Next Bike After Islabike?

[dr_gn]

All, my son is 13 and has now outgrown his Islabikes Bienn 26. Tried him on my full-sized mountain bike and it’s clear his next bike needs to be an adult frame - probably medium at that.

Usually we go on Peak District bridleway, as per the images below, sometimes a bit larger broken rock trails with some loose downhills:






We don’t do a massive amount of cycling, but I’m of the opinion that when we do, a decent bike makes all the difference to enjoyment. I’d think a hardtail would be OK (full-sus might be too much of a weight penalty, but judging by his rapidly increasing strength I don’t know!), decent hydraulic discs, compliant forks that we can adjust for his weight (47kg). Obviously as light as possible. Budget - around £700 tops - at least this one should last a long time, and we should also get a few hundred £ back from his almost mint Bienn 26. Would rather buy new than S/H. No problem with building a bike up if that’s the best way to go.

Any suggestions please? Cheers.

Edited by dr_gn on Sunday 22 November 21:28

[cavey76]

So i am about 3 years ahead of you in the process. The Islabike my oldest had was our first foray into premium quality kids bikes. It’s been worth it as it hooked him ans has subsequently been used by 2 younger siblings.

I went for a whyte 403, which at the time was one of the few options for bikes that are in that transition space between kid/adult bike. We loved the fact it was a proper ass MTB, disks, front suspension, sorted geo, single chain ring. I think its effectively a 14” frame and at the time the trend was 27.5” or 29” but the 403 used 26” which kept it manageably sized.

Ours is about 3 years old now. My eldest is 15 and 5’8 so has in reality been way to big for it this year but with Covid i have only managed to replace now.

Thoughts on these sort of bikes:

- hopefully you have other kids to make you feel better about investing serious wodge for a kid.
- my boy probably got 2 useable years at best - Covid has delayed the change.
- the Whyte will be inherited by his younger sister and she is mad keen to get her hands on it.
- this segment has got much bigger. Whyte do multiple sort of small adult/large youth bikes.
- my go to requirement is single chain ring, named fork, Rockshox, Suntour - being the most common, hydraulic disks.
- dont dismiss xs sized adult bikes. My second boy has a Scott Aspect, 27.5 but with a 14.5” frame in the post for Xmas(he is 5’ and 13 years old)
- Covid will make it a bh to find something.
- front my recent hunting i have seen good bikes that would suit your requirement from Whyte, Cube and Scott.

[dr_gn]

Thanks cavey.

Yes, I meant to say my daughter will have the Beinn26, and the Bienn20 that they’ve both had will go on EBay.

I’m not sure we’re looking for an age-specific bike any more. He seems fine on my old Saraen Kili Comp, and that was a medium adult frame.

The Boardman hardtails look OK at about the price range:

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2184-...

Any thoughts on the above re. sizes?

[JQ]

Voodoo make good bikes on a budget - check out the reviews. My lads both have Nzumbi's which have had a battering at various bike parks - might be a bit small for your lad though. A Bizango in 16in frame may suit. And should be able to get 10% off at Halfords with ease.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/vood...

Edited to add a review:

https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/mountain-b...

Edited by JQ on Monday 23 November 10:36

[cavey76]

My eldest is 5'8 so i would be going medium on that. It is a disgustingly good bit of kit and your children should say a little prayer every night of thanks for being born so lucky. My 13 y.o would struggle a smidge on the size SM compounded by 29" wheels hence why i suggested the more age specific.

Maybe look for something 27.5' wheel sized to make the transition a bit easier knowing he has a wee sister to inherit might make the price a but less painful.

[louiebaby]

I love that people are buying kids proper bikes, and the kids are getting hooked.

My 8 year old will be getting a bmx to go with his Frog mtb and Frog roadie for Christmas. He loves it. I just picked up some proper cycling shoes for £6.30 on eBay for him too. He's hooked!

The soon to be 6 year old is running an Islabike at the moment, but in the spring will be getting the Frog roadie, as the bigger kid will need the next size up. He's also getting a bmx for Christmas.

Every time I sell a bike they've had, I make money on them. I buy their next bike when I see them for a good price, not when they need them.

If you're looking for a good price on a MTB, look at the ladies bikes, there can be some really good bargains to be found, new and second hand. I've been telling the kids my favourite colour is purple for years, so they shouldn't care if their next bike is slightly girlie coloured. Their mates will only make fun of them once, they'll not be taking the piss after their first race!

[dr_gn]

Thanks very much all - plenty to look at. As ever you're spoiled for choice.

We went out on Saturday afternoon - cold, wind-blown rain, over Broomhead Moors. Grim, but you feel like you've been on some kind of major expedition afterwards - nobody else in sight. Having a decent bike definitely makes the difference. I think that now, trading weight for front forks is a good deal for Peak District outings; he's still way ahead on his rigid Bienn26...



Been out a couple of times in winter at night with him and some work friends - just 12 miles or so round Ladybower. At the far point you turn the lights out and it's just stars - proper bonding session - talked about it for days!

[louiebaby]

dr_gn said:

Been out a couple of times in winter at night with him and some work friends - just 12 miles or so round Ladybower. At the far point you turn the lights out and it's just stars - proper bonding session - talked about it for days!

That's what it's all about!

[Skyedriver]

My lad isn't the most keen of cyclists but outgrew the Beinn 26, he's now at 6 foot, taller than me.
we got him an Adult Islabike as they are still light and simple to use and phycologically still the Islabike he learnt on.
Seems good, disc brakes etc but the chainwheel is too small, he's almost immediately into top gear

[Bill]

I got mine a Voodoo Bizango, I wasn't sure about the 29" wheels but got a deal and it's been great. Got the small and he's still ok on it at 6' (age 13 FFS!)

[PomBstard]

My eldest, now 13, has been riding what was MrsPB's 18" hardtail for the last two years - I've put some better forks on it, and changed the bars/stem to suit her frame, and off she goes! Easily manages firetrail and singletrack. Its not the lightest frame out there, but decent kit has made it more than respectable.

The middle one got a 'new' bike earlier this year just after she was 10 - its an older Trek EX7, size M - Fox front and rear, 26" wheels, 1x11, new rear mech, a couple of things specific to her needs, all for AU$1000, call it 500quid. Just asked in the LBS what bikes they had coming in for exchange and so on, then agreed things from there.

The youngest is only 6, but has been on a Polygon Relic for 6 months - comes with 24" wheels as std but clearance to fit 26"

Note - we still have a lot of 26" wheels/tyres/tubes hanging around so none of this is problematic for me and 26" seems to suit the frames at these sizes well.

All three will last them for a few years now, though the youngest has his eyes on his sister's Trek...