Road Bike for an 11 yr old boy

[PMB]

Hi, Im finding it difficult to find many Roadbikes for kids to compare

He is 11 but quite short (145CM) this one looks ok http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/luath26.html but would like to know if anyone owns one or if they are any good. If anyone knows where else I can find one, that would be great

Thanks

Paul

 

[summerdays]

I know someone who has the next size down from that and they are pleased with it. Don't know where you live but if you want it brand new then you can only get it from Islabikes. You don't have to visit them but if you do you can ride the bike in their car park. I did that and our Islabike turned up within about 2 days of ordering it, however I suspect at this time of year they probably have quite a few orders coming in.

Second hand probably fairly difficult to find - they probably go within clubs quite a bit.

 

[Globalti]

Seconded Islabikes, we have a Bheinn 26 for our lad and it is a really excellent bike. We drove down to their place to buy it and took it away with us. TBH I don't think they despatch the bikes from the showroom, I think they may have a warehouse somewhere.

 

[summerdays]

No there were definitely packed up bikes ready for collection by the delivery company when I was there but I don't think they tend to let customers collect - but not sure on that. Don't know how many 2nd hand bikes they get back... I think they usually say you will get more by going 2nd hand yourself.

 

[PMB]

Thanks all, I live pretty far away (Lancs) but may go down to make sure its right for him.

 

[ChrisKH]

My ten year old son got a 26" Beinn today as it's his birthday. He wanted a more upright bike for commuting to school and general utility bike otherwise he would have gone for the Luath. Plus he's a tall lad, so he fitted the large 26" Beinn rather than the smaller framed 26" Beinn or the 26" Luath.

Next stop, adult road bike!!!

 

[Tollers]

Condor have an "ickle" 33cm road bike on sale half price at the mo. Saw it in the shop over the weekend and really wanted it for comedy value around richmond park.

http://www.condorcycles.com/wintersale.pdf

 

[PpPete]

My 11 y.o. (of similar height) manages a 50cm frame 700c wheel road bike OK. Still too big for him really, has saddle right down, and he's still too stretched out even with shortest possible stem, but he loves it. I had flat bars & twist grips on it at first so it would be like his MTB, but he soon insisted on converting back to drops.

 

[BentMikey]

I'm planning on buying that very Islabike, Paul. My boy is only 7, but is already big enough for it. I'll wait until the end of winter/early spring though.

 

[summerdays]

I would agree with the sitting on the bike ... I took my shortish 8 year old and they started off getting out the Beinn 20. I pointed out that I didn't mind him trying it but that I wanted to see him on the Beinn 24 to see how far he was fitting that one. She took another look at him and said he might fit now. Literally was at the bottom end of fitting the bike - he got on and rode off confidently around the car-park. According to the website they say from 7+, although I had measured his inside leg and didn't think he would fit the bike at that point.

 

[PMB]

ok Thanks, I think a trip down there in the spring is on the cards!

 

[BentMikey]

Thanks - it's been fairly accurate for the last bike we got him. He's very tall for his age, and not so long ago has a shoe size two sizes larger than the next largest in his class.