Hi - I made a rash promise to my daughter that I'd buy her 12-year old a bike for his birthday... in the middle of a lockdown... as a surprise. Am I mad? Think it can be done? I do at least have his measurements: Height 144cm, inside leg 74, arm length 45. Looking for a road bike or hybrid rather than city or mountain. He turns 12 on the 12th of May. This Frog from Edinburghbicycle cooperative is a good deal beyond my budget... frog-road-70-kids-bike But could it be in the right ballpark? Thanks for your suggestions.
road bike for a grandson
- Thread starter NotaJock
- Start date
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vickster
Legendary Member
Wiggins Rouen from Halfords?
https://www.cyclerepublic.com/wiggi...MIm9-X2df36AIVVu3tCh1l1Qt9EAQYASABEgKWQvD_BwE
how tall is he?
much cheaper than the Frog
@Reynard who is 4’11 has one
https://www.cyclerepublic.com/wiggi...MIm9-X2df36AIVVu3tCh1l1Qt9EAQYASABEgKWQvD_BwE
how tall is he?
much cheaper than the Frog
@Reynard who is 4’11 has one
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DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
If he's 12 then you're it'll depend on his height plus inside leg size. He might fit an XXS/XS 700c frame or a 650c one but at 144cm I'd recommend a 700c wheel bike.
The Wiggins one is a 26" wheel. It's a bit heavy but otherwise OK except for MTB-spec wheels. A lot of Moda's are similar. Probably too small in 6 months or so.
Islabikes are expensive but easy to re-sell and they hold their value. You'd be looking at second-hand though anywhere in your budget.
Does it have to be new? There's little choice down at your price point being honest and, with that in mind, what there is isn't a great starting point. Probably my suggestion would be this Triban 120 in XS size for £380: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rc120-road-bike-grey-id_8554264.html
Alternatives if that's too big would be this new Dawes Academy 650c on eBay for £330: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-Academy-Road-650c-Road-Bike-41cm-New-RRP-549-99-40-Off/383419732362
Going second-hand there is this 700c-wheeled carbon SAB (collection only in Derby) for £330: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAB-Carbon-Youth-Ladies-Race-Bike-43cm/113864711813
Another in 650c size is this Felt F95 Junior for £225 (collection only in Darlington): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JUNIOR-F...T-CONDITION-WOULD-SUIT-AGES-7-12/202795588055 My son had one of these for a year at about 11-12 and it was really good.
I'd suggest contact some of the local children's cycling clubs. Lots of the parents there have bikes stored that they would sell if she doesn't mind second-hand.
Look carefully and you'll find a good one. Where are you at?
My son's had these amongst others:
Felt F95 age 11 - cost us £400 new:
Second-hand XXS size Argon Krypton (full Campag Record!) age 12 - cost us £600 second-hand!
Cervelo S3 (48 cm age 13-14, 54cm age 15-now), both frames bought second-hand:
Every bike we've bought and used has been sold on without any problem. They still crop up at races and have been passed on quite a bit.
The Wiggins one is a 26" wheel. It's a bit heavy but otherwise OK except for MTB-spec wheels. A lot of Moda's are similar. Probably too small in 6 months or so.
Islabikes are expensive but easy to re-sell and they hold their value. You'd be looking at second-hand though anywhere in your budget.
Does it have to be new? There's little choice down at your price point being honest and, with that in mind, what there is isn't a great starting point. Probably my suggestion would be this Triban 120 in XS size for £380: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rc120-road-bike-grey-id_8554264.html
Alternatives if that's too big would be this new Dawes Academy 650c on eBay for £330: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dawes-Academy-Road-650c-Road-Bike-41cm-New-RRP-549-99-40-Off/383419732362
Going second-hand there is this 700c-wheeled carbon SAB (collection only in Derby) for £330: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAB-Carbon-Youth-Ladies-Race-Bike-43cm/113864711813
Another in 650c size is this Felt F95 Junior for £225 (collection only in Darlington): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JUNIOR-F...T-CONDITION-WOULD-SUIT-AGES-7-12/202795588055 My son had one of these for a year at about 11-12 and it was really good.
I'd suggest contact some of the local children's cycling clubs. Lots of the parents there have bikes stored that they would sell if she doesn't mind second-hand.
Look carefully and you'll find a good one. Where are you at?
My son's had these amongst others:
Felt F95 age 11 - cost us £400 new:
Second-hand XXS size Argon Krypton (full Campag Record!) age 12 - cost us £600 second-hand!
Cervelo S3 (48 cm age 13-14, 54cm age 15-now), both frames bought second-hand:
Every bike we've bought and used has been sold on without any problem. They still crop up at races and have been passed on quite a bit.
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I started my son off on a nice used Bianchi with 24” wheels but sadly he grew out of it really quickly. However I sold it on for more than we paid for it.
I replaced it with a really nice carbon fibre Ribble with a 2x9 Sora group set, it’s got a 48cms frame so when he first had it, it was just a touch on the large side but perfect now (he’s 15) it should last for quite some time especially as we’re a small family. (The seat stem is raised as I was riding it)
So my advice is never buy new for kids, unless you’re sure it will be a bike which will last through to their 20’s, firstly they don’t tend to look after them and secondly they grow so bloody quickly!
I replaced it with a really nice carbon fibre Ribble with a 2x9 Sora group set, it’s got a 48cms frame so when he first had it, it was just a touch on the large side but perfect now (he’s 15) it should last for quite some time especially as we’re a small family. (The seat stem is raised as I was riding it)
So my advice is never buy new for kids, unless you’re sure it will be a bike which will last through to their 20’s, firstly they don’t tend to look after them and secondly they grow so bloody quickly!
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
I'm assuming you're talking about the Chartres 26 - the hybrid. That's 11 and a bit kg as supplied. Mine's more than that, as I'm running rack and guards etc.
The Rouen 650c roadie is just a smidgin over 9kg. And I'd hardly call wheels running 23mm slicks MTB-spec...
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
He'll be borderline, hence why I posted two 650c and two 700c bikes. A 12 year-old can ride a 700c bike: mine also had a (very old) Giant TCR from the age of 12 which was an XS size:
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I have a soft spot for kids racing bikes.
wish I was small enough to still ride this!
D
Deleted member 26715
Guest
But surely a birthday present for a grandchild is classed as an essential journey especially if it's a bike
Yes it is intended as a joke
Hi - what a brilliant set of responses! Very grateful, lots of good suggestions that are helping me to be more realistic.
Used is a better idea!. I've already seen one of his older brothers 'lose' a nice bike I gave him. I will see what gumtree has. And maybe there are some Edinburgh folk in cycle chat.net who are selling.
Used is a better idea!. I've already seen one of his older brothers 'lose' a nice bike I gave him. I will see what gumtree has. And maybe there are some Edinburgh folk in cycle chat.net who are selling.
Can't thank you enough for the extensive and helpful reply - you're a star. Given me much to ponder. I'll keep posting - and reading - here.