Kids Bikes

[gregd]

Just a quick recommendation. After much trawling of ebay for second-hand Islabikes etc (which go for silly money) I ended up going down the new route for some 24" mountain bikes for my boys.. Couldn't run to 2x new Islabikes but the following seemed to be the best deal out there..

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/mt-track-... (don't forget the Quidco)

Picked up two of these on Saturday from Evans in MK.. cracking deal IMHO and they are chuffed to bits with them. The official Trek store near me still has these at the full price of £240 each (2010 paint job too).

[Mars]

I have heard all about the Islabikes but when I encountered one "in the metal" it didn't impress me particularly. Sure, it's a nice machine but no lighter than any other reasonable brand kids bike out there. I've now see three, all different sizes and the're just not special-enough to warrant their price IMO.

So I bought my son one of these:

http://www.cyclezoneuk.com/13089/products/Ridgebac...

[IroningMan]

We got a 24" bike for my daughter and she grew out of it in barely 2 years; my sons have therefore skipped straight to 26".

The plan is to just buy frames from now on, but we'll see.

[DrMekon]

Mars said:

I have heard all about the Islabikes but when I encountered one "in the metal" it didn't impress me particularly. Sure, it's a nice machine but no lighter than any other reasonable brand kids bike out there. I've now see three, all different sizes and the're just not special-enough to warrant their price IMO.

So I bought my son one of these:

http://www.cyclezoneuk.com/13089/products/Ridgebac...

No weight quoted on that, but the OPs bike weighs 29.2lbs, the 24" Islabike weighs 22.6lbs. Sure they are expensive - with delivery and extras, my 5yrs olds Beinn was £290. However, I'll get around £180 of that back when both my boys are done with it. In fact, there's one just ending on ebay for £200 right now. If you buy s/h, you can expect to sell it on with next to no loss.

Seems like a good deal to me.

[anonymous-user]

Mars said:

I have heard all about the Islabikes but when I encountered one "in the metal" it didn't impress me particularly. Sure, it's a nice machine but no lighter than any other reasonable brand kids bike out there. I've now see three, all different sizes and the're just not special-enough to warrant their price IMO.

So I bought my son one of these:

http://www.cyclezoneuk.com/13089/products/Ridgebac...

What's he going to use the front suspension for (other than cred with his mates)?

[Mars]

Greg66 said:

What's he going to use the front suspension for (other than cred with his mates)?

What does anyone use front suspension for?

[anonymous-user]

Mars said:

What does anyone use front suspension for?

DH mountain biking.

Riding up kerbs, not so much. Cheap suspension forks are usually heavy and st, adding little more than ballast.

[hughjayteens]

My daughter has a Ridgeback Melody 16 and my son an Isla CNOC16 and there is no doubt about it that the Isla is just a better bike in almost all areas (apart from tyre tread!). However, I got the Ridgeback for a cracking price at barely a year old (65% off new price) so was too good a deal to pass, plus it is very pink which is all she cared about. If I'd bought both new, the Ridgeback would cost far more to 'own' given the ridiculous residuals on Islabikes, fueled by their eternal price increases. A CNOC16 was £130 3 years ago and is now £170 - a 3 year old one would sell for £120 on eBay meaning you'd only lost a tenner!

[gregd]

I agree ref the "residuals" on the Islabikes (if only my cars were that strong!) but for two new ones for my kids on current pricing I'd be in for £700 (the Beinn 26 seems to be the equivalent to the Trek 24" judging by the geometry/age recommendations and they are £350 a pop).. For a total of £340 I've got two nice Trek's which have plenty of growing room in them (boys are 7 and 9 - the dual pedal positions on the cranks are clever for when they grow).. I'd have been looking at over £400 for two secondhand Isla's, assuming I could get my hands on them and that they weren't too battered.

Second-hand Trek's/Specialized kids bikes seem to go for circa £120 each at the mo' so I won't lose much either.

Agree ref Ridgeback by the way.. look to be a good range of bikes for the money.

[Mars]

gregd said:

I agree ref the "residuals" on the Islabikes (if only my cars were that strong!) but for two new ones for my kids on current pricing I'd be in for £700 (the Beinn 26 seems to be the equivalent to the Trek 24" judging by the geometry/age recommendations and they are £350 a pop).. For a total of £340 I've got two nice Trek's which have plenty of growing room in them (boys are 7 and 9 - the dual pedal positions on the cranks are clever for when they grow).. I'd have been looking at over £400 for two secondhand Isla's, assuming I could get my hands on them and that they weren't too battered.

Second-hand Trek's/Specialized kids bikes seem to go for circa £120 each at the mo' so I won't lose much either.

This is the sort of thinking I've put into buying a trailer to tow my daughter around. For the limited time she'll need one, a Chariot at £700 was simply too steep.

gregd said:

Agree ref Ridgeback by the way.. look to be a good range of bikes for the money.

Yeah, very pleased with it. It's light - I hang our bikes by their front wheels in the garage - I can pick his Ridgeback up with one hand and I'm not powerfully built. And contrary to the experts above, I thought the sus fork was actually quite good - it has an adjuster and isn't heavy enough to even notice it. For sure, the whole bike is half the weight of bikes I had at his age.

I do appreciate the resale value of Islabikes though, which can make the total cost of ownership quite low. However I expect my boy will keep this one for ~2-3 years by which time I wouldn't anticipate it looking pristine.