My son's "road" bike

this is awesome!  I've been looking at road bikes for my 9 year old, and they are pretty pricey. 

WOW, nice job Dad.

I hope the two of you get lots and lots of fun days together.

AWESOME!!! Be warned it's all fun and games until you can't keep up with him!

Enjoy your time together!!!

Tell him we are cheering for him!

Yep, really pricey. Felt and Fuji both make a 650(b?) and a 24 inched wheel one. The 650 is spec nicer but they are all around $800. Redline makes cross bikes. REI seems to be the most affordable one out there at $500 they call it 26inch which I think is the 650. http://www.rei.com/product/795151/novara-pulse-kids-bike-2013,-red/... watched Craigslist for about 6 months. the only kids road bikes that came up were 2 "10 speeds" from the 80's. One was $150 the other was $200 both were dept store bikes (free spirit, open road etc). They were in good shape but would have been $50-$100 if adult size.  Both listings went away after a few days I assumed they sold. That is when I expanded my search to the rigid mtb.

lol that is what happens when we swim butterfly.

Nice work. Simple, safe, and effective. And just like my trail bomber bike.

Awesome job man!  Kids going to love it.

Pretty much what I'm planning to build at my up-coming frame building class, only with 26" wheels.

That's awesome.  My 9 and 8 year olds also do tris.  My 9 year old has been pestering me for over a year to buy him some aero bars...he has a Giant Mountain bike!  Ha!  I was relieved when I read that USAT has banned areo bars in kids races.  

I think you had a great idea and one I may work on.  I think my sons would get a kick out of having a "roadie" and wouldn't have to give up their mountain bikes.

Mothers and Dads---Walmart sells an all aluminum road bike race ready for $160.

Check out the 21 speed GMC Denali at Walmart. (Call several Walmarts as not all Walmarts stock this bike). I bought one and as my rider got more and more into it I added things like air bars for birthday, clipin peddles for Christmas, etc. We don't ride together anymore cause he joined the Felt Mafia years ago and rides with a gang now. 

Hope this helps

You found this in the trash ?!? Wow. Must have been your lucky day ...

Is this the one you are talking about?

http://www.bikemania.biz/bicycles/gmc-denali-700c-19-21-speed-aluminum-road-bike/

That is going to be too big for the kids we are talking about. That is a 700c 48cm frame. That would work for kids 5'1" or 5'2". Most 7-10 years old kids are still under 5 foot which is where the 650 and 24 inch tire comes into play. My son is 4'6" or 4'7" which puts him around the 75th percentile. He would still be too small for that bike.  

To a lesser degree you need to contend with toe overlap on a small frame. But I think you can make that work.

I would agree that the small denali when properly setup can be a solution for the 11-14 year old.