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kids bikes for going fast and far
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 2010-04-23 8:56 PM |
Expert  1123   Columbus |  Subject: kids bikes for going fast and farI am a ride for transportation kinda guy and my daughter is doing her first tri this year so we want to get her something that can actually be ridden far without the feeling of driving a tank. She has a 20" Target branded Shwinn that weighs more than my Mt Bike. What is out there for small people? She is 44" and just over 40 lbs. and in excellent shape - she can run a mile and bike 3 in the same day. I saw Giant has a limited selection but specs are hard to find and prices are high. Target and Walmart have a good selection and prices are low but I fear they are all heavy pieces of junk. I am willing to spend a couple hundred bucks. I would rather get her something a little large than just right so she can use it a few years. I am thinking about a 24" rather than a 20. Help me. |
| 2010-04-23 9:05 PM in reply to: #2813328 |
Pro 6767   the Alabama part of Pennsylvania | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far I get the concerns about the bike weight, but I would not sacrifice sizing. Your LBS may have some other bikes that work - my kids never got box store bikes; I always went to the LBS (and then passed them along to my nephews when they werre outgrown). Think of it this way - you spend a couple of hundred dollars a year in clothing and shoes for her (in all likelihood) that she will outgrow and need to have replaced. Are you going to buy her clothes that are made for her to fit in several years, or clothes that fit now (or only a little big)? I know that clothes wear out and bikes don't, but the money is the same either way. |
| 2010-04-23 9:20 PM in reply to: #2813340 |
Expert 1116 Thornton, CO | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far I'm pretty sure Specialized and Raleigh both make kids road bikes. I believe 24" wheels or perhaps they make them with 650s now? It's been a while, but when I worked at a bike shop back in 2005 we had some in stock. |
| 2010-04-24 9:40 AM in reply to: #2813328 |
| 91 | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far It's more of a hybrid than a real road bike, but my 9yo daughter loves her new Specialized Hot Rock. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45777&eid=4360&menuItemId=9270 Comfortable, but not fatty tires, etc. But I know when we went to the LBS, one of them had some things that were high-end tri bikes (Felt, I believe), just in tiny sizes. Somehow, I don't have the extra $1,500.... |
| 2010-04-24 10:04 AM in reply to: #2813709 |
Extreme Veteran 887 Lake Placid, NY | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far ABuckAMile - 2010-04-24 10:40 AM But I know when we went to the LBS, one of them had some things that were high-end tri bikes (Felt, I believe), just in tiny sizes. Somehow, I don't have the extra $1,500.... Tiny high-end tri bikes? When I'm ready to upgrade I am SO going to your LBS. (I need a 43 cm frame w/650 wheels.) |
| 2010-04-24 10:47 AM in reply to: #2813328 |
Master 2638 | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far We bought our 7 year old a small Fuji road bike at www.performancebike.com for Christmas. It has 24 inch wheels and is like lightning compared to her Target bike. It is a little big, especially since the brakes are on the drops (we worried that her hands wouldn't be strong enough to use the levers on the drops because of the reach), but the Performance Bikes guy suggested putting extra brakes on the handlebar and now it's perfect. When she's bigger and can reach the drops better we can remove the handlebar brakes. Please note that 24 inch tubes are hard to find but they are very common for wheelchairs. So, now you know where to look. Also, buy an under the seat bag or bento so that the tube is always at the ready so you don't have to put it in your bag. Happy Shopping! : ) |
| 2010-04-24 11:02 AM in reply to: #2813328 |
Veteran 154 Virginia Beach | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far Not sure if this is what you had in mind: http://www.fujibikes.com/Kids/Road/Ace24.aspx Also comes in a 650 version. Hope that helps. (Mrs brown dog us was a bit faster than me!)! Edited by Bone Head 2010-04-24 11:04 AM |
| 2010-04-24 11:45 AM in reply to: #2813328 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far You may want to consider something that's not completely a road bike, something that could handle a little more of what a kid is going to dish out. Redline makes some pretty nice cyclocross bikes, and has a kids' 24" wheeled version that I've seen a lot of the local kids race on in the fall series. http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/cyclocross/2010-conquest-24 There is also a 20" wheeled hybrid that may appeal. http://www.redlinebicycles.com/bikes/cyclocross/2010-conquest-20 |
| 2010-04-24 12:05 PM in reply to: #2813328 |
Elite 3658 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far bruehoyt - 2010-04-23 9:56 PM She is 44" and just over 40 lbs. Our daughter is 48" tall and is just barely tall enough to ride the Fuji. You probably want to measure her inseam to make sure she can stand over the top tube.
