Bike purchase

deremol

Hi,

Looking for some advice/suggestions on where to purchase a bike for my 8yr old daughter. Anything that I have looked at so far weighs a tonne!! surely there must be some where that sells a good quality bike, budget is around €200..

Lumen

You're unlikely to find a bike that is both light and cheap.

Kids bikes are usually heavy because they're built down to a price and most of the weight is in parts which do not scale.

Once mine get a bit bigger I'll be getting something from Islabikes.

My particular favourite is the brakeless fixed gear track bike from 7.1kg. Grow kids, grow! Sundrive here we come...

nachoman

Halfords, do a good selection of bikes

http://www.halfords.ie/?cm_mmc=GooglePPC-_-Halfords%20Ireland-_-Halfords%20Ireland-_-halfords

Bluefoam

I would suggest a local bike shop would be a more suitable place to get a kids bike.

I would recommend:
The Bike Rack - Cabinteley
Cycle Superstore - Tallaght
Cycleways - D1
Hollingsworth - Terenure & Kilmacud
Joe Daly - Dundrum
Mikes Bikes - Dun Laoghaire

But there are plenty of good shops around who can help you get the right bike. I find a good search online is a good idea before approaching them, so that you know what it is you want.

One other thing to note is that kids grow quickly, so no point spending a fortune on a bike that will be outgrown in a short time...

Bluefoam

Lumen wrote: »

You're unlikely to find a bike that is both light and cheap.

Kids bikes are usually heavy because they're built down to a price and most of the weight is in parts which do not scale.

Once mine get a bit bigger I'll be getting something from Islabikes.

My particular favourite is the brakeless fixed gear track bike from 7.1kg. Grow kids, grow! Sundrive here we come...

I presume you're taking the piss.

I'm not sure putting a kid on a FG is a good idea - FG is a lifestyle choice made by experienced cyclists - its not a decision any parent should make for their child...

Lumen

Bluefoam wrote: »

I presume you're taking the piss.

I'm not sure putting a kid on a FG is a good idea - FG is a lifestyle choice made by experienced cyclists - its not a decision any parent should make for their child...

I'm not taking the piss, hence the Sundrive reference.

That bike also takes brakes for off-track usage.

Young kids manage fine with a single gear - you can't get a bike with derailleurs until the wheels are big enough to provide adequate clearance underneath the cassette. With the right gearing it would be fine for flat cycling.

edit: I don't know whether Sundrive actually allows 6 year olds on the track. Anyone?

Also, sorry deremol for dragging this a bit off-topic.

deremol

That's ok Lumen... no worries..

Thanks for the advice lads, I'm in the midlands, so it will probably be a trip to Dublin in the next couple of weeks.

I've tried halfords and they are too heavy.. don't get me wrong, my daughter isn't a little weakling nor is she a giant, but I don't want her to kill herself going for a cycle either...

Back to the internet for some more looking..

IM0

Bluefoam wrote: »

I presume you're taking the piss.

I'm not sure putting a kid on a FG is a good idea - FG is a lifestyle choice made by experienced cyclists - its not a decision any parent should make for their child...

lol, are you kidding - most of the girls around my area when I was around that age had fixed gear! - and no Im not joking

Bluefoam

me@ucd wrote: »

lol, are you kidding - most of the girls around my area when I was around that age had fixed gear! - and no Im not joking

Fixed gear or single speed? There is a big difference - I grew up on single speed bikes (with brakes).

Fixed gears have no brakes so any braking is done by skidding or through resisting the forward momentum with your calve muscles - not by a back pedalling brake... Plus there is no coasting - your feet must go around with the pedals at the speed that the bike is travelling, therefore if an 8 year old loses their footing they will have no way to stop the bike, unless they can get their footing back, with the pedals still travelling with the momentum of the bike.

I haven't much issue with FG's but believe that they are the choice of enthusiasts who choose them due to their (perceived) ability on a bike...

BTW. a velodrome or specific track is a suitable environment, but differs from the street outside your house...

Harrybelafonte

deremol wrote: »

Hi,

Looking for some advice/suggestions on where to purchase a bike for my 8yr old daughter. Anything that I have looked at so far weighs a tonne!! surely there must be some where that sells a good quality bike, budget is around €200..

Semi decent BMX? Halfruds? Your local BS might have some Haros in stuck, think some of them are sub 200

Lumen

Bluefoam wrote: »

Fixed gears have no brakes so any braking is done by skidding or through resisting the forward momentum with your calve muscles - not by a back pedalling brake

That's not true. Track bikes have no brakes. Fixed gear bikes have no freewheel, but may have brakes, though not if they're being used on track.

IM0

Im well aware of the difference. I remember taking asking to use them and going down hills and skidding the back wheel with my legs locked :D

and I think they had a front break only, which some used going down the hills to try stop...ouch..

Harrybelafonte

Plenty of kids around me with sctached and bruised calves. T'was fixed bikes and coaster brakes all around.

Bluefoam

OP, I'd recommend the BMX too. But its important to consider what her friends are cycling as she will probably want to conform with them.

BMX's are great and bullit proof & have the capacity to last a long time as they are good for a wide range of age groups...

rp

Lumen wrote: »

Once mine get a bit bigger I'll be getting something from Islabikes.

I'd agree with that, Islabikes are top quality and light. I got one for my ten year old daughter with the 24" wheels (MTB), so it should last a good few years (changing the seat post, stem).
Before that she had a Specialized Hotrock 16", which wasn't too heavy, I think that was around the €200 mark.

deremol

Had a look at the hotrock.. looks perfect ,
slight bit pricey:(, but then its a well built bike..

Might see if I can get one in a neutral colour that can be passed on the my 5yr son at a later stage... don't think he'd be too happy with a pink or purple bike!!

Thanks for the advice lads..