Improve kids bike

[UserError]

Hello,
I cycle just over a mile each way to school with 2 nippers and occasional weekend forest trails etc.

We were given a Raleigh Salsa 5 speed for my daughter recently, however the gripshift has failed inside & I am looking to replace it (I like gripshift, so will stay with this system).

This provides an opportunity to replace the rear cassette with 7 or more sprockets as the bar shifters are all the same price but I wondered whether, at this level of cycling it would benefit her? She is approaching 8yo and competent with gear usage.

The mechanics of this proposal don't faze me, just not well experienced with optimal gear ranges etc.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Jonathan

 

[domtyler]

If she is normally on the middle cog at the back when pootling along at normal speed on the flat then nothing needs to change. If, however, she is more normally at the top or bottom then you need a rethink.

 

[swee'pea99]

If she's 7 and competent with gears, well done her! Mine still struggle, and they're older than that. I have to say, though, I find it hard to believe she'll get any great benefit from the extra gears at that age, and tho' you say the mechanics don't faze you, are you sure it won't be a major hassle? I'm not sure what the score is on kids' bikes, but I went from 5-7 on my rear wheel, and while doable, it was quite a job: spreading the rear dropouts, moving the axle cones, re-dishing the wheel....none of it rocket science, but like I say, quite a lot of work.

 

[Mr Pig]

I don't know why you want to stick with grip shifters. Triggers work much better and are easier to use. They're also less likely to get moved by accident.

 

[BentMikey]

OTOH I like grip shifters, the X.0 I have on my bent are excellent, especially when you want to change a lot of gears in one move.

 

[fossyant]

Gripshift are great on kids bikes !

 

[summerdays]

Most kids of that age don't use their gears at all... my 7 y.o. does but forgets abit. Base it on whether they run out of gears - that's his problem but I'm not techy enough to do anything about it.

 

[UserError]

Thanks for the replies - I appreciate them.

As sweepea said, there's an amount of work involved, so I wanted to draw on the vast pool of knowledge out there....

I think on balance I'll pass on this project - there are plenty of other interesting challenges out there!

Cheers
Jonathan

Re Gripshift - I like 'em. Mebbe they're for kids, but hey we're all big kids reallly. I'm riding a Trek at the moment with triggers, after years of Gripshift & I keep forgetting which is up & down with annoying consequences.

 

[summerdays]

I'm riding a Trek at the moment with triggers, after years of Gripshift & I keep forgetting which is up & down with annoying consequences.

I had problems at first ... but basically hubby told me it was the right hand trigger on each side to go up a gear and the left to go down.... seems to work for me (well apart from the odd stupid moment).

 

[Mr Pig]

I keep forgetting which is up & down with annoying consequences.

After a while it becomes totally automatic and you can block-shift as many gears as you like without having to look at the shifters to see where you are.

 

[UserError]

I had problems at first ... but basically hubby told me it was the right hand trigger on each side to go up a gear and the left to go down.... seems to work for me (well apart from the odd stupid moment).

Summerdays,
I tried applying your concept, but on my shifters there is no obvious L or R lever as they are more or less the same distance out.

I use my R thumb to go up on the rear sprocket, but on the the left hand the thumb drops a chainwheel (rapidly!). My brain seems to be wired to want the same results (ie change up) from both thumbs. To me, gripshifts do this, with an obvious tightening/slackening movement..

Maybe I can colour code them with tape....

 

[summerdays]

Summerdays,
I tried applying your concept, but on my shifters there is no obvious L or R lever as they are more or less the same distance out.

I use my R thumb to go up on the rear sprocket, but on the the left hand the thumb drops a chainwheel (rapidly!). My brain seems to be wired to want the same results (ie change up) from both thumbs. To me, gripshifts do this, with an obvious tightening/slackening movement..

Maybe I can colour code them with tape....

I agree that would seem more logical for me too for some reason but basically thinking about it:
Left hand 1st finger to go down, thumb up
right hand thumb to go down, 1st finger up

a sort of Left to Right reading technique maybe?

 

[Mr Pig]

Maybe I can colour code them with tape....

Just ride the thing! You'll soon get used to it ;0)