Getting a kid into Downhill

[daniemare]

Hi all you knowledagble downhill hubbers.

 

I have 2 questions for getting a 7 year into downhill mountain biking. My son is definitely showing interest. Jumping, tail whipping and getting air is, according to him, the only mountain biking, and going uphill is nothing short of a necessary evil made tolerable by me pushing him.

 

So my questions:

1st - How do I get him a little more exposure into downhill. In and around Stellenbosch. Something that include a bit of teaching will be good as I know next to nothing bar Greg Minnaar.

 

2nd - If the bug truely bites and a new bicycle is needed (he is due a size upgrade anyway) where do one even start. Most websites refers to brands and models not available in South Africa and at eye watering prizes.

 

Thanks All

Edited June 7, 2020 by daniemare

[porqui]

What bike does he have at the moment?

[Vetseun]

Hi all you knowledagble downhill hubbers.

I have 2 questions for getting a 7 year into downhill mountain biking. My son is definitely showing interest. Jumping, tail whipping and getting air is, according to him, the only mountain biking, and going uphill is nothing short of a necessary evil made tolerable by me pushing him.

So my questions:

1st - How do I get him a little more exposure into downhill. In and around Stellenbosch. Something that include a bit of teaching will be good as I know next to nothing bar Greg Minnaar.

2nd - If the bug truely bites and a new bicycle is needed (he is due a size upgrade anyway) where do one even start. Most websites refers to brands and models not available in South Africa and at eye watering prizes.

Thanks All

Cant help with any of your questions. Sorry. My only input would be to get a good medical aid.

[Skylark]

I would imagine a dirt jump bike would be a cheap and good entry point at that age. Relatively cheap to buy, bulletproof and cheap to maintain.

[popcorn_skollie]

Jumping, tail whipping and getting air is, according to him, the only mountain biking

 

What he's into sounds more like slope than downhill. 

 

I would imagine a dirt jump bike would be a cheap and good entry point at that age. Relatively cheap to buy, bulletproof and cheap to maintain.

 

I was going to suggest this as well. 

 

Just worried about sizing though. At age 7 I imagine that even a small frame 26er might be too big. Then again your kid is probably taller than me

Edited June 7, 2020 by popcorn_skollie

[Gavin RR]

Join WP Downhill and make contact in this link   -   https://www.facebook.com/wpdownhill

 

https://www.facebook.com/wpdownhill

Edited June 8, 2020 by Gavin RR

[DJR]

I was wondering about a bmx and a jump park - sounds about right for a 7 year old - and his father

[Duane_Bosch]

I'd advise following the hellsend insta page. They probably have a facebook page and get him to a shuttle day there ASAP. They usually have a shuttle day once a month. When this lockdown thing is over of course.

 

There's LOADS of lighties on those shuttle days and there are lines for all abilities and speeds. There's also dirt jump lines going from easy tables to huge. It's the closest thing to a Euro style bikepark in the WC and the progression of the riders has gone ZOOM in the last few years.

 

It's a really fun day out for young and old. 

[Headshot]

What Duane said. In addition, E Cape local Johann Potgieter runs youth DH skills camps periodically. As far as bikes are concerned, unless you import something you're stuck with the local range of XC type kids bikes. Commencal make decent kids trail bikes but I'm not sure if the local importer brings them in.

[DCJ]

A left field option. Get him a motocross bike. They should be available in his size, and it's what Greg Minnaar started on. From what I understand the skills learnt transfer pretty well to downhill.

[Puncture Kid]

Tail whipping etc <> DH. But seriously hope you have deep pockets

7yo a bit young though?

Edited June 8, 2020 by Puncture Kid

[Headshot]

Tail whipping etc <> DH. But seriously hope you have deep pockets

7yo a bit young though?

No not really, there was a 7 year old at the SA Champs in Stellies this year. He rode the course, went round the big jumps and did okay for his age. Now is the best time to start.

 

There is a rather misguided view of DH in SA. Yes, it is dangerous, but I think there are far more injuries in marathon events than DH or enduro races. Sure the numbers are greater, but in a discipline where skill and fitness stand on a more equal footing, people ride with great care knowing full well that a fall will ruin their race time. We also wear protective gear and the kid I mention above was in his longs, with body armour and the obligatory FF helmet. Another outlay for a parent is that very protective gear. Costs as much or more than the kids bike in some cases.

[DCJ]

Tail whipping etc <> DH. But seriously hope you have deep pockets

7yo a bit young though?

 

The G.O.A.T started (on a motocross bike, so not DH exactly) when he was 4 years old. Not sure when he started real downhill though. Maybe only in his teens.

[rudi-h]

My take...  (PS - As an adult that has been easing into the enduro / DH thing very late in life, I have applied my mind as to how and when one should start with these disciplines)

 

It's understandable that given a choice most kids would want to get into DH rather than any other cycling discipline...  DH has got badass written all over it and jumping and whipping will always be way "cooler" than doing hill-repeats in lycra.  However, IMO you cannot and should not focus on DH alone, especially not at age 7.  DH is way to narrow and specialized for a kid from a gear perspective, and it's very limiting in terms of where you can ride etc.  Not to mention how you'd have to shuttle him up and down the trails on weekends...

 

On the other hand, there's a tonne of cool places to ride Enduro trails which can be done on a normal bike, so I'd suggest that.

 

If i were you:

1)  I'd get him a normal hardtail MTB, but look for something with the slackest geometry (i.e. head angle) that you can find.  Slap on flat pedals and riser bars if you need to, this will make it easier to learn how to hop, manual and jump.

 

2)  Get him a coach (only has to be a few lessons) to learn him the correct technique to balance, corner, hop, manual and jump (in that order).  Jumping causes a tonne of accidents, but it's not that dangerous if you learn how to do it right, so make sure he gets that technique dialled.

 

3)  Let him ride progressively harder trails starting with XC, Enduro and finally DH courses all with the same bike.  If he can master that and still shows serious interest in DH, then I'd look at getting a dedicated DH rig, but if he's mortal, that would still be a few years away.

Edited June 8, 2020 by rudi-h

[Mada3400]

I've seen videos of kids who look about 7 doing motox and have on these helmets that look hilarious because it makes them look like a bobblehead. but i do worry about the safety implications of such a big heavy helmet being supported by such undeveloped neck muscles and bones.

Kali protectives have a theory (i dunno, its pretty logical, probably not a theory) that a thinner helmet produces less torque on your head/neck when it hits the deck, i think this could be a big issue for smaller younger riders. when helmet shopping take this into consideration, having something light, smooth (doesnt get caught on anything while sliding) and thin will make a massive difference how it handles the fall, there must be child specific lids out there that incorporate all this stuff, as the foam required to stop a a grown person's head safely will be like a rock when absorbing the energy of a 7yr old's head hitting the ground...


good protective gear is expensive, and he'll probably outgrow it in about 15 minutes, but you only get one noggin, and it's worth taking care of.