Why a good bike for your kid?

Children's Bikes - many different types - for many different purposes.

Why get a good bike for your kid?

Well, anything you can do to make cycling fun will pay back 100fold in the future. Your kid won't be featured on Oprah, when he/she is 19 because they require a boat launch to move him/her in and out of bed. Your kid's likelihood of enjoying cycling increase tremendously with every extra penny's worth of value the bike has.

Please avoid the disposable bikes at MalWart and Cajun Triar. Those bikes are so heavy, they'll crush your kid. the brakes are so bad your kids will set land-speed records every time they reach a small hill. Can you tell this is a touchy subject?

Children grow out of bikes - true. A good bike can be passed on or sold many times. A cheap bike will be clogging up the landfill after 6 months of use - and there will have been no enjoyment in that 6 months!

A great option: BMX Bike

BMX stands for bicycle motocross. BMX is not a brand, it is more a style of bike. BMX bikes are rugged bikes with only one speed and they fit a huge size range of riders because they are typically ridden standing up, not sitting on the seat. If your child seems to always be jumping his bike off the curb, dirt piles or home-made jumps, a BMX is great.

Within BMX there are some bikes designed for smaller riders. These bikes use short cranks, a low-slung frame and smaller handlebars. This can allow for riders as young as 6 or 7 to get into a 20" wheeled, long lasting tough bike,

Giant GFR CB $269 20" wheels small frame, bars, cranks

For kids 6-10, tough, back-pedal brake AND hand brake (great for learning), totally rad.

Giant GFR FW $289 20" wheels a tad larger than GFR CB

For kids 7-11, tough, hand brake only, totally rad.

Giant GFR XL $339 20" wheels stronger 3pc. crank

For kids 8-13, tough, hand brake only, 3pc. crankset, totally rad.

Bikes for future bike addicts

What can I say. This is chance number one to get your child stoked on bikes. Do this right and your child will be hooked on bikes for ever.

Most important for kids bikes - that they don't crap their pants because they're scared. You just got them potty trained - it makes no sense for them to crap their pants now. Important: kids should be able to put a flat foot, make that 2 flat feet, on the ground when seated.

RunBike $99

If your little guy or girl is 2 1/2 to 4 years old, you MUST consider one of these. The concept is this: the child learns to scoot along while sitting on the seat. Next thing you know, they're cruising with feet in the air. This is the best way to teach kids to ride, making training wheels obsolete, making kids first cycling experience joyful, not fearful.

Giant Animator - boys NEW LIGHT ALUMINUM FRAME! $219 16" wheels + training wheels

Giant Pudd'n - Girls NEW LIGHT ALUMINUM FRAME! $219 16" wheels + training wheels

For kids 5-7, with training wheels and spiffy colors. 16" wheels.

Giant Frantic - boys NEW Lite ALUMINUM FRAME! $279 20" wheels, handbrake & coaster brake

Giant Taffy - Girls NEW radioactive ALUMINUM FRAME! $279 20" wheels, handbrake & coaster brake

For kids 7-10, offering both a rear hand brake and pedal (coaster) brake. We also include a kick-stand and bell. Notice the geometry on these bikes. The saddle is a little further back so even with a good pedal stroke the childs feet will be able to reach the ground. Quality!

MTX 125 girls color $359 20" wheels adult quality & toughness

MTX 125 boys color $359 20" wheels adult quality & toughness

Notice the frame's shape on this - it allows great standover height. Giant also uses a stem with both height and angle adjustment so the bike will fit appropriately as the kid grows. Also, water bottle, derailleur guard and kickstand included.

STP 125 $399 20" wheels adult quality & toughness

Giant took inspiration from their STP line meaning this bike is built to take a beating with higher quality parts than most Jr sized bikes. This version has 20" wheels.

MTX 225 Girls $399 24" wheels

MTX 225 boys $399 24" wheels

Notice the frame's shape on this - it allows great standover height. Giant also uses a stem with both height and angle adjustment so the bike will fit appropriately as the kid grows. Also, water bottle, derailleur guard and kickstand included..

Marin Bayview Trail $499 24" wheels ultra light awesome shifting

This is one awesome 24" wheeled bike. It uses adult quality shifters, works incredibly well, and is light weight.

Marin Bayview Trail SE $589 24" wheels, disc brakes trigger shifting!

This is one awesome 24" wheeled bike. It uses adult quality shifters, works incredibly well, and is light weight.

STP 225 $449 24" wheels

Giant took inspiration from their STP line meaning this bike is built to take a beating with higher quality parts than most Jr sized bikes.

Norco Kompressor $989

Do you have a junior ripper who wants a real bike and want to visit C.O.P.

Sizing a child's bike

Remember, child bike sizing is based on wheel size. This size is printed on the side of the tire and is roughly the size of the overall wheel diameter including the fully inflated tire.

From one brand to the next, there will be differences in the bike's stand-over height and distance between seat and handlebar.

Age .. Inseam .. Size

2-4 yrs .. 14-17 in. .. 12 in.
4-6 yrs .. 16-20 in. .. 14 in.
5-8 yrs .. 18-22 in. .. 16 in.
7-10 ..... 22-25 in. .. 20 in.
8+ yrs .. 24-28 in. .. 24 in.

Avoiding the cheap Junk

Common complaints about cheap bikes are: 1)my kid doesn't have the strength to pull the brake, 2)the bike is so heavy my child struggles with it, and 3)the chain is always falling off.

As a bike shop owner I have chosen to only offer high quality kids bikes. I want my business to stay strong and making sure all the youngsters get hooked on cycling is part of our evil strategy - if you consider a child developing a true joy for cycling to be evil. Whatever my reasons for only carrying the good kids bikes, these bikes all have brakes that are managable for kids, we try to get the lightest bikes possible and we have bike mechanics building the bikes, not the kid who stocks the toilet paper on the shelves.

Sad Choice

Cycling is an activity that can bring freedom, enjoyment, exercise for a lifetime. What I find really sad is when parents say, "it is just a kids bike, he'll grow out of it in 2 years." These parents choose to spend, say $150 for a piece of junk instead of $200 for something with some quality. I can understand if parents are cash-strapped, but when that extra $50 buys a new video game... aaaaaah! The opportunity cost here is so drastic. $50 more on a bike and you lay the foundations for a healthy life and appreciation for nature and outdoor activity. Spend the $50 on a video game and you lay the foundations for a sedentary life of potato chips, flippin' channels and wearing tank-tops.