Formeula 24 vs Luath 26?

SpiderJ

My 9 year old recently did his first duathlon on a borrowed Islabike Benin, and is signed up for his first triathlon this summer. His regular bike is a Specialized Hotrock 20, which he is both growing out of and also a bit fed up with the weight and unsporty nature.

I've been looking at kids road bikes and narrowed things down to the Formeula 24 or the Luath 26 (yes, I know - but the bike sizing for each one appears to work differently - he is 132cm high, with approx 60cm inside leg).

They are both CX bikes, which appeals to me so he can still take it out and use it as a 'go anywhere' bike, even if he never enters an actual cyclocross race, and then we can put on road tyres for any triathlons, etc.

The Formeula 24 is currently on sale at Wiggle for £280: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/forme-2015-form ... nior-road/ and the Islabike is only sold direct for £400.

I know that Islabikes hold their value pretty well, but is there anything genuinely setting it apart from the Formeula? I've read conflicting opinions on those supplementary brakes on the cross bar of the handlbars. Some think that it's a great confidence booster for kids not used to braking from the drops/hooks. Others think they are a liability, especially given how close they are together, which makes it hard to steer. Any thoughts?

I'm tempted to order both and as long as they both fit, if the Islabike doesn't blow me/him away, send it back free of charge.

I'd also be interested in the Moda Minor CX, but can't seem to find anyone selling it - just the road version.

cheers

S

SpiderJ

Thanks - I looked at Formby, and it's a good deal. However, they apparently do NOTHING to help arrange returns if it turns out to not be a good fit. I would have to arrange shipping, etc. and frankly that's not worth the hassle. Islabike will arrange a return free of charge, and Wiggle will do the same (although in this case they will charge £20 as it's in the sale). Moda need to have a broader network of dealers it seems.

andrewc3142

I've no experience of the Formeula, but have of the Luath (2 of them in fact).

The supplementary brakes are in my view a very good thing for kids using drops for the first time and also for riding around town, to school, etc when they may tend to be on the top of the bar.

Isla bikes are generally very well thought out and keep their value well (sold 2 and got a decent price for each). Whilst not in the carbon road bike class they aren't the dead weight that kids' bikes once were.

Having had 2 kids grow up on them we will probably go down the same route for their 4 year old brother.

mpatts

I can only comment on the brakes, as mini mpatts has a Luath 24.

Amy fits the bike, but really struggles to use the brakes (and for that matter, the shifters) on the hoods. She does every cross race on the supplementary brakes, and wouldn't be able to do so without them. So for me they are a big plus (also, I have them on my CX bike and find it adds a lot to the versatility).

SpiderJ

Cheers

So I ended up picking up a second hand Luath on eBay and have been cleaning it up (last owner seems to have dragged it through several hedges, dumped it in a mudbath and then left it to dry for a month).

I can't quite figure out how to get the right amount of tension on the drop brake handles at the same time as the interrupter brake handles (finally found out the proper name for them). At the moment the interrupter brakes will bring the bike to a full stop nice and sharpish - but the drop brake handles merely seem to be gently rubbing the wheel.

Are they ever both the same, or is it a choice of one or the other?

mpatts

SpiderJ wrote:

Cheers

So I ended up picking up a second hand Luath on eBay and have been cleaning it up (last owner seems to have dragged it through several hedges, dumped it in a mudbath and then left it to dry for a month).

I can't quite figure out how to get the right amount of tension on the drop brake handles at the same time as the interrupter brake handles (finally found out the proper name for them). At the moment the interrupter brakes will bring the bike to a full stop nice and sharpish - but the drop brake handles merely seem to be gently rubbing the wheel.

Are they ever both the same, or is it a choice of one or the other?

Probably a stupid question - but have you engaged the QR on the lever?

SpiderJ

Not a stupid question - but yes :-)

I've gone and bought some new brake cable wire and a new hanger with new straddle wire and will see if it's any better.

mpatts

SpiderJ wrote:

Not a stupid question - but yes :-)

I've gone and bought some new brake cable wire and a new hanger with new straddle wire and will see if it's any better.

I ask as got the mechanic at the LBS to have a look while on a cafe ride with little un. He took one look at it, snapped the QR, and had a short laugh at me.

SpiderJ

Actually I just realised there is no QR on these Tektro Onyx canti brakes anyway :P

mpatts

SpiderJ wrote:

Actually I just realised there is no QR on these Tektro Onyx canti brakes anyway :P

On Amy's there is a 'campag' style one on the lever.