Starter Bike For My 12 year old

[Triskeliongirl]

I would look at getting her a used terry bike, as they come in very small frame sizes with the small front wheel. There are some used ones at the terry site, and some on ebay. Maybe a 16" symetry would make a good starter bike. Having it fit is key to her enjoying the sport, let her upgrade later when she has stopped growing.

[KnottedYet]

Small Knot is riding my Kona Dew now. It has the slanting top-tube which makes size adjustments pretty easy. It is a flat-bar bike, but has 700c wheels. The LBS called it "bomb-proof" and so far SKnot hasn't done it any irrepairable harm. Kona makes tough bikes. $400, and I'll get it back when he's outgrown it. (it is my commuter) I've seen Kona's kid's road bikes, they really are pretty good! SKnot is too big for them now.

Is she comfortable with drop bars or would she prefer flat?