Help - My 8 year old needs a ladies bike!
StirlingScott
Posts: 4
Hey Guys - just went into my local store to buy my 8 year old a bike for her birthday (she's quite tall) and have been advised she now needs a 14in frame...so I'm looking at a ladies mtb.
Obviously want to keep the cost down so looking at either a Carrera Valour from Halfords (£280) or a Revolution Ascent XC Disk from Edinburgh Bicycle Shop (reduced to £275).
Anyone tell me if there is much difference or recommend something better? Max budget is £300
Ta
Obviously want to keep the cost down so looking at either a Carrera Valour from Halfords (£280) or a Revolution Ascent XC Disk from Edinburgh Bicycle Shop (reduced to £275).
Anyone tell me if there is much difference or recommend something better? Max budget is £300
Ta
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How tall is she? What is she planning on riding? Streets or actual trails?-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
Mainly streets kickaxe but hoping to get her into the tracks later - about 142cm with 68 inside leg. Will have a look oxoman, cheers guys.0
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Have you considered the Boardman Junior Mountain Bike?
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/boardman-junior-mountain-bike-sport-e
It may be ever so slightly too big but there'll be plenty of years in it for her.
I got one for my son and for the money, it's not bad. Sure, it's heavier than my bike, the fork is as useful as an inflatable dart board and irritatingly it's only a 7sp cassette on the rear. However, it's a good starting point for upgrading as they grow and develop their riding.
I've put a set of 80mm Reba's on my sons and will at some point put a set of my old wheels on there with disc hubs and a set of my old disc brakes along with a 10sp shifter and narrow wide up front. I've got the bits, just a case of getting round to changing them over.
He loves it.
Don't be fooled by the £40 off. It used to be £300 and then they increased it to £320 for a week or two, presumably to make this latest sale look more attractive.
With a British cycling membership you get 10% off bikes at Halfords (although it's the last place I'd ever consider to buy a bike as I prefer to support my local LBS). I also get 10% off Halfords gift vouchers and bought the bike in a Spend and Save promotion period so got an extra £20 off so actually got the bike for a shade over £210 which isn't bad considering what else is out there at that price point.
Good luck with the search.
EDIT - My son found the grips were too narrow and the handlebars insanely narrow so both were changed for proper bars and grips.0 -
I did consider it Whyte but unfortunately it failed criteria No.1 - the most important one for an 8 year old girl - colour test. Too dark so no chance!
thanks anyway 0 -
For a young kid I think the most important thing is weight, more important than whether they have suspension or not. Won't matter if it has the best suspension in the world, they won't be riding it very far if it weighs half as much as them.
That Boardman Jnr MTB is 13.3kg - for an 8 year old, that is likely to be around 50% of the weight of an average kid that age.
My son is now 9, and comes out over the South Downs with me on his Islabike Luath 24 with cyclocross tyres on it - 9kg inc. pedals. I don't think he make it on a bike over 13kgs - he only weighs 25kgs, I don't think at his weight he'd have any impact on a suspension fork anyway.
We've got a small Isla Beinn and the Luath, bought both second hand and don't expect to lose much value off them when we come to sell. I'm not all in on Isla, just that when I was looking, no one seemed to be making sub 10kg bikes for kids at a sensible price. There are some for sale on this site...http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40093&t=130394040 -
What about building one?
Could use the one-on inbred 26er 14" frame?_______________
Chris
Current FS: 2017 Nukeproof Mega 275
Current HT: 2017 Nukeproof Scout 275
Kids Carrera Blast Refurb/Upgrade
My Blog - Midlife MTB Mutterings
Previous FS: 2014 Nukeproof Mega TR 26'er0 -
I'd agree with Bold Seagull on this on look at an Isla bike. Or if one can't be found cheap enough, Frog Bikes are really good for kids. Something like a Frog 69 https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/hybrid-bikes/frog69.aspx
Both brands are designed as childrens bikes from the ground upwards so fit better, are much easier to ride and lighter0 -
I'd agree with Bold Seagull on this on look at an Isla bike. Or if one can't be found cheap enough, Frog Bikes are really good for kids. Something like a Frog 69 https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/hybrid-bikes/frog69.aspx
Both brands are designed as childrens bikes from the ground upwards so fit better, are much easier to ride and lighter
He has an 8yo who is as tall as a small adult and so needs a adult bike. Why are you suggesting he buys a child s bike ? it will be too small0 -
Rockrider XS 540 or 560 if there are any left.. you can always put shorter stem on it (the stock one is quite long) they are the blimin good value0
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He has an 8yo who is as tall as a small adult and so needs a adult bike. Why are you suggesting he buys a child s bike ? it will be too small
For one simple reason. If you read the topic, and the bike I linked to you'd understand why.Mainly streets kickaxe but hoping to get her into the tracks later - about 142cm with 68 inside leg. Will have a look oxoman, cheers guys.Frog Bikes wrote:Suitable for minimum inside leg of 69cm (around 10-12 years old), it has 26" wheels.0 -
He has an 8yo who is as tall as a small adult and so needs a adult bike. Why are you suggesting he buys a child s bike ? it will be too small
For one simple reason. If you read the topic, and the bike I linked to you'd understand why.Mainly streets kickaxe but hoping to get her into the tracks later - about 142cm with 68 inside leg. Will have a look oxoman, cheers guys.Frog Bikes wrote:Suitable for minimum inside leg of 69cm (around 10-12 years old), it has 26" wheels.
OOOOOPS sorry0
