Bike for a 5 year old

Skid Solo

My daughter has just started riding without stabilisers and is coming up to her 5th birthday, she currently is riding a Raleigh Ollie, which is looking too small now she can cycle on her own.

Thinking of getting her a new bike therefore have looked around Halfords etc. but couldn’t put her through the pain of one of those heavyweight steel framed bikes (they weigh more than my 5” travel mountain bike!) So have looked at both Islabikes and Specialized Hotrock.

However both company’s state that there 20” bikes are suitable for 5 to 7 yrs olds, however I am worried they look a little big and when I check on the Evans website they say the Specialized Hotrock is suitable for a 5 yr old, yet in another part of the site they recommend a 16” for 5 to 7 year olds and a 20” for 7 to 9 year olds.

Thus I am getting confused.

I like the look of the Islabike but being a girl my daughter would love a pink bike (these things are important when you are 5!) so the Hotrock is a good choice from that point of view.

Also if I look at both ranges of bikes and go down a size to 16” they both come with rear pedal backwards brake. The Raleigh has a normal side pull brake front and rear as do the 20” bikes so don’t really want her to have to learn a new braking technique as well as get used to a bigger bike.

Any though would be much appreciated.

PrettyBoyTim

There is a page on the Islabikes website that gives rider sizes for each bike

They list the minimum height, and the minimum inside leg measurement.

dsmiff

We got an Apollo Urchin (16") for my 5 year old (popstar is the girls equiv), he rides it everyday, everything still works, all that is worn is the back tire (skids!!!) he rides this in preference to his hand me down 20" trek that his brother used to ride.

He has gained far more confidence on the bike than he would have done on one too large. It obviously isn’t going to last as long as a larger bike and she is likely to outgrow it in a couple of years, but for about £50.

magic johnson

Take a look at the Trek and Gary Fisher ranges. They are designed to be mega adjustable so go a bit smaller than most and have long seat posts and adjustable stems so you can make em really big and then miss out the next bike size when the time comes.

Good quality too.

theblender

If you want ultra lightweight, and I'm talking sub 15lbs, then take a look at a micro racing bmx. No gears or suspension, but the bikes are so light even a nipper soon learns how to jump obstacles. BMX's teach youngsters how to ride properly.

When the time comes for gears, they can be fitted, ask Fin at TF Tuned for info, as he's about to fit some to his sons micro bmx.

Redline and Haro are good brands. About £230 upwards.

If she would prefer a "proper" kids MTB, then one of the lightest and best specced is the Marin Hidden Canyon.

A true MTB frame, forks which work and a twin chainset for hill climbing.

My 5 y.o. boy has one and he rips on it. He is quite tall though, so if your daughter is a wee one, then the micro bmx option would be way better.

You can lighten the Marin further by fitting lightweight, slick bmx tyres if most of your riding is tarmac.

I've left the knobblies on my sons, but changed the bars/stem for easton havoc/ea50 units to make the bike fit better, and have upgraded the brakes to shimon DXR which has made a huge difference to stopping power.

The standover height for the Marin is 22.6 inches.

The bikes I listed are in "boys" colourways, but customising things like grips and saddles to girly colours is easy, and most bike shops should be happy to customise for you, for little extra cost.

Hope this helps.

Mister Paul

You can't beat Islabikes IMO. IF she doesn't like the colour Isla will put purple stickers on for her.

barbej

I wouldn't worry about the weight as at 5 they will not be doing much uphill riding. I would suggest you look at a second hand bike as at that age they go through bikes about 1 per year (in terms of growth). Therefore there are usually loads available for not much money. We have had 5 childrens bikes given us. Most small childrens bikes are heavy with not very good components but they do not do the mileage at 5 to bother getting anthing better. Most important thing is they can reach the front brake. Even with a relatively crap bike our 4 year old did 10miles last weekend on a cycle trail. It is worth spending more when they get older however. Puky do a nice 20" bike which has everything which is a good alternative to Islabike. We have one for our six year old. It was only worth buying it as we have three girls who will be using it.

lukesaddy

the perfect bike is a Specialized Enduro lol

Ian Sims

I agree with Mister Paul. We've had our IslaBikes Cnoc 14 for a few weeks and my son loves it. Also, it doesn't weigh a ton. Although weight may not matter when riding, it does when going up hill and you have to carry the bike!

PhilTheFish

Size wise my son had a 16" aged 5 and is currently on a 18" which he's had for a year. He turns 7 in October and we've bought him a 20" MTB type bike for Christmas (all sizes are wheel sizes)

Both the 16" and the 18" were BMX types from Halfords. The trouble with the 16" was that he was having to work really hard on the pedals to keep up with us and we could only get him to ride around 5 miles before the incessant moaning kicked in! He can do around 8-10 miles on the 18" and will probably get 12-15 miles out of him at the weekends when he gets the 20" with gears.

I wouldn't bother spending big bucks on bikes for them at that age as they get through one a year generally.

Once they turn 12 and are on 26" wheels then I'll invest in decent bikes for them.

adamedwardsteather

Puky any good for you? http://www.puky.net/homepage/index.htm

My 5 year old son has a Z6 and my 9 year old (small for her age) daughter has a Z8.

Excellent sensible tought bikes

Adam

x-groovey-x

Hi... can you get a 20" bike with hydraulic discs...
I have a friend whose kid has troubble braking using his cable V brakes. He is a good rider,and can cover some distance, but cant stop... BIG PROBLEM... please help...