Your in-laws have deliberately ignored your clear statement.
Be clear and firm in telling them they ignored what you said and, if the bike is unused, you wish them to return it.
If the bike has been used, tell them you will be replacing it with what you consider to be a more suitable bike.
What does your son say about the bike?
Unless you address this with them directly, it’s likely they will continue doing what they want.
What does your wife think and will it cause friction between you and her or between her and her parents?

They might just think that they were being helpful and get super upset if you throw it back in their face, that’s the most likely outcome in this scenario unless you tread carefully.

At least post us a picture or tell us what what bike it is so we can confirm or deny your concerns.

If it’s really that bad, I guess as some others have suggested, the most diplomatic solution would be if it got ‘stolen’ or accidentally ‘run over by your car’ on the drive… Give the BSO to your local bike charity place and then buy him something a bit better.

I totally get where the OP is coming from, and don’t think he’s a dick at all.
But the inlaws will almost certainly think he is, if he mentions it.
Best if it quietly gets stolen and replaced.
1st world problems innit.

It’s tricky as things like this can cause problems .. But equally they seem nieve if they know your into bikes and they bought him some cheap junk without consultation.

Look at it on the flip side, for example I have friends who are into fishing and golf, I wouldn’t dream of buying them a golf club or some fishing tackle as a present because I would have no idea what I was buying and the chances of them liking it would be pretty much zero if I bought it from argos or sports direct or somewhere like that.

Lack of detail and pics leads me to assume that my idea of a BSO and that of the OP is different.

Specialized Enduro perhaps? 😁

What bike is it?

I tried to get that info yesterday, not really been forthcoming.

It’s not about the bike…

Look at it on the flip side, for example I have friends who are into fishing and golf, I wouldn’t dream of buying them a golf club or some fishing tackle as a present because I would have no idea what I was buying and the chances of them liking it would be pretty much zero if I bought it from argos or sports direct or somewhere like that.

Yeah but tbf this isn’t a bike for an adult who’s into his cycling and already had loads of kit. This is for a kid, who by the sounds of it doesn’t have any kind of bike at all just now. And whilst dad may think it’s rubbish, I bet the kid will love it.

Some good replies thanks.

Maybe I should have said in the OP – he’s 5, so not a big deal. The bike is a Stitch Pluto. I can only find it on Amazon but not the exact same model I’ve unboxed. As I said in the OP it actually looks pretty decent and I was pretty relieved when I opened it, but when you look a bit closer it’s pretty shoddy. The brakes don’t work at all, they are caliper types – but not good ones the metal is about 1mm thick and bends. A lot. and the bolt holes arent straight with the wheels so it’s impossible to line them up. Will see if I can get some replacements – really the brakes are my main concern.

It is heavy but as many have said – most of us had a shit bike until our teens – I saved up money for a second hand azonic ds2 built from someone’s spares when I was 15.

To be honest I’ve slept on it now and got over it. Am still disappointed I’m not taking him to the LBS and having him pedal round the car park though.

As many have said he’ll probably see it and love it. If he doesn’t get on with it I’ll get him something else in a few months.

He’s 5 and this is exercising you to this extent?

Sweet Baby Jesus and the orphans, you’re gonna have a hard time being a parent…

Every day is a struggle.

Although I don’t see how his age makes any difference to be honest

🙂

Wait til he smashes the brand new telly because his brother laughed at him.
Wait til he gets punched for being the wrong colour.
Wait til he sleeps in the park, under the slide, because he’s forgotten his key and doesn’t want to wake you up.
Wait til he loses his phone and someone else runs up a £300 bill because he forgets to tell you to cancel it.
Wait til he decides he’s joining the Army.

I could go on all night with this and he’s only one of three…

Chill fella, this is not a game changer!

Wait til he smashes the brand new telly

Already did that when he was 2 – threw a die cast Eddie Stobart lorry through it.

