Kids Bike

[mstone]

I’m in the market for a 20 inch boy’s bike, and starting to despair. There just don’t seem to be many manufacturers who sell anything other than nobbies and suspension forks, which is just not the right bike for riding on streets or trails, and of those that do, I can’t find anyone local who actually carries one to try out. (E.g., Specialized has a “Street” model, but none of the local dealers lists it.) Any suggestions?

It’s another chapter in my “the industry has failed normal people” book.

Topic

[eminva]

What are you looking for, specifically?

It is possible to ride a mountain bike on roads and (paved) trails. There will be a difference in speed and pedaling effort, but most kids aren’t looking for performance. My son has always ridden a mountain bike and it works out well because he likes (and seeks out) a variety of surfaces to ride on. Now that he’s getting older, he’d like to try a road bike, but he is big enough for standard adult models.

I do wish, however, that they sold single speed bikes for kids. When my son was younger, he’d drop his bike in front of the door and not really pay attention to which side was up. Thank heavens for the mechanics at Spokes, who earned my undying gratitude.

Liz

[mstone]

Basically something without a suspension fork that will add a couple of pounds and no functionality, smoother tires, room for a water bottle, a few gears. Not a full-on skinny tire racing bike, but something more optimized for the kind of gravel trail/street riding we do as opposed to technical MTB trails. As I look at kids bikes, I’m fascinated that they’re about as heavy as mine; there definitely seems to be room to cut some weight without compromising strength. My son can do a solid 8-10 miles on his 16 inch, but I feel like he’d be a bit happier on hills if he wasn’t hauling around a bike a third of his weight. I didn’t worry about this when we got my daughter’s bike, and experience with the pros and cons of that one have me thinking a bit differently on this one (especially since we have two boys and I’m liable to have this bike for quite a while.)

[mstone]

With regard to the single speeds, I’ve had the opposite problem of finding something with good gearing. May be a matter of what size you’re looking at, I guess. Mostly it probably goes back to my original lament about finding a store with a good selection.

[Greenbelt]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1590[/ATTACH]

Pretty well equipped youth CX bike. Could put on slicks I think.

[eminva]

Wow, that’s a nice bike, Greenbelt. I don’t have a “baby Jake” anymore but maybe that would meet the needs of the OP?

And mstone, I hear you about the weight. We have to keep the bikes in the basement and getting it up and down the steps is a major ordeal.

Good luck.

Liz

[mstone]

In response to some PMs, here’s some of the (few) things I’ve found:

http://www.fujibikes.com/bike/details/ace-203

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/earlylaunch/hotrockboys/hotrock206speedstreetboys

http://www.schwinnbikes.com/bikes/kids/mesa-20-boys

Disclaimer: having not actually seen any of these, I don’t know if they’re any good. There seem to be a lot more choices once you hit 24″ (options from fuji & specialized, and trek & diamondback & kona & felt, etc.) I have a question out to Greenbelt about whether the one above is a 20 or 24.

[Greenbelt]

24″ I think, alas.

[OneEighth]

Redline also makes a very nice 24″ cx rig for kids. Not really helpful if you are looking for 20″.
I bought a used 20″ that came without shocks. And then slapped on non-knobbies and stripped off everything it did not absolutely need. It was still chunky, but at least it had 7 speeds and faster tires.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

I noticed over the weekend that Torker makes a 20″ geared bike, but I don’t remember if it’s a mtn . My twins are on 20″ bmx-style bikes (single speed). My other child is on a 24″ bike from trek with a loop frame, 7 speeds, and is equipped with two places to mount the pedals on the cranks (variable crank length).

[mstone]

that torker interurban looks interesting. did you notice on the web site, or did you actually see one?

[FFX_Hinterlands]

I have a Torker bike (Cargo-T). It can be ordered at any bike shop that deals with Seattle Bike Supply (lots of ’em). I have not yet seen an interurban in the wild.
I was thinking about the “next bike” for my twins when I looked on the website.

[mstone]

@FFX_Hinterlands 29459 wrote:

I have a Torker bike (Cargo-T). It can be ordered at any bike shop that deals with Seattle Bike Supply (lots of ’em). I have not yet seen an interurban in the wild.
I was thinking about the “next bike” for my twins when I looked on the website.

Yeah, that’s pretty much the problem: any of these bikes can be ordered, but can you poke at one & try it out somewhere? (Let alone compare some side-by-side.) I guess the LBSs don’t want to even try to compete with walmart for youth bikes. (Can’t blame them.)

[ShawnoftheDread]

Raleigh’s 2013 catalogue has a nice aluminum 6-speed with street tires called the Rowdy. It looks like a freestyle/BMX but geared. I think Spokes Etc. and REI both stock Raleighs.

[mstone]

The raleigh looks like another interesting choice. I ended up going for the specialized street (sight unseen) just a couple of days ago. I’ll report after Christmas how it works out in practice.

[jopamora]

How do you find the willpower not to just give it to him now? Got my son a balance bike for his 2nd bday next month and it is killing me not to just see him try it out.

[Author]

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