"Minimum age"

Fritz_Frigursson

Hello everyone. I'm Fritz and I'm a 16 year old kid. I really like bikes and they fascinate me every time I ride one. I started this love of bikes about 2 years ago when I started fixing my cheap MTB (a B'Twin RR 340). I then started modifying the crap out of it, and now it's a completely different feeling bike. I fit disc brakes, entire new drivetrain, new cockpit and new wheels. Now it feels like something a bit more expensive, and I really feel great knowing I made this happen.


Anyway, I unfortunately (for the bike) grew out of it and it's too small. Luckily for me I have 1500 euros to spend on a bike (a lot of saving up for future upgrades) and thought I should get a road bike. Here are my reasons why:

1) They're faster than MTBs, meaning I can get around quicker
2) They're lighter than other bikes, meaning I can take it up the stairs (I need to use this bridge very often to get to places and it has a flight of around 30 stairs, and it's quite hard bringing up 16kg of bike with me everytime
3) They're simpler to maintain, meaning no more fork adjusting or anything too hard
4) They're quite comfortable, meaning I can ride long distances without having to stand for a while
5) I can also go for rides as a sport

I want to start doing some sport with the new bike and I was wondering if I'm "old enough". I never saw anyone in my town under the age of 50 ride a road bike, and I'm afraid I'll stand out and be a pain to everyone on the road (especially cars). Usually kids my age play football or go out with friends but I don't like the "popular sports" such as football, basket and volleyball. I like bikes and I want to ride them as often as I can.
My parents aren't really in favour of this idea and think I should just go swimming or something.

Also love maintaining bikes and want to explore different kind of bikes.


What do you think I should do?

dannbodge

No such thing as minimum age for a road bike.

If you want one get one.

tangled_metal

We were sitting in a cafe that we usually cycle to (drove there that time on the way back from somewhere). Across the way a family came along in full on Lycra roadie kit. A MAMIL, his wife and two kids early teens. All had road bikes ranging from IIRC 24" wheeled Road bike for kids through to a film sized women's bike for the older daughter (possibly 26" wheels kids road bike). They were something like 13 & 15 years old I reckon.

The youngest had a top on with a local cycling club for kids only called Cogset. It's a club that's part of British Cycling and organises various races throughout the racing season.

In case you're wondering, our son is 5, if they accepted 5 year olds he'd be taking part already. You can also get 20" wheeled road bikes for 7 year olds. Including serious ones specced out with shimano 105 gears designed to comply with BC youth racing regulations. Also cyclocross bike too. So 16 years isn't top young by any stretch of the imagination. In fact I bet most top pro cyclists were already several years into serious racing by 16. I know round this neck of the woods that's the case. (Unfortunately because a highly regarded youth rider at about your age was knocked down and killed near where I lived and local paper interviewed someone from BC who said he was a really good prospect for future road and track racing).

So go out and get the bike you want not what everyone else your age is riding of that's what you want. Get out, get racing. It's there really no local youth team or club? Check out your national cycling (racing) body - assuming you're not from UK.

defever

Hey Fritz,

Good on you for being passionate about bikes and being "unique" from playing football or swimming like other teens in your area are expected to do!

I'd say go for it, if you're still growing, maybe get a size bit bigger for your current size and you should be okay? B'TWIN does some good entry-level road bikes and you get quite a lot for your money (I don't own one, but the reviews online consistently say so). Or you can find a second-hand bike that you can customise as you wish, maybe from your local 50y.o. road cyclists?

Can you give us more contexts as to your area? For example, do you have a friendly local bike shop nearby that can give you advice and a place to hang out (maybe show you some routes, meet other cycling teens, etc.)? You mention EUROS, where in Europe do you live? Do you parents go out cycling, or play some recreational sports themselves or with you? What are the road traffic like around where you live?

The chances are, you'll be quicker on road then your local 50 y.o. on road bikes so no need to worry about being in the way of traffic or annoying anyone!

Keep us posted on how you get on! Happy cycling.

Fritz_Frigursson

defever wrote:

Hey Fritz,

Good on you for being passionate about bikes and being "unique" from playing football or swimming like other teens in your area are expected to do!

I'd say go for it, if you're still growing, maybe get a size bit bigger for your current size and you should be okay? B'TWIN does some good entry-level road bikes and you get quite a lot for your money (I don't own one, but the reviews online consistently say so). Or you can find a second-hand bike that you can customise as you wish, maybe from your local 50y.o. road cyclists?

