New Bike for 11+ years

ade555

Hi

I need to start looking for new bike for daughter, just checked her high is at 151cm, I looked at her when she rides her Carrera Luna 24" wheels and to me looks like the top tube length is to short, maybe I could stretch that bike a bit with different stem and bars? she is growing to fast, main problem I have with finding new bike is she likes to be able to touch floor with her feet when she's is siting position, I am hopping to get away with 26" wheel and 14" frame, no need for front forks, she uses mostly to get to schools and back and occasional ride out with family. I was thinking to actually build one on cube frame or something like that as I have few spare parts.

Found 1 that might work for her and is not to heavy

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ka ... e-EV240856

What else can you recommend.

Steve-XcT

As an interim height-wise that's just used for school and back I'd be tempted to just get something used.

Building up a frame ... is a lot of fun but even with a parts bin I doubt would make economic sense ..

she likes to be able to touch floor with her feet when she's is siting position

Seems to sort of define her cycling wishes/aspirations (for me at least). So no point getting a road specific or off-road specific but a do-it-all seems the right choice.

In that the Pinnacle is probably as good as anything else. It has an added benefit that she can actually try it in a local Evans and you might spend ages shopping about but anything you might conceivably save more than £50 would probably have trash components.

I'd question the requirement for disc brakes... if you don't run Shimano hydraulic yourself.
It's not really hard doing a bleed but it means having a bleed kit and mineral-oil... and it's the sort of thing once you do it once is easy but a bit off-putting the first time. If you have Shimano hydraulics yourself then its no issue... and the rest of the Acera groupset is perfectly serviceable for the intended use.

So I'd say either look for a 2nd hard at half the price... or it seems pretty much what you'll get for the money new.

ade555

We have been out most of yesterday to look at some bikes, I was very surprised she was even comfortable on adult size bike with 27.5 wheels and Small or 16" frame, hybrid bike would suit her batter at this stage as the whole front of bike feels lot lower compare to having front suspension, I'm having a bit of debate with wife is it actually worth it spending over £300 on bike just to get to school and back, where they park there bikes no one cares so bikes get damaged , I managed to get her on my wife carrera subway after few changes and she feels very comfy, yes is bit on heavy side compare to the like of pinnacle but offers more growing room.

As for disk brakes it don't matter to me, can service anything just not looking forward having v brakes

With my daughter is all about the color and don't matter what I say can change her mind, don't matter if have 1 gear or 100, v brakes or disk, light or heavy, I lost that argument already when she pulled her puppy face

Bike we have seen

Pinnacle link above - she sort of likes this one but I don't think will last her very long size wise

Specialized Jynx - at this moment over budget but she likes the color

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized ... e-EV279817

Carrera Parva - very low spec hybrid, but she likes the most because is Blue

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

Carrera Subway- same as my wife just the wrong color for daughter

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

I think is no point getting her something that she won't enjoy riding.

Been looking around on 2nd hand market at the moment and see what pops up but after trying on few bikes is sort of more urgent decision as the current bike is to small.

ade555

Also to add now

Frog 73 - plenty color to choose from,

https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-k ... rog73.aspx

Steve-XcT

ade555 wrote:

As for disk brakes it don't matter to me, can service anything just not looking forward having v brakes

Likewise but having 2 bleed kits and 2 sets of spare pads was a pain in the ass.
I pulled some SRAM/AVID DB5's off my trail bike so I share bleed kits and pads with the kids bike and my XC bike.
I usually buy stuff like hose, olives, mineral oil when available on discount so I just need a lot less in spares

With my daughter is all about the color and don't matter what I say can change her mind, don't matter if have 1 gear or 100, v brakes or disk, light or heavy, I lost that argument already when she pulled her puppy face

Bike we have seen

Pinnacle link above - she sort of likes this one but I don't think will last her very long size wise

Specialized Jynx - at this moment over budget but she likes the color

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized ... e-EV279817

Carrera Parva - very low spec hybrid, but she likes the most because is Blue

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

Carrera Subway- same as my wife just the wrong color for daughter

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/h ... ybrid-bike

I think is no point getting her something that she won't enjoy riding.

Been looking around on 2nd hand market at the moment and see what pops up but after trying on few bikes is sort of more urgent decision as the current bike is to small.

The Parva seems to have a freewheel not cassette so changing the drive chain which could be cheap buying nearly new off ebay would look like it would need a new wheel as well... and I'm no fan of integrated brakes/shifters