Choosing A Child’s Bike…A Rough Guide

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Dave, a member of our sales team offers a few pointers.

Welcome, hopefully this blog can help you get it right first time when it comes to choosing a bike for your child. It’s really not that complicated but there are a few important issues to consider. First, and probably the most important consideration is size.

As adults we choose our bikes based on frame size. But this is not the case when it comes to choosing the right size bike for a child. A child’s bike size is determined by wheel size.

Wheel size is measured in inches. They generally go 12″, 14″,16″, 20″, 24″ and 26″. If you do require a 26″ wheel bike, you are now crossing over to small sized adult bikes. You are no longer using wheel sizes, but frame size as a guide.

There are sizing charts and guides online like the one below to help you choose a bike that is perfect for your child. However to ensure the bike is the right fit for your child, we advice you to visit the store.

Wheel Size Age Height (inches) Height (cm)
12″ 2-3 2’10”-3’4″ 85-100 cm
14″ 3-4 3’1″-3’7″ 95-110 cm
16″ 4-5 3’7″-4’0″ 110-120 cm
20″ 5-8 4’0″-4’5″ 120-135 cm
24″ 8-11 4’5″-4’9″ 135-145 cm
26″ 11+ 4’9″+ 145+ cm

 

A member of our sales team can show you all the different options available and guide you through the entire process.

A word of warning, parents are often tempted to go for a bike that is one size up. Something that the child will ‘grow into it’ and will get longer out of it. This may be true but it is often a well intended mistake, particularly if the child lacks riding confidence. A bike that is too big will be difficult to control and handle. You may run the risk of putting them off cycling for life.

Some Top Picks From Our Child Bike Range

If you’ve ever lifted a cheaper children’s bike, I bet the first thing you said to yourself is ‘god that’s heavy!’ Don’t worry..they are not all like that!

Giant, Cannondale, Ridgeback, Raleigh Performance, Cuda and Cube are the go to brands for the best children’s bikes in the Cycle Superstore. They all make high quality, light children’s bikes in a wide variety of colours and sizes.

At the Cycle Superstore we stock these brands for good reason. Our bikes are lighter than cheaper brands but are still tough enough to withstand all the usual knocks and bumps. They also feature superior components and important things like hand size specific brake levers and the frame dimensions are correct for each wheel size.

Just like adult bikes, lighter bikes are easier to ride and just more fun! It’s also worth remembering that when it’s time for your child to move up a size, good quality children’s bike hold their value well and are easy to sell on.

Hybrids

Child’s Hybrid Bike

Hybrids suit most children best, particularly if they are riding the streets, cycle paths and recreational parks. They have light weight aluminium frames and light rigid forks. Light but tough, they are the one bike that can do it all. Three of my favorite hybrids are the Giant ARX, the Cannondale Kids Quick and the Ridgeback Dimension ranges.

16″ bikes will typically be a single speed bike. 20″ and 24″ versions will introduce rear gears, usually 7 or 8 speed and can be either twist (Revo) or trigger shifters.  The Giant ARX and the Ridgeback Dimension come in 14,16, 20, 24 and 26 inch sizes and are available is a variety of  colours. The Cannondale Kids Quick range comes in 16, 20 24 inch and are available in boys and girls versions. We also stock Cuda. The CP20, CP24 are well designed and offer excellent value. They also do a nice 24″ drop bar road bike called the CP24R.

Mountain Bikes

Child’s Mountain Bike

Children’s mountain bikes have fatter knobbly tyres and they are usually heavier than their equivalent sized hybrid. Aluminium frames and either rigid aluminium or steel forks are the norm on smaller wheel sizes. Suspension forks and disc brakes are an option on 20″ and 24″ wheels and will be the norm on 26″ bikes.

Cycle Superstore has an excellent range of children’s MTBs including standout models like the cool  Cannondale Cujo 20+ and 24+, the slimmer tyred Cannondale Trail Kids, the Ridgeback MX range, the Giant XTC JR and their sister brand Liv Enchant for girls. Cube’s Acid range offers various models with or without suspension and with or without disc brakes even on the 20″ 200 model. We now also stock GT bikes and I particularly like the cool looking and excellent value GT Stompers with their unique triple triangle frame design.

Pre Teen/Teen Bikes

Pre Teen/ Teen Bikes

Generally for this age group frame size comes into play. Tough and cool mountain bikes suit teenagers of all sizes. Adult bikes are popular and if budget is unlimited then there are lots of options available including full suspension bikes like the excellent Giant Stance. In the popular €400-€600 MTB price bracket Cube are an excellent option. Their  Aim Range is available in 4 different spec levels and the 27.5 inch wheel size on the smaller 14 and 16 inch frames are great bikes for growing pre teens and early teens. A new option in store is the GT Stomper 26.

Another excellent option for small frames is the Giant ATX and Liv Bliss for girls. Giant use smaller 26 inch wheels on the XXS, XS and S frames and 27.5 on M and above.

That’s about it. This is not in any way a comprehensive round up of all the junior bikes we have but just a pointer to help you narrow down the choice and clarify the size thing. Happy stress free shopping!

All our children’s bikes are available to purchase through our Christmas Club or FlexiFi Finance.  

David Dowse

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