Bike for 4 1/2 year old boy

fubsie01
fubsie01 Posts: 10
edited May 2010 in Family & kids cycling forum
Sorry this has probabaly been covered many times on this forum before but I am "new" so apologies. I have a 4 1/2 year old boy and am looking to buy a "proper" bike for him. After researching the net I am down to the following Islabike CNOC 16, Trek Jet 16, Specialized Hotrock and Ridgeback 16. Do you experts have any advice on waht would be best for him I want something predominantly for riding to school on roads etc but with a wee bit of off roading on tracks etc, waht is the best most practical I could get him which will last, he has a 42 cm inside leg and is 11cm tall. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Hi fubsie01, and welcome to the forum.

    This buyer's guide should help you decide - also take a look at the reviews in the Related Articles section of the guide.
  • fubsie01
    fubsie01 Posts: 10
    Thats great any ideas on waht bike is best I am leaning towards the Islabike ?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Islabike always come out on top in these tests, so would be a great choice.
  • ince
    ince Posts: 289
    +1 for the Isla.

    Great build quality on the little balance bike we have for our son so I can only imagine the quality is carried through the range. Also have good resale from my experience when we were looking at what bike to get.
  • juggling mum
    juggling mum Posts: 24
    My son is currently 4 and 8 months - we got him an Isla bike CNOC 16 for his fourth birthday - it is a brilliant little bike and we take him on a local cycleway on a Saturday whilst sister is at gymnastics. He rode 4 miles last week - not knowing about Isla bikes for my daughter, the bike she had at this age was worn out before it was grown out of owning to the distances covered.

    I assume you are happy with cycle storage at school - my daughter (age 8) has commented she would never leave an isla bike at school as bike sheds are in playground with kids clambering over bikes at lunch time! Only a 5 minute walk for us so not an issue.
  • Janbo25
    Janbo25 Posts: 68
    we're just about to upgrade from Trek Jet 16 to Islabike Beinn 20" so got the Trek for sale if you're interested?
  • Clare_voiant
    Clare_voiant Posts: 10
    we got the cnoc 16 for my son for his 3rd birthday (he's very tall), its so light and easy to manage I would recommend it to anyone. It was his first bike with pedals (having had a rothan). I don't know the other bikes so can't comment on them. The service at islabikes was second to none. They also have a very good resale value.
  • Radioactiveman
    Radioactiveman Posts: 964
    Anything that doesn't have a stupid coaster brake. Went out today with my daughter everytime she stopped pedalling/slight backpedal speed dropped and wobbles followed by fall.
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  • alitodd
    alitodd Posts: 104
    he has a 42 cm inside leg and is 11cm tall
    Wow! 11cm tall? I'm going to guess you meant 110cm, but it made me chuckle all the same :lol:
    I know not where I am going, my future will decide. But it's not the destination, it's the glory of the ride.

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  • baudman
    baudman Posts: 757
    Radioactiveman wrote:
    Anything that doesn't have a stupid coaster brake. Went out today with my daughter everytime she stopped pedalling/slight backpedal speed dropped and wobbles followed by fall.

    Practice.

    My daughter can ride ultra-slow (probably from runbike practice). Also, each and every time she brakes to a stop with the coaster, she puts the other foot down, and leans the bike in that direction, ready to land. That's only through coaching - she didn't learn that one herself.

    Handbrakes are beyond most kids at an early age - that's why good little kids bikes generally come with both. The coaster to stop - the handbrakes to learn, ready for the next bike.
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  • rally200
    rally200 Posts: 646
    You'll have to take him to try for size but was looking for my son at 5 1/2,the Ridgeback 16 was a pretty perfect fit and was very light (ally frame) compared to most of the 16" frames out there (like the Jet which is steel) .

    My kids have had 20" Trek Jet (alluminium) and we've been really pleased - very light, good stand over, and decent components - esp. the tekro brakes
  • bartimaeus
    bartimaeus Posts: 1,812
    The Ridgeback MX16 is an excellent bike... it's pretty light (about 20lbs) and is very capable both on paths and light off-road. Both my sons had MX16s.

    I've not seen the CNOC, but my boys - now 8 and 10 - have Islabikes now (a Beinn 24 and Beinn 26s respectively). Again these are light and really well designed - we were so impressed with the Beinn 26 that we replaced a Trek MT60 with the Beinn 24... the MT60 is a good bike, and very sturdy, but at 28+ lbs its about 5lbs heavier than the Beinn, and when you are 7 that makes abi difference.

    If all the Islabikes are as good as the Beinn - and I suspect that they are - then you can't go wrong choosing one.
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  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    My son had the Ridgeback - single speed - very good bike, daughter had an IslaBike, also very good, costs more, does have gears so more versatile if you are riding on hills.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    My son had the Ridgeback - single speed - very good bike, daughter had an IslaBike, also very good, costs more, does have gears so more versatile if you are riding on hills.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.

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