The official Riding with Kids thread

[DJuice]

3 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Speaking for myself .... I was the one wanting Maritz on the next size as soon as he could ride it properly.

 

LOTS of kids ride bikes they have outgrown .....

 

A few months with the saddle maxed out can save a lot of cash if he can then jump a size up.

@ChrisF, I`ve definitely change my mind after seeing the Giant.

20inch to 26inch to 29er.

Longer on the 20inch and onto the small Giant 26inch.

With 3 boys lesson learned the youngest will be the test dummy.

[AgentFlash]

7 hours ago, DJuice said:

@ChrisF, I`ve definitely change my mind after seeing the Giant.

20inch to 26inch to 29er.

Longer on the 20inch and onto the small Giant 26inch.

With 3 boys lesson learned the youngest will be the test dummy.

Thanks all for your advice and suggestions. I think I will hold out and look for something towards the end of Jan. Will see how much he grows by then and then take the plunge into the world of 26inch. That Giant is an awesome deal! I've got a couple of old 26inch bikes in the garage with some fairly decent components - XT drivetrain, Mavic rims, Manitou air forks. Could be a fun project to transfer and build up a bike for him on a smaller sized frame.

Thanks again.

Edited July 21, 2025 by AgentFlash

[AgentFlash]

17 hours ago, Shebeen said:

JUNIOR HELMETS!

 

Ok I did do a search on this thread, and most of the info/comments are for kids 2-8 and trying to get ones that actually fit/comfy.

 

I'm at the point where HBomb(10yrs) wants a full face helmet, because he hangs out at the bikepark and does massive ramps that scare me. Bit nervous to cave in too soon since there's very much a have the latest and greatest and fit in with the cool crowd that are sometimes there. It appears having the new model Leatt Full face is my 90s equivalent of a V500 Bryan Lara 501 special edition junior cricket bat. Get one and even though you are 11, you will get half centuries and chicks lining up round the corner. I never got one (or the other stuff).

He also does longish trail rides and that begs the question to me.

a)get a Full face with detachable chin bar.

b)horses for courses - have a helmet for bikepark/dirt jumps and a different one for the longer stuff.

Any advice welcome here. (Leatt seem to have some on sale at not ridiculous pricing actually).

Yes, the full face helmet issue. We had the same story. One of his friends got a full face and then that was all he wanted. I explained to him (granted he is a bit younger) that those are more for "downhill" riders. I showed him some footage from the Downhill World Cups and he seemed to agree that he may not need that yet. I then showed him some footage of Nino tail whipping everything he could with his XC helmet and he seemed convinced that a full face wasn't required to have fun. - If if it is good enough for Nino, then it is good enough for him.

We were looking for a good quality trail helmet with Mips. There were some good Giro and Specialized helmets on sale at the time, however his head was a bit small. So we eventually settled on a Scott Supra, which we have been very happy with. When he is a bit older, will look for a good trail helmet.

Happy helmet hunting.

Edited July 22, 2025 by AgentFlash

[Bro Derek]

2k for a full face helmet vs 200k for dental/facial reconstruction

IMHO if you can afford a big boy helmet, get a big boy helmet, especially if your kids are starting to push the envelope with rubber leaving the ground consistently.

A lot of young kids have little concept of self preservation and to things/attempt things way beyond their skill level. If being pushed in a crowd (ie BikePark and older/other boys with better skills) then it's game on.

Also, using Nino or the DH world cup guys as an example is silly. Your kid isn't those guys. He is learning skills to potentially be 1000th as good as those guys. So now he will try whips and jibes with no skill and less protection.

When it comes to safety or protection, don't skimp

Your kid has 1 face and 1 brain. If either get smashed it's not only you who has to deal with any long term repercussions.

[Shebeen]

On 7/22/2025 at 7:17 AM, Bro Derek said:

2k for a full face helmet vs 200k for dental/facial reconstruction

IMHO if you can afford a big boy helmet, get a big boy helmet, especially if your kids are starting to push the envelope with rubber leaving the ground consistently.

A lot of young kids have little concept of self preservation and to things/attempt things way beyond their skill level. If being pushed in a crowd (ie BikePark and older/other boys with better skills) then it's game on.

Also, using Nino or the DH world cup guys as an example is silly. Your kid isn't those guys. He is learning skills to potentially be 1000th as good as those guys. So now he will try whips and jibes with no skill and less protection.

When it comes to safety or protection, don't skimp

Your kid has 1 face and 1 brain. If either get smashed it's not only you who has to deal with any long term repercussions.

sure, the increase in weight is quite significant - can go from 300g to almost a kg on a junior fullface.

 

What do you think on the removable chin guard option?

[Bro Derek]

3 hours ago, Shebeen said:

sure, the increase in weight is quite significant - can go from 300g to almost a kg on a junior fullface.

 

What do you think on the removable chin guard option?

