Bike for a 4 year old girl
Discussion
I'm looking at getting a bike for my little girl who will be 4 just after Christmas, this will be her second bike as she currently has a little wooden balance bike. I don't really want to spend much more than £100 so I had a look at the 14'' wheel bikes in Halfords but wasn't at all impressed as they weigh an absolute ton! My preference is to buy new but could be tempted to look at a second hand Isla or Frog. Does anyone have any recommendations? (bonus points if it is purple)
Sparkov said:
Lottie or Blowfish by Dawes? About £150 new.
I'd never considered Dawes but I took a punt on a Blowfish when I saw one second hand for £25 last week. My 4 year old daughter loves it. Not far off the Islas/Frogs in terms of weight either - comes in at 6.3 kg.
Cheers for that, looks interesting, sort of think i was looking forI'd never considered Dawes but I took a punt on a Blowfish when I saw one second hand for £25 last week. My 4 year old daughter loves it. Not far off the Islas/Frogs in terms of weight either - comes in at 6.3 kg.
ked.I'm in the position of having to find a decent 12" for my 2.5 yr old who has progressed from his balance bike to being able to ride an el'cheapo second hand Apollo I bought for £15 just to see if he can ride it.
Best options for him at present seem to be the Specialized Riprock, his BB is a Hotwalk so it's the same frame just with cranks.
The Apollo is comically heavy, heavier than my bike! That's the main reason for getting him a decent one now, he can ride it but being so heavy it's hard work and it's putting him off. The geometry is all to cock too, saddle height is too high so he can't touch the floor but the top tube is too short so he's all hunched up. That's where Isla, Frog, Specialized etc. get it right, they're making bikes that fit the kids they are intended for.
I've been looking at https://www.twowheelingtots.com/ for reviews and tips, a really useful site that highlights the main shortfalls of the bikes at the cheaper end of the market, the side by side charts of sizing and geometry are really useful.
Best options for him at present seem to be the Specialized Riprock, his BB is a Hotwalk so it's the same frame just with cranks.
The Apollo is comically heavy, heavier than my bike! That's the main reason for getting him a decent one now, he can ride it but being so heavy it's hard work and it's putting him off. The geometry is all to cock too, saddle height is too high so he can't touch the floor but the top tube is too short so he's all hunched up. That's where Isla, Frog, Specialized etc. get it right, they're making bikes that fit the kids they are intended for.
I've been looking at https://www.twowheelingtots.com/ for reviews and tips, a really useful site that highlights the main shortfalls of the bikes at the cheaper end of the market, the side by side charts of sizing and geometry are really useful.
Matt_N said:
I'm in the position of having to find a decent 12" for my 2.5 yr old who has progressed from his balance bike to being able to ride an el'cheapo second hand Apollo I bought for £15 just to see if he can ride it.
Best options for him at present seem to be the Specialized Riprock, his BB is a Hotwalk so it's the same frame just with cranks.
We had a Hotrock12, was used as the step up from the balance bike and kept until he outgrew and moved onto the Bonaly 16. Looks like the only difference between Hotrock and Riprock is the balloon tyres. Only issue we had with the Hotrock was the learning experience required to master the coaster brake - don't back pedal unless you want to stop!!Best options for him at present seem to be the Specialized Riprock, his BB is a Hotwalk so it's the same frame just with cranks.
Your Dad said:
We had a Hotrock12, was used as the step up from the balance bike and kept until he outgrew and moved onto the Bonaly 16. Looks like the only difference between Hotrock and Riprock is the balloon tyres. Only issue we had with the Hotrock was the learning experience required to master the coaster brake - don't back pedal unless you want to stop!!
Yeh he's tried it with stabilisers still attached in the LBS and struggled a bit with the coaster brake, I'm sure he'll get used to it though!I've been doing lots of research and although I agree with everyone that an Isla or Frog are perfect, I just cant justify the cost (even a second hand one).
I have found this http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B7798.html the Cuda Blox 14, its no where near as light as the above mentioned brands but does look to be much lighter than a lot of steel bikes at a similar price point. It looks to sit nicely between the high end stuff and the shinny over styled high street brand bikes.
I don't suppose any one has any experience of this bike?
I have found this http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B7798.html the Cuda Blox 14, its no where near as light as the above mentioned brands but does look to be much lighter than a lot of steel bikes at a similar price point. It looks to sit nicely between the high end stuff and the shinny over styled high street brand bikes.
I don't suppose any one has any experience of this bike?
Whilst I appreciate a light bike and proper geometry as much as the next man, I think there is an element of us blokes projecting our bike wants and needs towards kids when I personally doubt the need. You should have seen the heaps I rode as a kid! One had rigid metal brake 'cables'!
Anyhoo after a wooden balance bike this was my 3.5yr olds first bike, bought for Christmas.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121299948790
After about 6 months or so we removed the stabilisers and she's been flying around on it ever since. She rode it 5 miles next to me from Wadebridge to Padstow last week, I was really proud of her on such a small bike! (Towed her back with the tailgator)!
Now it's obviously not at the level of a frog/Isla, but she's loved it because it has streamers, pretty stickers and a basket for her teddies and drinks/snacks! She has now just turned 5 and has properly outgrown it so will be getting a new bike for Christmas.
In terms of her next bike I was looking at 16" wheel bikes as that's the ideal fit, but a couple of her friends have just got 20s and I figure with another 5 months growth she'll fit and a 16 wouldn't last her long.
So... I did look at a frog and it's a nice bike, but baulked at the cost and instead took a look in Halfords on the offchance and liked the look of this one. Brakes and contact points all feel good and it has 20 off so I bought it.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Anyhoo after a wooden balance bike this was my 3.5yr olds first bike, bought for Christmas.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121299948790
After about 6 months or so we removed the stabilisers and she's been flying around on it ever since. She rode it 5 miles next to me from Wadebridge to Padstow last week, I was really proud of her on such a small bike! (Towed her back with the tailgator)!
Now it's obviously not at the level of a frog/Isla, but she's loved it because it has streamers, pretty stickers and a basket for her teddies and drinks/snacks! She has now just turned 5 and has properly outgrown it so will be getting a new bike for Christmas.
In terms of her next bike I was looking at 16" wheel bikes as that's the ideal fit, but a couple of her friends have just got 20s and I figure with another 5 months growth she'll fit and a 16 wouldn't last her long.
So... I did look at a frog and it's a nice bike, but baulked at the cost and instead took a look in Halfords on the offchance and liked the look of this one. Brakes and contact points all feel good and it has 20 off so I bought it.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
MonkeyMatt said:
I've been doing lots of research and although I agree with everyone that an Isla or Frog are perfect, I just cant justify the cost (even a second hand one).
I have found this http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B7798.html the Cuda Blox 14, its no where near as light as the above mentioned brands but does look to be much lighter than a lot of steel bikes at a similar price point. It looks to sit nicely between the high end stuff and the shinny over styled high street brand bikes.
I don't suppose any one has any experience of this bike?
Funnily enough I was in Go Outdoors earlier and they stock them, so you could always pop in and check them in the metal.I have found this http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B7798.html the Cuda Blox 14, its no where near as light as the above mentioned brands but does look to be much lighter than a lot of steel bikes at a similar price point. It looks to sit nicely between the high end stuff and the shinny over styled high street brand bikes.
I don't suppose any one has any experience of this bike?
http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/cuda-blox-14-pavement-bi...
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