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Advice on bike size for kids

  • 28-07-2025 08:35PM
    #1
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,262 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭


    My daughter has finally learnt to ride her bike this week without stabilisers. She's 7, so a bit of a late bloomer, she just showed zero interest in riding a bike before.

    She has a 16" Carrera from Halfords. She's about 117/118cm tall. According to the Halfords site 16" is a good size for her.

    Her younger sister is not far behind her on height and needs a new bike (like within the next week), which is where my dilemma comes in. I can't decide if I should buy a second 16" bike for the younger one, or if I should just buy my eldest a 20" and hand the other one down.

    According to Halfords, the 20" bikes start at about 117cm tall, so she'd be right on the lower limit. I'm wondering if it's a bit mad to upsize so soon after learning. On the other hand I don't want to waste money buying a second 16" if she'll outgrow her own 16" within a few months.

    One factor weighing on me is the weight of the bike pretty much doubles once you get to 20" wheel size, and this may be too much.

    Anyone have any suggestions or experience here? Stick with the 16 to build up more confidence or just bite the bullet?



Comments

  • #2
    flatface
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭flatface


    I don’t know about Halfords sizing but have experience with Frog bikes as we have a few different sizes. I always look out for 2nd hand as they hold their value well. You could try out his size guide, it could give you an indication of the correct size to go for based on inseam instead of height.



  • #3
    flatface
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 750 ✭✭✭flatface


    https://www.frogbikes.com/en_FI/fitting.html



  • #4
    Sixtoes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 734 ✭✭✭Sixtoes


    20” is perfect for that age group 7-8. Just buy one and move younger sibling up to the 16”. Carrera from Halfords are top quality bikes.



  • #5
    oinkely
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 894 ✭✭✭oinkely


    I'd second the islabike / frog bike second hand route if you can find one. Cost a bit more than halfords etc but will hold its value and can be sold on for pretty much what you buy it for. The brakes etc are all sized correctly for small hands and they are not heavy.



  • #6
    RGARDINR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,378 ✭✭✭RGARDINR


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058420564/advice-on-bike-size-for-kids

    Just be careful with size of bike, just make sure when getting the bike it's not too big for them that they cannot place their feet on the ground. Neighbour got their child a new bike and their child could only use his tippy toes to touch the ground, fell off it other day and fractured their skull, child is fine now but if had a bike for their size and not 1 bigger the accident probably wouldn't of happened.



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  • #7
    cletus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,526 ✭✭✭cletus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679626#Comment_123679626

    Hope the child is all right. Did they fall off while trying to put their foot on the ground?



  • #8
    RGARDINR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,378 ✭✭✭RGARDINR


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679708#Comment_123679708

    I am not 100% sure but I know that the bike was that too big for him to put his feet down to touch the ground so probably did not help. Yeah he is grand now had to spend a night in temple St



  • #9
    JMcL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,642 ✭✭✭JMcL


    Our 3 kids have 2-3 years between them and we moved the eldest up to a 20" Frog from a 16" at probably around age 8.

    +1 on the Frogs BTW. They're great quality. It's on my todo list over the next few weeks to put it up on Adverts as they've all outgrown it now, so I'll stick in an update here when I do on the offchance you're somewhere close to the SE



  • #10
    8valve
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,013 ✭✭✭8valve


    Another vote here for Frog bikes, having worked for a dealer at one point; well made, designed to last, but pricy - keep an eye out for second hand ones.

    Please don't buy from Halfords; instead, support a local bike shop that may have good used bikes, assembled by a knowledgeable bike mechanic and not some spotty, disinterested teenager who wouldn't know a good bike if it kicked him up the ar5e..

    Also worth a look are the Giant ARX kids bike range; various sizes and colours and designed to last - look after them and your childrens' children will still be using them in years to come! not cheap, though…



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