Please help - Kids 24"

mintster

I promise I have tried searching through the forum and have read as much as is humanly possible over the last couple of days!

As title pretty much suggests I am after a kids 24" bike for my son for xmas. He is 8 and 51" tall - he has sat on a 24" and it looks the right size and he felt comfortable. Unfortunately I have pretty strict guidelines - my other half doesn't seem to understand the cost of bikes and so we are stuck at £200 as the maximum spend. As it is for his birthday she doesn't want to buy him a second hand one (believe me I have tried to explain the virtues of it).

Having looked at everything I have found the following...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65602#tab3

With discount code can get this for £170.99.

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m14b3s10p56 ... S_GB/15512

With discount code I can get this for £206.99 - I know this is slightly over £200 but this is about as far as I can persuade the other half to go.

Please can someone give me a little guidance. I really appreciate your help and I am sure when he is a little older my son will be contribute to your forums!!!

supersonic

Have to be careful as the wheel size might be the same, but the frames, cranks and bars can vary enormously.

Not much in the spec - so I'd lean towards the Blast as you should be able to get it locally, try it out, have that back up, and cheaper too!

mintster

And this is why I need advice!!! Is tough as I cannot find any retailers in my area (Exeter) that sell Ridgeback. I can honestly say I never thought it would be this tough to buy a kids bike!

What about the weight difference - the ridgeback is just over a kilo lighter - will this really matter?

I guess part of the problem is I have grown up thinking that Ridgeback is a 'good' brand and Carrera is not so good - checking reviews etc I think this is wrong though.

mintster

Oh - and thanks for the reply!

mintster

Last but not least - is there anything else i should be looking at?

supersonic

Brand makes little difference, is a just a sticker, most of these frames are built by the same people anyway! The weight difference is handy, but a good fit is more important.

What other shops are in your area?

mintster

There is a bikeshed and then it is mainly local shops.

supersonic

Any websites we can look at?

mintster

http://www.sidwellcycles.co.uk/

http://www.bikesheduk.com/

http://www.richardsbikes.co.uk/

http://www.partridgecycles.co.uk/

http://www.saddlepaddle.co.uk/

The problem is while most of the companies have a basic web presence they don't really sell bikes online. It will give you an idea of available brands though.

allen.coulson

Try the speed twistgrip out - I think they are a bit tight for kids.

mintster

Had another look at the Carrera today - looks OK. As Halfords don't do a road test he couldn't cycle it but it looked the right size. Going to hopefully have a look at the Ridgeback tomorrow as it seems there is a local dealer in Exeter - hopefully they will have it in stock so I can do a fair comparison.

DomA

Let us know how you get on as I'm in the same boat, looking for a boys 24".

The Spiderman

My 8 year old is on a GT Aggressor 24 bought locally for £50.I did get him to try the 24 Blast aswell and it would have been a good fit if we could have afforded a new one.He is 137cm (54") tall.

Theres a fair bit of adjustability in most of the big brands 24" offerings,but best to get him to try them.

Carrera and Ridgeback are good options for kids if buying new.