Need help choosing Daughters Bike!!!!

[cji]

Hi

 

My 11 yr old daughter is seriously into MTB. She has done numerous 15 & 20km races and at present she has 24inch specialized hotrock. I need some advice on which way to go for her. She is the one that is very keen as i am not a pushy parent!)

 

Now the question is i obviously need to go to a 26inch frame and i take it that her best would be a small frame but it is the age old question dual or single suspension?

 

Advice will be greatly received and if anyone has any bike ideas then please let me know.

 

Cheers

 

CJI

[Andrew T]

I would stick with a hard-tail if she's keen on racing. It's generally easier to learn good technical skills on a hard-tail. She should be focussed on learning to control the bike and be very efficient at all aspects of the sport. A little later on, when she has more mastery of the sport, then I'd consider a soft-tail. She's also not likely to have to tackle too much terrain (or distance) that requires a dual-suspension for a while.

 

Also check that you need to upsize already. My 14yr old has only just outgrown a 24" (but not an avid rider) but I'm watching the 10yr old as she is also into riding and I may be coming up to the same choice soon.

 

Good luck

[DJR]

I had to do the same thinking recently for my 10 and 12 year old boys. After lots of indecision, what made the choice simple was that I looked at the type of riding they do. Both ride all the Tokai single track with gusto, so I went for full suspension.

 

I found very good deals in the classifieds and bought two small Giant Anthems for between 6 and 7k. One is 2007 and the other 2008 and both have decent enough components to think about transferring it to larger frames in a few years. Both belonged to occasional women riders and were in great condition.

 

I would have gone for hardtails if they mostly did jeeptrack and only did funride type races. This probably would have been cheaper, or higher spec and lighter, than the full suspensions. What I think is important at about this age, is to try get them something that is fairly light and not too large for them. That way their bike skills will develop more easily than on a heavy, wrong size bike and they will enjoy it more, and hopefully keep on cycling for life.

[dirtrider]

In this case definitly a HT . But a small maybe to big . My wife complains her small bike is to big

[cji]

Thanks guys for the replies so far. I'm also concerned re timing of swapping her 24inch to a small 26inch but think she will be there in the next month or so.

 

Andrew T i am with you on the hardtail for learning the skills and being lighter but also hear DJR re single track. We also are in Tokia often and she has started recently with the fairy garden etc so i am pulling my hair out here trying to decide!! Will certainly be scanning the classifieds for small frame though!

 

I myself have a marathon bike and setup so may choose HT for starts!

 

Thanks for the posts. Keep the advice coming!!

 

CJI

[timM]

Give me a shout if you want to get rid of her old bike - I may be interested in it for my son.

[cji]

Thanks TimM but I am keeping in for the next inline!

 

Cheers

 

CJI

[AndreZA]

You are not suppose to teach them to ride bikes, you wife should be teaching her to make sandwiches and fetch beers.

[Tumbleweed]

Wait till your kids start getting bike brand-conscious! My two are, and now it's costing me a fortune!

 

I reckon stick with the HT for now. The kids are usually so light that the bike flies over the rough stuff.

[DJR]

@ TimM

 

Beattbox is selling a very clean 24 inch that I can vouch for in C Town.

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/3287-boys-24-giant-mtx-250-mtb/

[4u2nv]

get a 26" with a XS frame. my daughter is 10 and it is perfect for her