But I take your point – and as I said in my post I’ve thought about it again and it’s not a big deal.

If they persist in such things, I’m sure you can return the favour in the future and take the same approach to their care home selection.

In the mean time, pub bike for being care free about that will only be eyed up by scrappies.

Friends that aren’t keen cyclists have a garden full of BSO’s left out for playing on, but bought a Frog with Grandads help for going out cycling as could see the difference. 3.5yr old happy enough on 6 mile rides now. They are also happy they can trade it for the next size up when needed as LBS that sold it will take it in PX.

Holy crap, it’s a little kid’s bike !
My kid had a £30 Action Man bike from Halfords! He now rides a Trek Remedy and is better than I ever was.
He had brilliant fun on that bike and the fact that he’s still riding and taking mates out for rides.. I mean.. my first post was pretty spot on eh?

Oh, plus – they grow outof things damn fast at that age!

Maybe I should have said in the OP – he’s 5,

And that right there was the exact point that the forum turned against you. Because:

Am still disappointed I’m not taking him to the LBS and having him pedal round the car park though.

Pretty sure that bike will be capable of pedalling round the car park.

he’s just at the age now where I was looking forward to doing a few blue routes with him.

You want to take a five year old round a few blue routes and the only barrier to entry is the bike?

I’m not sure as I believe you.

K.

I was a bit far off with a Spesh Enduro then.

You want to take a five year old round a few blue routes and the only barrier to entry is the bike?

I’m not sure as I believe you.

Your blue route isn’t necessarily the same as the OP’s blue route. Our local trail centre is Thetford Forest and I’m already happy taking our four year old around the blue trails there.

Though, to be fair, his (cough, Halfords, cough) bike does have functioning v-brakes.

You can get adapter plates for those kind of brake bosses to allow you to fit v brakes, then just fit whatever is on the frog. Probably the best option. Its worth remembering that a 5 year old grip isn’t much, so they probably won’t bend under his efforts

Maybe I should have said in the OP – he’s 5,

And that right there was the exact point that the forum turned against you. Because:

Am still disappointed I’m not taking him to the LBS and having him pedal round the car park though.

Pretty sure that bike will be capable of pedalling round the car park.

he’s just at the age now where I was looking forward to doing a few blue routes with him.

You want to take a five year old round a few blue routes and the only barrier to entry is the bike?

I’m not sure as I believe you.

I think stating the forum “turned against him” is a bit extreme… It didn’t, really did it Cougar.

Also the rest of that message is just a little harsh. Intimating someone is a liar – as you did in your last sentence is out of order IMHO.

jamj1974 “I think stating the forum “turned against him” is a bit extreme… It didn’t, really did it Cougar.

Also the rest of that message is just a little harsh. Intimating someone is a liar – as you did in your last sentence is out of order IMHO”

Pot calling kettle black post ?

To contemplate offending family for a kind gift due to brand snobbery over a 5 year old kids bike is truely pathetic , have a word with yourself.

It’s not about the bike…

I reiterate.

You can get adapter plates for those kind of brake bosses to allow you to fit v brakes

Thanks for that I didn’t know they existed. Have ordered a pair.

the forum turned against you

I was expecting much more of a dressing down from the off to be honest (Hence first sentence in the OP). As I said I’ve thought again about it and got over it. And if I can put those v brake adapters on then no bother

due to brand snobbery

It’s not snobbery the brakes are shite and I think it’s dangerous. If you’d let your 5 year old ride round with brakes that don’t work then I think you need to have a word with yourself.

The bike looks decent enough, new brakes as you say and it will be good as gold, remember to buy 5year old sized levers as he may struggle with adult ones.

He is likely to grow out of it quickly so be ready with a new bike for then and plaster it all over FB or any other social media they may pay attention to.

hope your boy enjoys it.

Pot calling kettle black post ?

I called Cougars single assessment out for attention. I did not call his honesty into question. There is a significant difference.

