Kids' bike brake lever reach.

Johnny Napalm

Hi.

I bought my 7yr old lad a Carrera Blast a couple of weeks ago, which seems a great little bike that wil last him a couple of years. The only issue he has with it is the brake lever reach - he can reach them, but with having small hands I don't think that he's that comfortable with them.

I've set the v-brakes for him, which are a good set of brakes, but has anyone got any ideas to help with the reach? It's a stupid question, I know, because the levers aren't adjustable, but he's now riding in the woods with me and starting to try new things all the time, so I'd like him to be as comfortable/confident as possible. Are there any kids' brake sets out there with adjustable levers?

Russell160

These are what you are after: I have something like these on my daughter's bike and they're great. I would also suggest adjusting the brakes so the front one has a lot more play/slack than the rear one: this means they will tend to pull the rear one on first and reduces the risk of endos.
http://www.cyclerepairman.co.uk/Tecktro ... s/1078.htm

Johnny Napalm

Thanks.

Do you alter the reach via the small allen head screw?

Chunkers1980

Yes, screw it in and lever rests inwards. Nothing to the cable though.

cooldad

Russell160 wrote:

These are what you are after: I have something like these on my daughter's bike and they're great. I would also suggest adjusting the brakes so the front one has a lot more play/slack than the rear one: this means they will tend to pull the rear one on first and reduces the risk of endos.
http://www.cyclerepairman.co.uk/Tecktro ... s/1078.htm

IMO bad advice. I meet plenty of people who were taught as kids that using the front brake will send them over the bars.
The front brake is the most effective one, and they need to learn properly.

386ka

cooldad wrote:

Russell160 wrote:

These are what you are after: I have something like these on my daughter's bike and they're great. I would also suggest adjusting the brakes so the front one has a lot more play/slack than the rear one: this means they will tend to pull the rear one on first and reduces the risk of endos.
http://www.cyclerepairman.co.uk/Tecktro ... s/1078.htm

IMO bad advice. I meet plenty of people who were taught as kids that using the front brake will send them over the bars.
The front brake is the most effective one, and they need to learn properly.

Must agree with this one. They need to learn to brake properly, and to modulate it.

Wow, there are many adults that still avoid using the front brake...

Ghostt

Russell160 wrote:

and reduces the risk of endos.

But after wheelies they're the bestest trick!

cooldad

Ghostt wrote:

Russell160 wrote:

and reduces the risk of endos.

But after wheelies they're the bestest trick!

For kids, it's skids.

Johnny Napalm

He's really taken to the bike, and he's got far more control over his braking, steering etc. than I have, so maybe I can get lessons from him. ;-)

Over the last couple of weeks I been showing him how important it is to brake properly, and not to panic. The brakes are good brakes, and have no problem in doing their job. He's got the feel of them and the bike now, so it's lots of happy days to come with his old dad on the trails. :-)