26 inch bike for 10 year old
Discussion
Can’t help with Halfords stuff but a couple of years ago that budget bought my 10yo daughter FS 10yo Trek, size M, with 26” wheels and Fox shock and forks, which is now being ridden by my 10yo son. Bike is now approx 13yo, and perfectly fine for hacking around some fairly gnarly trails.
Second hand would be my recommendation.
Second hand would be my recommendation.
I’d second a well-maintained ‘premium’ bike over a new budget one. You can’t really go wrong with Specialized in my opinion - have a look at the Rockhopper if they come in the right size.
I’m a lifelong cyclist. The more expensive bikes are usually nicer in every single aspect - gear shifting, strong but easy to modulate brakes, weight, suspension etc. I’d bought a cheap bike ages ago for a 6 mile round trip commute and went secondhand.
I’m a lifelong cyclist. The more expensive bikes are usually nicer in every single aspect - gear shifting, strong but easy to modulate brakes, weight, suspension etc. I’d bought a cheap bike ages ago for a 6 mile round trip commute and went secondhand.
You will end up with something 15kg if you go down the Halfords route.
Get something on the second hand market. Unless they do serious off-roading I would not bother picking anything with suspension.
What I tend to do when looking for the next progression on the child's bike is research into multiple make/models until I get a list of bikes with suitable spec and weight then keep looking out on Marketplace and Ebay until one of them shows up.
Get something on the second hand market. Unless they do serious off-roading I would not bother picking anything with suspension.
What I tend to do when looking for the next progression on the child's bike is research into multiple make/models until I get a list of bikes with suitable spec and weight then keep looking out on Marketplace and Ebay until one of them shows up.
I was shopping for the exact same thing at Xmas.
I actually went for a Carrera Vengence, simply because my Daughter wanted a black bike and not the £700 Purple Cannondale I was happy to buy.
At that price point, it doesn't really matter. It will have a simple Alu frame, a terrible 'spring in a tube' RST type fork, a bulky Shimano drivetrain and cable disc brakes.
I'll use the frame as a starting point and upgrade from there, 26" seems to be the first size you can really upgrade and not just by finding a load of 10 year old adult stuff.
RST make a basic, but decent air fork in 26" with alu stanctions which will lift kilos off the weight and transform the ride for less than £150 from one of the German shops. You will have to find a 44mm headset that will allow a tapered steer tube.
https://sportandleisure.com/products/rst-first-30-...
https://www.bananaindustries.co.uk/products/brand-...
Mavic wheelset - £109
https://wheelhut.co.uk/products/mavic-qr-26-etrto-...
£40 for a set of perfectly robust and usable hydraulic brakes. Not all the power in the world, but 10yos don't weigh much and powerful brakes will be harder for them.
https://www.biketart.com/products/shimano-mt200-hy...
Obvs it's an easy way to make a £350 bike a £700 bike, but I'll do it piecemeal depending on how keen she is.
I actually went for a Carrera Vengence, simply because my Daughter wanted a black bike and not the £700 Purple Cannondale I was happy to buy.
At that price point, it doesn't really matter. It will have a simple Alu frame, a terrible 'spring in a tube' RST type fork, a bulky Shimano drivetrain and cable disc brakes.
I'll use the frame as a starting point and upgrade from there, 26" seems to be the first size you can really upgrade and not just by finding a load of 10 year old adult stuff.
RST make a basic, but decent air fork in 26" with alu stanctions which will lift kilos off the weight and transform the ride for less than £150 from one of the German shops. You will have to find a 44mm headset that will allow a tapered steer tube.
https://sportandleisure.com/products/rst-first-30-...
https://www.bananaindustries.co.uk/products/brand-...
Mavic wheelset - £109
https://wheelhut.co.uk/products/mavic-qr-26-etrto-...
£40 for a set of perfectly robust and usable hydraulic brakes. Not all the power in the world, but 10yos don't weigh much and powerful brakes will be harder for them.
https://www.biketart.com/products/shimano-mt200-hy...
Obvs it's an easy way to make a £350 bike a £700 bike, but I'll do it piecemeal depending on how keen she is.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff