
Pocket full of sweets usually gets them up the hills!
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