I have a Giro switchblade I used to use for #Endurobro or when I rode the more #Gnar trails and did jump lines etc

I started wearing it on Blackhill too when lapping the old jump line as well as G-Spot 

It made me feel 'comfortable' knowing I was better protected which made me relax and in turn, more composed at speed.

Luckily the chin bar has never been needed, but I have seen plenty of crashes (both kids and grownups) that would have been a dust off and 'yoh!' with a full face but instead were a bloody and toothy mess

IMHO, after skills, helmets and knee pads are more important than anything else when you're focusing on jumps and speed - and definitely when you're combining them.

The jumps at Westlake or G-land probably less necessary as they are slow and deliberate, but adding speed and big carry distance, even the small road gap at G-spot or casing small gap jumps at speed can get nasty quickly

I'm a big believer that you can never be too well protected, especially as a kid still learning the skills. Recovering from grazes, concussion and dental surgery sucks, and is completely unnecessary most of the time with the right equipment

For R1500, buy this;

https://leatt.com/za/helmet-mtb-enduro-2-0-junior-v24.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21344001342&gbraid=0AAAAA9lbBEJWi-bJbk73s8sp7BC2EGSWr&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkILEBhDeARIsAL--pjzy1q2V2YrWNpvtjriAYudHgXF7Gk7MPKio735goeDnhd1LzXl4duAaApq6EALw_wcB

Edited July 23, 2025 by Bro Derek

[Zama7]

More for todlers but any recommendations on a balance bike or best place to buy one ? 

[WR 1.0]

26 minutes ago, Zama7 said:

More for toddlers but any recommendations on a balance bike or best place to buy one ? 

They grow out of then fairly quickly. We bought the twins Muna bikes off FB. Then upgraded to the 12 inch versions ( singlespeed). 

While my daughter has lost her riding eagerness, my son still rides the Spruit with me, He is getting to big for his 20" now, so its upgrade time again soon

As much as riding a new bike is awesome, to me, it doesn't make sense buying new if you are going to buy another larger size shortly

[AgentFlash]

On 8/11/2025 at 11:21 AM, Zama7 said:

More for todlers but any recommendations on a balance bike or best place to buy one ? 

We also went for a 12inch Muna Balance Bike. We got from a local bike shop, however they are quite easy to find. Sportsman's Warehouse also stock them.

We did buy it new, however have got years worth of use from it and has been handed down to my daughter. No complaints about the bike. We got the steel frame version, which isn't as light as the aluminum version, however, this hasn't been an issue. My son still loves cruising around the house on it. Only real maintenance, that I have had to do is repack the front wheel bearings and give it a wash from time to time. My kids can't resist heading straight through every puddle.

They moved onto a 16 inch pedal bike after this. A balance bike is absolutely the way to go. 

[Zama7]

https://www.checkers.co.za/product/chillafish-buzzi-balance-bike-25cm-10911049EA

 

Bought one of these, seem to retail for about R 1500 online. Just assembled and feels pretty good will test this weeked

[WR 1.0]

So my daughter has said she'll start riding again if its with me on a "double bike". So now the question is, what size tandem do I need? I'm assuming it's a small in the back. Will it be small enough though. The twins are 8. Brother is slightly taller than his sister. 

[Shebeen]

4 hours ago, WR 1.0 said:

So my daughter has said she'll start riding again if its with me on a "double bike". So now the question is, what size tandem do I need? I'm assuming it's a small in the back. Will it be small enough though. The twins are 8. Brother is slightly taller than his sister. 

I did Argus on a tandem with my 10yr old this year. was a mission finding a small as has my wife's dwarf genes and a medium didn't fit.  

If it's just for riding then get a half wheeler. Sold mine earlier this year and we loved it.

[WR 1.0]

36 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

I did Argus on a tandem with my 10yr old this year. was a mission finding a small as has my wife's dwarf genes and a medium didn't fit.  

If it's just for riding then get a half wheeler. Sold mine earlier this year and we loved it.

Thanks, we tied the halfwheeler about 2 years ago. Did not enjoy it and ended up selling it within 3 months.

Will keep an eye out for a medium/ large front, small back tandem. 

[DJuice]

5 hours ago, WR 1.0 said:

So my daughter has said she'll start riding again if its with me on a "double bike". So now the question is, what size tandem do I need? I'm assuming it's a small in the back. Will it be small enough though. The twins are 8. Brother is slightly taller than his sister. 

My old Giant TCR is on the indoor trainer, size 50, my eldest son, also 8, ride on the bike to see if he can ride faster!

He fits, the reach is a stretch! Short stem should sort that, currently a 100mm stem.

Ons is kort gatte, ek self 1.70m.

Small should be fine. 

[WR 1.0]

Managed to get this. Needs some small adjustments to the gears and brakes. Also need a shorter seatpost for the back and new bar tape before we can go riding. Compared to my carbon road bike this thing is a tank! 

[DJR]

12 hours ago, WR 1.0 said:

...............Compared to my carbon road bike this thing is a tank! 

 

Wait for the first long downhill and you will feel the advantage of "tank"