7yr old's bike - gear shift too stiff - options?

Sulli69

I have bought my 7yr old daughter a couple of new bikes that I have ended up taking back as the gear grip shift is too hard to get into first gear - the bikes have shimano deraileurs and proshift max grip shifts.

I can get it into first but even for me it is not what I would call easy and certainly not as easy as on my MTB, so obviously for a 7yr old it's absolutely useless.

As I have bought two different bikes, albeit with similar gear systems and makes, would I be right in thinking that all gear shifts on kid's bikes will be like this? Or is it just because we have gone for Argos and Halfrauds :oops: bikes???

She is tall enough now to use a bike with 20" wheels, so happy to spend a bit more if need be, but need one with gears so she can keep up with dad Any tips on bikes?

nicklouse

stop buying bikes with poor shifters. can she use a trigger shift? get a bike with one speced or get it change for her.

Mike Healey

IslabikesIslabikesIslabikesIslabikes

Repeat ad infinitum

Repeat ad infinitum

Repeat ad infinitum

Anonymous

I really don't think children's bikes need gears.

My 7 year old last year (she's now eight) rode a 26 mile round trip on her single speed Trek girly bike. Bless her she as knackered at the end of it, but gears wouldn't have helped.

The trouble I had when choosing her a bike was finding something without gears and pointless suspension.

baudman

I agree with some of the comments above, but I reckon 7ish is about the time to look at gears. Good gear systems should be easy to use.

However...

...grip shift do wear in a little, and get better with use.
...have you lubed the shift internal mechanisms.
...how about the cable?
...and the derailleur as well (assuming not hub gears).

It's amazing the difference high-quality cabling can make over crud stuff. Without knowing what you bought, it's hard to judge.

Sulli69

We first got a Silverfox Illusion 20" from Argos and then an Appollo from Halfrauds.
I am asking if this is a general issue with these types of shifters, so unsure if it is just the poor quality of the bikes - it sounds as if I buy a better bike it'll have a better shifter - any suggestions?
I do think she needs gears, her last one didn't and she had trouble with hills, whereas with gears she doesn't.
As for stopping buying bikes with poor shifters - well that's why I am here and asking........

on-oneplus26

My seven year old has the same problem on her Raleigh Sunbeam. A strip and lube has helped as has her getting used to shifting. I was about to swap the gears for SRAM x4 which you can do for about £25 for the shifter and mech.
This looks promising too http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/97 ... ifter.html
The other thing I considered was fitting a thumb shifter. They are free if you go to the tip - but they only had 5 speed and not 6!

In the end though I have left it as is as she seems to be doing OK at the moment.

Si

Tom Butcher

Sympathise with this problem as some kids bikes do have very stiff shifting. It's certainly not universal though - mine have an Isla bike and a Decathlon and they can both shift the gears with the grip shift.

merkin

My 7 yr old son's Islabike was hard to put into 1st gear too. He seems to manage now though. Probably a combination of it freeing up with age and him manning up a bit!