laansmith@gmail.com Posted July 12, 2021 Share Hi all I’m looking for some advice and recommendations about a good first peddle bike for my 3.5 year old. He’s been tootling around on his 12” balance bike from about the age of two and really has it down pat. He’s done a 5km and 8km trail ride as well as a few mini pumps and mini flows and adores it. We were thinking of possibly getting him a second hand 16” of better quality to see how he likes it before forming out on a new one or possibly bigger one. The one’s we’re looking at are: A Frog (the red one) Titan Hades (no pick) Specialized Hotrock (Light blue) I personally really like the Spec, but my husband doesn’t as it’s for a girl. Would that really be such a big deal? Anyhow any advice or pointers would be very much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JacBrand Posted July 12, 2021 Share At 3 years and 3 months old I got my son a 16" Silverback, without training wheels. The bike is mountain bike ish. I found that they handle the bike better with a lower handle bar (and lower center of gravity). For starters, move the saddle forward and roll the handles back to shorten the reach. The first pic is from August 2019, the day he got his new bike, the second pic is from December last year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trashy Posted July 12, 2021 Share My son is exactly the same age and also moving from a balance bike to pedal bike. If he's a median height then the 16" bike is a little tricky, but you can help by getting him the lightest bike possible. I think the frog is an aluminium frame, and if it is then that would be my pick. The Spez is steel and no lighter than an Avalanche Bolt that you could pick up much cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJuice Posted July 13, 2021 Share I would go Frog, light bikes for kids. We could not get a Frog st the time and went Norco Sumaarai. Good build qaulity, bearings seem to spin for ever, but it is not Frog light. Edited July 13, 2021 by DJuice Spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laansmith@gmail.com Posted July 13, 2021 Share Thank you all for the great advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACE Cycles Posted July 13, 2021 Share When in doubt, go for the lightest bike, especially for kids. Sid the Sloth and Pure Savage 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sid the Sloth Posted July 13, 2021 Share 1 hour ago, ACE Cycles said: When in doubt, go for the lightest bike, especially for kids. This is true for all bike purchases ???? Mtree 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted July 13, 2021 Share 8 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said: This is true for all bike purchases ???? I thought you were going to sell them the cannondale, might be one size small for the 3.5 year old! Sid the Sloth 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted July 13, 2021 Share Look for Isla or Frog bikes for kids. Avoid things like disc brakes and suspension. (Not just out of principle) There was a spez hard rock the same size as Kittels Isla bike on holiday, the Spez was almost double the Isla bike weight. (this was for a 7 year old bike though). (Suspension, discs, steel frame, terrible wheels, a foot stand, reflectors, a chain guard, all adds weight the poor kids have to drag around. Sid the Sloth 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACE Cycles Posted July 13, 2021 Share 2 hours ago, Sid the Sloth said: This is true for all bike purchases ???? Absolutely agree ???? But 1kg on a bike makes little difference to a 90kg adult, but if you only weigh 20kg with a 60w FTP then 1kg is HUGE! Sid the Sloth and peetwindhoek 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milosh Posted July 13, 2021 Share From experience the kids grow out of their bikes very fast , I would not sweat the perfect decision as you will get another chance at bike choices in the not to distant future. ChrisF and MDJ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sid the Sloth Posted July 13, 2021 Share 3 hours ago, ACE Cycles said: Absolutely agree ???? But 1kg on a bike makes little difference to a 90kg adult, but if you only weigh 20kg with a 60w FTP then 1kg is HUGE! The same can be said about me weighing 62 and the guys I ride with weighing 75+... haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted July 13, 2021 Share 3 hours ago, Milosh said: From experience the kids grow out of their bikes very fast , I would not sweat the perfect decision as you will get another chance at bike choices in the not to distant future. First three bikes were replaced at 13 to 15 month intervals .... Might as well get the one in their choice of colour ... Maritz chose his third bike based on the finish of the welds .... I nudged him to take the other one, as I knew the specs were better ... nope, he went with the one that looked best for him, and had a BLAST on it !! Traded it in 13 months later .... I think sometimes we totally over think these purchases .... Milosh and Rolf Hansen 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted July 14, 2021 Share 18 hours ago, Sid the Sloth said: The same can be said about me weighing 62 and the guys I ride with weighing 75+... haha Thats very kind of you lying about my weight like that for me... or how much does that+ sign add... Sid the Sloth 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pure Savage Posted July 14, 2021 Share 17 hours ago, ChrisF said: First three bikes were replaced at 13 to 15 month intervals .... Might as well get the one in their choice of colour ... Maritz chose his third bike based on the finish of the welds .... I nudged him to take the other one, as I knew the specs were better ... nope, he went with the one that looked best for him, and had a BLAST on it !! Traded it in 13 months later .... I think sometimes we totally over think these purchases .... I have seen kids put off riding their bikes but when they do get a decent ish bike they pretty far behind their peers. That has nothing to do with them, just bad equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sid the Sloth Posted July 14, 2021 Share 3 hours ago, Pure Savage said: I have seen kids put off riding their bikes but when they do get a decent ish bike they pretty far behind their peers. That has nothing to do with them, just bad equipment. "it's not about the bike" - that Lance guy you were telling me about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now