Can you give us more contexts as to your area? For example, do you have a friendly local bike shop nearby that can give you advice and a place to hang out (maybe show you some routes, meet other cycling teens, etc.)? You mention EUROS, where in Europe do you live? Do you parents go out cycling, or play some recreational sports themselves or with you? What are the road traffic like around where you live?

The chances are, you'll be quicker on road then your local 50 y.o. on road bikes so no need to worry about being in the way of traffic or annoying anyone!

Keep us posted on how you get on! Happy cycling.

I live in Milan, Italy. I'm not actually Italian though. My parents don't ride bikes (hence they say I shouldn't do it) and yes, there is a friendly local shop. It's a big store but the guy I usually talk to seems like a nice dude. He gives me advice to what bike I should get, and it's quite evident he's not trying to sell me more expensive things. I noticed this last week when I was visiting the store. There's this Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport (1400 euros) I'm drooling over, And he told me he could order one in my size for me to test and see whether I like it or not. So I asked him his thoughts on an Allez Sprint that was next to it (1600 euros). He said I shouldn't give up such a nice bike for the Allez because he likes how the Tarmac rides better than the Allez.
I think that's friendly advice right there.

Traffic is pretty light if I stay away from the main road. Even then, There's usually only a few cars passing every minute so I'm pretty much sorted out in terms of traffic.

If you want, you could search Segrate, Milan IT on Google maps to see how quiet the town is.


I hope to get on the road soon. Thanks for your comment.

tangled_metal

Italy? If they don't have a bike club for kids then I'd be surprised. Although at your age you're enough if an adult to ride in an adult's club if they allow 16 year olds. I'd have thought Italy has a good road bike club network. Look into their governing body similar to British cycling. They'll list clubs on it and details necessary to get involved.

cougie

There's looooads of Italian road cyclists. You won't see them in town as we all get out to the country on the road bikes. Racing round a city is no fun.

Just Google cycle clubs and Milan and you'll get some leads.

Have fun !

defever

Milano!! Italy LOVES cycling and the world LOVES Italian cycle scene! But I wouldn't blame other teens in Milan going crazy about football, too. Great local team.

Do you want to have a road bike just to get around places or are you thinking of getting into group cycling / racing in the long run? I'm pretty sure, there's a huge cycle scene in Milan, but maybe that's what you meant by cyclits in the 50s. Are there any “hipster” youth on single speed or fixies in Milan? I don’t know. As others mentioned, it might be worth having a chat to the bike shop guy nad/or Google some cycle clubs to see what you fancy.

Also, have you thought about getting a Italian made bike (Milan is infested with cycling history!) like Cinelli, Bianchi, Colnago, lots and lots. Or maybe it's a cliché to cover yourself with Milano bike in Milan… I don’t know.

I think you’re in one of the best places to get into cycling. So go for it, find a bike that you like and go cycling!

Moonbiker

Red Hook Crit there every year so surely some hipsters around

Fritz_Frigursson

defever wrote:

Milano!! Italy LOVES cycling and the world LOVES Italian cycle scene! But I wouldn't blame other teens in Milan going crazy about football, too. Great local team.

Do you want to have a road bike just to get around places or are you thinking of getting into group cycling / racing in the long run? I'm pretty sure, there's a huge cycle scene in Milan, but maybe that's what you meant by cyclits in the 50s. Are there any “hipster” youth on single speed or fixies in Milan? I don’t know. As others mentioned, it might be worth having a chat to the bike shop guy nad/or Google some cycle clubs to see what you fancy.

Also, have you thought about getting a Italian made bike (Milan is infested with cycling history!) like Cinelli, Bianchi, Colnago, lots and lots. Or maybe it's a cliché to cover yourself with Milano bike in Milan… I don’t know.

I think you’re in one of the best places to get into cycling. So go for it, find a bike that you like and go cycling!

Italian bikes are really expensive. Why should an aluminium bike with 105 cost more than a carbon one with Ultegra? I'd love to get a Bianchi some day... When I have 5000 euros to spend.

I didn't find any groups around me, but I'm still on the search. Maybe for now I'll do some rides on my own just to get a feel of it.

I wish there were hipsters in single speeds. 75% of people from 15-25 go around vaping with their friends and to vandalize things. Not a very bright situation if you ask me. They don't even have bikes.

Getting a road bike kind of implies also doing the sport. If I were to buy a 1000 euro bike and use it to go to school... well it wouldn't be an economic choice.