Road bike for my 9 year old son

[milkbone]

My son has been asking for a road bike of his for about a year now, I'm seriously looking at this point, since I'm convinced this isn't a "phase" for him now.

So far the Schwinn and the Felt F24 are the ones I've found and been condsidering.

Just wondering if anyone has any other advice or has been through this before. He seems so young to start, but he's into the Tour big time. Loves riding with me and even got up to 16.5mph our last ride with his "hunk 'o steel" bmx bike.

Thanks in advance!

[channlluv]

We bought our then-9-year-old a Trek MTB - it's purple and was the "girl's version" according to the sales guy, but it's plenty sturdy and can be adjusted quite a bit as she grows. She's 11 now and has grown about two inches in height since we bought it, and Dad has had to move her handlebars and seat accordingly. Last year she and I rode the Tour of Poway together (18-mile course) and we're training for it again this year. I'm hoping she can do the 26-mile course this time.

She'll be read for a road bike in a couple of years. It may very well be that she'll get a commuter bike instead of a commuter car when she turns 16. Ha!

Roxy

[sarahspins]

Fuji makes one too... just to throw that at ya

http://www.fujibikes.com/Kids/Road/Ace24.aspx

[Reesha]

Pinarallo Kui is another one. Pricey ($1200), but looking sharp:

[Grog]

My husband, a passionate cyclist, got his first road bike when he was 9 or 10 years old. He rode quite long distances with his dad early on, visiting the grand parents (that would have been 60-70 km round trip) for brunch on Sundays.

He still speaks fondly of his first road bike, a small Bianchi. I know they still make small road bikes. Actually a lot of manufacturers do.

Maybe you can find something used as well, since other kids outgrow their bikes. Ask around in local bike clubs, especially those with more mature members that may have kids the age of yours.

Good luck!

[tulip]

Redline makes a nice 24" wheeled cyclocross bike that is also excellent for the road. My niece had one until she outgrew it. It was about $600 three years ago.

[Loraura]

We bought my small-for-his-age 11 year old the Fuji ACE 650. He loves it.

My only complaint is that it seems the crank is a little large for a child starting out. He has a tough go of it on hills and could use a smaller smallring. We live in Austin, and it's pretty hilly here.





Some other options are:

Giant makes an XXXS road frame with 650 wheels with better components than most bikes marketted for kids.

Cannondale makes a Six-13 in a 40cm in 08, you might still find one or see if there is an equivelent.

Blue makes a 2-four.

[sarahspins]

Giant makes an XXXS road frame with 650 wheels with better components than most bikes marketted for kids.

It's funny you mention that, there's been one listed on our local CL

Other than the crank issue, how are you liking the Fuji? My big kid needs to be a couple inches taller before we can really look at anything.. so I have a while to research

[Loraura]

My son absolutely adores the bike. This means I adore the bike, because he wants to ride it, and he wants to ride with me!

He can keep a 10-12 mph pace on it. He has his own cateye and loves seeing the data.

They actually make it in one size smaller than the 650, called the Ace 24, i think. it must be tiny.

Really the only thing I would change is the small front chainring. It's a 42/52. That's quite a bit bigger than a compact, and he feels it. The 13/28 cassette in the back helps, but frankly, not enough for him. Seems really odd that they choose that. I know I'd be feeling it if I lost my 34 ring.

Also be aware that small frames like that can generally only accommodate one water bottle holder, so on long hot rides, it's a consideration.

[Triskeliongirl]

I know Trek also makes a 24" road bike. I would imagine these would be easy to come by used, since obviously kids must out grow them fast. Ask at your local bike shop, if any of the staff have kids they may have such bikes to sell used.

[sarahspins]

Really the only thing I would change is the small front chainring. It's a 42/52. That's quite a bit bigger than a compact, and he feels it. The 13/28 cassette in the back helps, but frankly, not enough for him. Seems really odd that they choose that. I know I'd be feeling it if I lost my 34 ring.

Also be aware that small frames like that can generally only accommodate one water bottle holder, so on long hot rides, it's a consideration.

The 24 has a 36/44 up front, and the same 13/28 in the back.. which DOES make much more sense.

It is tiny, but so is my 8yo.. he's barely 4 feet tall.

[HappyTexasMom]

Hopefully this won't be too much of a thread drift, but when do you start teaching your kids how to ride geared bikes? My son is 8 and does just fine on his bike. His older bike had hand brakes, but we disconnected them (it was the first bike he rode without training wheels) so that he could only use the coaster brakes. His current bike just has coaster brakes. I'm starting to take him for rides, but it's already proving tough for him to make any kind of speed. He's fairly small...I think he's riding a 19" right now, *maybe* 20".

[Jo-n-NY]

Both Specialized and Trek also make smaller road bikes for kids.

JoAnn

[sarahspins]

Hopefully this won't be too much of a thread drift, but when do you start teaching your kids how to ride geared bikes?

When they can't keep up with you

[HappyTexasMom]

When they can't keep up with you

Haha...so I should have bought him a geared tricycle when he was three, then.