Specialized Dawes or Ridgeback

[newtobikes]

My daughter has just learnt to ride a bike. She is tall and needs a 24inch wheel.
I'm looking at the Specialized Hotrock 24, the Dawes Academy or the Ridgeback Destiny.
Are they all similar standard/quality or is there one that is much better?
Someone else suggested a Claude Butler?
Very confused (and clueless!) so any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Doobiesis]

Specialized every time.

 

[DCLane]

Specialized are fine - I built up a single-speed one for my son to play with this summer.

Personally I've found Ridgeback to be very good. We've had everything from 16" to 24"

Dawes/Claud Butler are very heavy.

 

[Dirk]

Specialized every time.

Why?

 

[newtobikes]

Specialized are fine - I built up a single-speed one for my son to play with this summer.

Personally I've found Ridgeback to be very good. We've had everything from 16" to 24"

Dawes/Claud Butler are very heavy.

Thanks for your reply - really useful. My main concern was the weight of Dawes and Claud butler as those are the 2 I don't know.

 

[Pedalabitslower]

Best to arrange test rides. I found that the bikes that on paper came out top weren't necessarily the comfiest to ride. I ended up with Specialised and love them both (road and MTB).

 

[Duffy]

You considered a kid specific Frog or an Isla bike?

A little bit more expensive but hold their value really well making them a great buy long term

 

[Cycleops]

I'd say they are all much of a muchness, having said that I do like Specialized thoug, they tend to get things right. At this level you can't really buy a 'bad' bike.
Young people usually have a pretty strong idea of what like and don't like and if they find something that's visually appealing they'll resist all efforts to stear them in another direction so I would let her try them if you can and let her decide.

Edit: Having had a look at all three the Dawes might be a good choice as it doesn't have suspension forks, they just add weight and little extra comfort, it also means the money saved translates into better components in other areas. I suspect she might just be captivated by the baby blue Specialized or Ridgeback which is fine.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Ridgeback every time

 

[Kestevan]

Frog or Isla Bike.

More expensive but superb bikes, they're designed from the ground up for kids, and are much more pleasant to ride for it.
If you buy new and look after it you can get 60-70% of your money back when she outgrows it and you need to sell on.

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4966700, member: 45"]We've had a number of Ridgeback bikes, and have found them to be a fair balance between cost and quality.[/QUOTE]
Probably Ridgeback of those three, for that reason mainly. Plus I haven't bought Specialized since they tried to claim Roubaix as their trademark and failed to boot their dealer that used near-naked bodypainted women.

 

[Cycleops]

Near naked body painted women! I'll never buy another Specialized.