Bike for 5 year old girl

Undercover Elephant

So I have to admit defeat - we are not going to get another year out of Madam's bike. Now we have to decide what to ask Santa for.

Having convinced myself that cheap child bikes are as much a false economy as cheap adult bikes, options:

(1) Islabikes Cnoc 16

(2) Islabikes Benin 20 Small

(3) Specialized Hotrock.

(4) Er - something else.

The Benin 20 is described as age 5+, but I've heard comments that it's pretty large. I will probably forego the optional SPD pedals :eek: ... anyway, seems very early to think about gears, doesn't it? Whereas the Cnoc 16 is "4+" and a "first bike". I'd really hope to get at least a couple of years out of it.

The big advantage of the Spesh is the chainguard. She'll eventually be riding it to school, and I will get much less grief if she gets there mark-free. Can you fit a chainguard to a custom-sized chainset like the Isla's?

Madam is 5 next month (so 5 and a bit at Christmas), about average height and going well with no stabilisers. I think she may have a bit of sprinter in her - must be her Mum's genes. Overall aesthetics impress her much more than tassles or doll-carriers. We have a younger girl who will eventually inherit the bike, so I'm happy to spend a bit more to get something that will last well.

Advice, anyone?

Hungrycol

We have are 4 y.o. (5 next month too) a Cnoc 16 and that should do him another year (max). The bike is excellent and the brakes are great, easy pull and responsive. Our 3 y.o is on a Rohan and is ready to try pedals IMO but the 16 cnoc is too big for him just yet. I might go for the Benin next, next year, mucho expensive thou, but it will be passed down twice so maybe worth it long term.

I can't recommend islabike enough.

Lumen

How tall exactly?

I've had both Hotrock and Islabikes, and the Islabikes are miles better.

Regarding CNOC 16 vs Beinn 20 small, the CNOC 16 is lighter and simpler, no messing about with gears - they tend to just leave them in one gear anyway.

Both will take mudguards. Beinn 20 has more choice of tyres, although I tend to leave the standard tyres on them as they are fine for both on and off road.

My 7 y/old has the Beinn 20 as his main bike but still steals his 5 y/o sister's CNOC 16 when he can. It's just more chuckable.

If the CNOC 16 needs to go faster you can always stick a different sized cog on it.

...but the Beinn 20 will last longer, if it fits.

midonogh

Lumen wrote: »

How tall exactly?

I've had both Hotrock and Islabikes, and the Islabikes are miles better.

Regarding CNOC 16 vs Beinn 20 small, the CNOC 16 is lighter and simpler, no messing about with gears - they tend to just leave them in one gear anyway.

Both will take mudguards. Beinn 20 has more choice of tyres, although I tend to leave the standard tyres on them as they are fine for both on and off road.

My 7 y/old has the Beinn 20 as his main bike but still steals his 5 y/o sister's CNOC 16 when he can. It's just more chuckable.

If the CNOC 16 needs to go faster you can always stick a different sized cog on it.

...but the Beinn 20 will last longer, if it fits.

I just ordered a large Benin last week. The website is not up to date. A newer lighter model has been introduced but it is £50 more expensive.

Needabike

No recession round here

Lumen

Needabike wrote: »

No recession round here

...says the person who spunked over a grand on Assos clothing and carbon tubs.

Needabike

Comment on the post not the poster.

Responding to someone's point with personal attacks, regardless of how "witty" you think they are, is not big or clever. It just comes across, at best, as being an ass and at worst a bully with a small doodah (we mean “mind” of course).
It’s much better to stay on the topic of their post, not on the person who posted it. People will respect you for that, take your opinion more seriously and you put the ball back in their court to answer your points.
Abuse is tantamount to saying "you have beaten me with your argument; I can only resort to name calling".

Needabike

Great memory by the way

Oh and its raining in the real world in case your screen says different

Undercover Elephant

Needabike wrote: »

No recession round here

Well I can probably get it through the CTW scheme while not paying any road tax, right?

manwithaplan

My 8 year old son has a Beinn 20 Large. When we bought it first, we worried that he wouldn't get enough use out of it but he goes everywhere on it now. His two younger siblings will graduate to it too and I will probably take the pain of replacing his older sister's outgrown Halfords special with a 'trickle down' Islabike soon enough. The exchange rate has added to the cost and I am not sure I would buy one for a younger child (he got his when he was 7) but you can't fault the quality.

By the way, I found the sizing advice on the website to be spot on.

He is now looking for some swiss cycling clothing and high end wheels - do you know anyone selling?

Lumen

manwithaplan wrote: »

My 8 year old son...is now looking for some swiss cycling clothing and high end wheels - do you know anyone selling?

This kid must be looking to upgrade by now.