There isn't a lot of info readily available on 24" tired road bikes, but if you dig you can find a lot of options. I went with the Fuji because it was the least expensive and the shifters are on the stem instead of integrated with the brake levers. My daughters fingers aren't long enough or strong enough to operate those type of levers. For the same reason I had the bike shop add in line brakes on the top of the bars. I think they charged me $15 for them. Some negatives are:
Also, there is this bike in the classifieds forum. This is definitely a step up from the Fuji. Good luck, and enjoy the rides! |
| 2010-04-24 1:22 PM in reply to: #2813783 |
Member 169 Taylorsville, KY | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far Bone Head - 2010-04-24 12:02 PM Not sure if this is what you had in mind: http://www.fujibikes.com/Kids/Road/Ace24.aspx Also comes in a 650 version. Hope that helps. (Mrs brown dog us was a bit faster than me!)! My son has the 650c model of the Fuji Ace. We were able to get it for around $250 last year @ LBS. It's a good bike for the price. The wheels are built to handle punishment in event they decide to take it through a little dirt. Only thing I don't like on bike is shifters, but he has never complained about them. |
| 2010-04-24 3:19 PM in reply to: #2813328 |
Expert 1123 Columbus | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far Thanks for all the suggestions and input. i don't need a race bike just one that travels well - most of teh 20" kid bikes are I have seen weigh close to 40 lbs. For some reason makers of these things thing people are bying bikes by the pound and supply a 40 lb kid with aenough steel tyo support a 200 lb man. include some fat knobby tires to further drag it down and include plastic comonents that break quickly and there you have it. so far I am leaning toward the redline conquest 20 (tahnks, i'd never heard of it) or maybe a giant bella |
| 2010-04-25 5:51 AM in reply to: #2813945 |
Elite 3658 Roswell, GA | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far cgchandler - 2010-04-24 2:22 PMMy son has the 650c model of the Fuji Ace. We were able to get it for around $250 last year @ LBS.
I figure there are some folks watching this thread, and what it cost is some good info to pass along. We got ours at a Performance store. I think it was $329 and then they had a 20% off sale the day after Thanksgiving plus 10% rebate on our performance member rewards card.
Edited by brown_dog_us 2010-04-25 5:52 AM |
| 2010-08-11 3:55 PM in reply to: #2813328 |
Expert 1123 Columbus | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far we went to performance bikes and found a 20" Fuji Princess Anari on sale and I had a 15% discount card.  It is an AL+ frame and rims with Fuji components. I has a hand brake that is easy to useas well as the coaster brake. My daughter loves the way it looks and it has a bell, tassles, and a basket. It is a bit big for her now but she insists on riding it rather than the Schwinn Stardust 14" she has. With Tax less than $140. Yes, I know I could have gotten a new bike at Walmart for $50 and change but we ride everywhere and I just couldn't deal with the superheavy prone t break bikes thay were offering. I saw a $600 20" road bike at performance and I saw another 20" Trek roadbike at the kids tri. Wowzers! |
| 2010-08-11 4:05 PM in reply to: #3037984 |
| Member 10 | Subject: RE: kids bikes for going fast and far If you lived in the UK I would highly recommend 'Islabikes' (google it). They only make kids bikes but they are great, alluminium frames with great shifters etc. I bought one for 8 year old when she joined the local Tri club. Not sure whether they export! |
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