You want to take a five year old round a few blue routes and the only barrier to entry is the bike?

We were doing red’s at 5.

Jnr had a BSO changed to something 1/2 decent on his 5th birthday.

2nd weekend we did a 20 mile flat canal towpath, it was meant to be 10 and his mum pick him up but he decided to ride home.

The next weekend we went to Surrey Hills and did a loop from Newlands Corner to Guildford and back.

The weekend after that we did most of Swinley Blue/Red
9mo later we swapped the bike as he’d outgrown the capabilities of a rigid and rim brakes.

@chambord

Don’t modify it and ask them to send it back as “it’s a lovely thought but not safe for the sort of riding they want to do”.

the brakes would be dangerous if you rode it. Kids weigh about 2 stone and it really doesn’t take much to stop..

He”s lucky it has 2 brakes – found a pic of my kid’s first bso!

This is just past 6th Birthday…part of a longer day with Lady Cannings and Blacka Moor
I very much doubt we’d be doing this if he’d started on a BSO a year earlier or I’d listened to any of the “what 5 year olds can do and need”

It’s not snobbery the brakes are shite and I think it’s dangerous.

Upgrade the brakes? I’m sure you can get a set of Hope 4 pots and some Boxxers to fit if it’s about safety.

My daughters 6, we got her a Decathlon bike because it had pink bits that matched her shoes and that’s what she wanted. She never mentioned carbon or hydraulics once, it was all about the shoes

It’s important for kids to have decent bikes https://youtu.be/NyEWj5XDwf4

@chambord

Just ignore those acting like 5yr olds…
I’d have missed some of the best times of my whole life if I’d listened to them.
Attempt 2 at 6yrs old

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N4SK5TdTXgVP4DcJ9

In-laws no longer question, his last present from Gran was Leatt fusion body armour and last year for XMAS a new (to him) frame and shock….BMX from his uncle (OK no brakes but I added one)

My first “ATB” was a BSO, but I loved it. It took me places, gave me adventures. Hi-tensile frame and fork, caliper brakes, 2*5 Shimano Tourney non-indexed drivetrain.

If your lad is likely to become a pro, I sympathise. Otherwise I think having a bad bike when young can have its benefits.

Disagree. I vividly remember what was probably my first ‘proper’ offroad XC bike ride age 13 or so – me on a GT Outpost with crummy tyres, a rear U-brake and a rigid fork (it cost £149.99 from Super Cycles in Nottingham), and my two mates – one with a Cannondale F800 and one with a SC Superlight.

It was really horrible, I couldn’t keep up, and I felt crap about it afterwards for all sorts of reasons (still do now actually!).

You want to take a five year old round a few blue routes and the only barrier to entry is the bike?

I’m not sure as I believe you.

Seems perfectly believable to me. Mine were riding blue routes at that age, but I wouldn’t want them on bikes with dangerous brakes.

OP – if it is any comfort, our’s went from Decathlon’s finest ’12” Cheese’ (i kid you not as a model name) that my father insisted on buying…
[url=https://flic.kr/p/sbNtw]100_2929[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

to this:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jAA6cX]Lockdown Adventures[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

[url=https://flic.kr/p/27xdJ1x]Argyll bike tour[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jAEohu]Lockdown Adventures[/url] by Matt Robinson, on Flickr

Honestly, the bike won’t be that bad. Plus he will outgrow in about 2.1 months.

And n+1 for proper rides anyway.

to brand snobbery

It’s a not brand snobbery. It’s them wasting their money burying something they’ve been told not to.

The same could go for pretty much any vaguely specific thing that you’ve said you’ve already got covered, computer, football boots, guitar, etc.

It’s not brand snobbery. It is, however using your specialist knowlege to make great decisions about thing’s for your children. Why not?

My boy isn’t riding about on a used islabike because of the brand. He’s doing so because they’re great bikes and I felt comfortable fettling a scuffed up ride for him to make it cheaper.