Kids bike

slimboyjim

Hi - I am looking at buying a first bike for my daughter, and being a bike tart get drawn to all these flash bikes which are more than likely to be complete overkill! I was just wondering what peoples thoughts were - is it worth paying out a bit extra for an Islabike or other 'proper bike' brand, or do I just go for a cheap as chips Argo special?

My daughter is 4, so I'm not looking for gears and it needs to be compatible with stabilisers. Oh, and I want it to be off road capable to get her into good habits

grubby

Islabikes
Nothing compares to them.

cooldad

Cheap and nasty are cheap and nasty, and generally heavy, and nasty.
Go as light as possible.

One of my chief bugbears is seeing someone cruising along on a fancy bike, with wife/girlfriend/kids trailing along behind on BSO's looking miserable.

bartimaeus

Islabikes... light and an easy ride.

Both my boys (8 and 10) have them. My youngest used to have a Trek MT60, but he struggled on anything but the flat. When I weighed the Trek it was heavier than my Anthem, so he now has a Beinn 24 which is 5lbs lighter.

The difference was amazing... http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12708297

allthegearnoidea

my little girl started out on a Dawes Princess, lil 12" wheel bike, she's had it since she was 2 1/2, Loved it, rode it everywhere, then didnt ride it for months then everywhere again as only children do! didnt bother me as was only £60 from the lbs, she's now 4 1/2 and riding without staballisers really happily, but she's Far too big for it now (seat post over the minimum insert and she's still stood on the floor! - very tall for her age) and last few rides she's ran out of speed! pedaling like a Nutter! very amusing!
have just upgraded to a 20" wheeled bike, again its nothign special,std cheap generic girls bike, single speed rigid but a great next step, british eagle, new in box sub £50 inc delivery! i know its not a kids specialized or kiddy cube etc, but tbh. i dont really care if she uss it here and there, gets left in the shed, knowing it didnt cost a Lot and isnt money wasted as such! lbs owner has the girls cube bike for his daughter, not far short of £250 iirc!!
we do also have a tag along, which i use for the school run in good weather etc. and she Loves that! and to be tyoattaly honest, so do i hahhaha! is great being out and about with her on the back chatting away! (also bought on her riding Massively! seems to work great for the sense of balance and made the step from with to without stabalisers a one go effort!
as soon as she's ready for a big bike then it'll definately be a decent keeper! but the british eagle is upgradeable to gears for the next step,
also having a 5 month old girly means it'll be used again in a few years time when she starts riding!!

i'd truely love to have her riding around on a high end boutique bike ( if cotic made kids bikes, one to match daddy's!!) but i just cant justify nor afford to for the use it'll get!

Eranu

+1 for Islabikes my eldest has one and I can't keep her off it. My 4 year old has a spesh hotrock 16 which is also very good, you can pick them up in good nick for about £50 off ebay.