Bos

Sorry about that. I obviously missed the 9 part. I was actually looking at the DHR in 24.. https://www.olympiccycles.co.za/product/tyre-kenda-24x2-20-booster-sct/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aO9hpuKlhjmpBkkGMc4fsX2wrF-PC4MGJGiKnmVYsI-8J1D_l4cWJhoCHYIQAvD_BwE Olympic has them for R550

Please share a link. I'm out in the UK next week.

https://dvillecyclery.co.za/product/kenda-booster-pro-tyre-29x220/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwhIS0BhBqEiwADAUhc2g1o9bdljX5ALd91m9hgNfRdf40o0a7e6JP2MIRVERjESTzXF9_ihoC9EIQAvD_BwE Kenda Booster 24 on special at the moment. I've only bought one and was planning to look for a grippier front and move the one I have to the back. The Boosters are cool but the knobs are fairly short and small. Its as if the tire designers scale the entire design down instead of redesigning it from the ground up? The reason for going grippier is purely to make up for lack of experience in knowing how far to push on different surfaces. However, so few options in 24". I'm not sure there is much better. The Maxis Recon 's also come in 2.4'' but they are identical to the Booster Pro, (I saw some in person) The Vee tire co crown gem 2.2 is slightly narrower but not available anymore. Durbanville has 3 options: They have Maxxis DHRII 2.3's and Maxxis Snyper 2.0 Tyres. If only the Snyper came in a 2.4'' It would be an easy pic. but 2.0 might be to narrow. So the DHR 2 is an option, but closer to the opposite side of the spectrum for a 9 year old ripper and quite heavy again. I dont want it to be slow. I see there's a Hans Damph 2.35 from merlin cycles in the UK, and I'm there next week. I just need to make my mind up. The child wont even know the difference> Word of caution with the Booster pro. Use lots of soapy water when mounting. It had a wobble the first time I mounted it and I had to re-mount and pumped to 5 bar to stretch and seat it properly. It now runs true at about 52mm wide. It was 56mm at 3 bar though, but my 25kg laaitie runs slightly lower pressures.

Glad you came right! I still have to drop mine by Nils, and considered leaving them the full length. But did wonder weather they would be strong enough when he gets old 'big' enough to need that length 🤔. As they go, he seems to like the jumps and downs already. Anyways one would have to wait and see I guess.

I think bike hub should have its own "kids bikes build" thread. Its quite fun as old parts can be picked up pretty cheaply and gains are easy to make as the bar often starts pretty low with these bikes. I got him a Silverback SKID 24" which was designed by a friend of mine, and the angles are on the more current side. However the website advertised the bike at 12KG, and when I got it, It was 14kg! Considering he's only 28kg, that would be like me riding a 35kg bike! The bike comes specked better than most and was well priced, but I find with the 24'' bikes and pricepoint its a mix of OEM parts Suspension Fork- I got a straight steerer to tapered converter from Summit cycles and could fit an old RockShox Recon which I turned into an 80mm fork (saved 500g and I tuned it up nicely for him it now actually works) Swapped cable brakes - to hydro Avid Elixir just a performance thing he can now use 2 fingers to brake and 3 to hold on Swapped stem to 60mm Giant contact (100g) Cassette - Swapped the 11-32t stock for an old 1x10 -11-42. These are easy to come by now and great upgrades as I find he spins at 110rpm all the time! and he can now do proper climbs no problem. Tiyes - I have done one wheel as this is quite pricy. I thought I wasn't going to have to do tyres until I took one off to fit a new inner tube and found out they came in 970g each for a non tubeless 2.4'' and had a 180g tube in there.. There are not many 24'' options out there, but Kenda makes a tubeless 24'' Booster 2.2' which was 570g tyre and increased the comfort of his ride massively while it knocked off another 500g. I will do another tyre next month, and the cranks as I have time. I think its around 11.5kg now and after the mods It should be around 10.7kg ish..(without trying to hard) The weight difference makes a massive difference in the responsiveness and his ability to ride technical trails.

Never saw this thread, but I was looking for this recently. Nice to know those cranks on Ali X is worth while. I recently built a 24'' bike for my sons 9th Birthday. Nils has done some which caught my attention on his Instagram page. My sons bike was 14kg not 12kg as advertised, so I'm pulling all of my weight weeny learnings out! His current cranks are not bad, 150mm but square taper with press fitter 36t chainring and some plastic guides. I know they will be 1.3kg as those BB's were especially heavy. I have run out of steam with this a bit as I got distracted with other things but I picked up an old Deore crankset which I want to convert to 150mm. He pedals really nicely with the 150, so I don't want to go to much shorter. This will also knock 500g off his bike and give him a 32'' narrow wide option. These cranks has a scalloped area but I think I will be able to cut the hole where there is enough material. These photos are from Nils's Instagram. I will also attach a diagram with the suggested crank lengths.

Haha, Philip, for a second I was wondering if all my years of riding could some how be grafted into his genes. I never considered riding well being a talent, It happens when someone puts in the hours.. Like building your own tracks back in high school and if thats all you do for quite a while, anyone would get it eventually!? However he seems to have a bit of raw talent. But lots and lots to learn. Not sure I want to get him hooked on riding to early. He must play team sports etc.

Gents, Just wanted to say thanks for the help with the trails. We parked at 96 Winery last week and went up and down that green belt to Somerset Collage, and then under the road for a loop back to the parking. It was super enjoyable and beautiful. I might take the 6 year old and wife there too! So I was going to take him up to Element at Montmarie Last night but realized they would close before I get the car out. So we ended up doing the blue loop at Helderberg from the Steynsrust Circle. The Little man surprised me. The climb through granny's forest is quite steep initially and then becomes quite rooty, he managed the steep parts and had one vloer-moer when he fell over on a rooty harpin, but after some water and a chat he was on it and managed to ride most of it like a champ. We caried on up to the pump house where the blue route joins the downhill home as he wanted a "proper downhill" I knew he could ride down it as he has a little bit of skill but and he just got into it and let rip! I was stressing big time thinking he's going to go straight over a berm somewhere as he hardly slowed down for the berms which is loose over hardpack as you probably know (and he does not have very grippy tires). I think he went down there faster than a lot of seasoned folks and it was his first time. I was honestly amazed, and realized how these kids just push the limits and make their own rules. I am now looking for a set of pads for him.. as I know that day will come

Thanks for the replies guys. I have ridden all the trails in the area on the mountain side of the R44 and will go there once he's built a bit of fitness. I did Element a few times just before the winds and that was going to be one of our next trips. I heard its all clear. Those berms should be fine for him, smooth and not a lot of loose gravel. I think he will love it. We tried Eden last Sunday and unfortunately its wrecked.. half the forest has blown over. The 96 Winery road option also looks worth exploring. @ClintH Could I Park at the winery road parking, go down the game trail and return via the "Paddagang" trail onto the 96 winery loop? Even out and back on the Vredenburg farm loop first? Are those all relatively safe? Is the parking safe or best to park on Collage premises? Not sure they will be ok with that. Thanks for all the help guys. Its really just about some tame trails for the little guy as I'm usually looking for the double black options

Hi Guys, this is the most recent thread referring to kids riding I could find in the SSW area. @PhilipVI suspect you will have most of the answers anyway. So my laaitie got a 24'' mtb with an old reba and 1x10 for his birthday. he turned 9. He might weigh 25kg and although brave hes still only a kid. I dont actually want him to become to serious a rider at that age and encourage him to keep playing Cricket and Hockey which he luckily loves. We rode Somerbosch for the first time yesterday, and Its actually perfect for kids. We only did the 12km closer loop (circled top right of the map) but I may eventually want to go further. I have been warned about the safety around the waterworks, but does that eliminate all of the fun singletrack as that might be the only fun downhills, or is it only the other circled area?

Can't make it this year. Goodluck with the event @Christofison and enjoy it gents.

I hope you have a proper casette and not a DH thing because you'll walk the whole way if that's the case. You can also head up as you go to Red Phoenix and you'll actually cross the DH between the Tom and middle sections. The climb up to that point is not to bad. Drop in from there and do the bottom two sections as the top is really just straight lining single-track and nothing to exciting. From the bottom you can go back to the gate and do it all over again, back to the top of DH2 you can either continue taking the next left and then another left( you'll be walking as they are steep) or walk up from the crossing. The Plumber might also be fun on a DH bike.

Thanks for the quick response @Matt the second one is what Im looking for

Hi Guys, Im trying to send a pm to a fellow hubber. But for the life of me, I cant do it. It seems someone on here had a similar problem? When I go to messages on my profile, it only shows an archive of my old chats. but starting a new chat, to a fellow hubber seems impossible? Maybe I'm to old for this @Matt please help!

I felt like I was pinning it through these last berms on Zululand, but this pic of Dane.. F@rk..! Suddenly I know why I was struggling to engage those side knobs on my DHF because I sure as heck was not leaning like this!! I gave my bike "the look" this morning when walking through the garage.. Man, I'm keen! Looking at the detailed results, thanks IRIDE, Im blown away by the skill coming through the ranks. The future of the sport is in good hands! Comparing times of Youth + Sub Junior men to Elete men + Masters.. there's nothing in it! Times are pretty close when comparing 5th, 10th, 15th spots.