Advice: Cheap Girls bike (11yrs)

[Christopher Brunsdon]

So got a phone call this morning to say my daughter is coming this December to stay with me. She is 10 (turning 11 in Feb).

 

I'm now looking at getting a bike for her. We will only do tar and perhaps a 10km family route in Grabouw somewhere.

 

Anyway, money is now tight (girls are not cheap) so any adivce please. What to look for, etc

 

 

Also this bike will only be used for December and then go into storage.

[EigerSA]

Do yourself a favor and spend some time doing a drive around 2nd stores and pawn shops. I picked up a giant for my 11 year old nephew that had been rattle-can sprayed blue (stripped it down myself) that is in damn good condition for R500 from a local pawn shop.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

My first stop is Yanvic Cycles. Eddie sells 2nd hand bikes and even though I have a good friendship with him, I still like to have a better understanding of what to look out for even if I buy from him.

 

R500 seems to be the rate on GumBoom and at Eddies shop.

[EigerSA]

I looked for a good gear changes front and back, brakes working and wheels still true. Everything else is cosmetic I think. My lbs also sells 2nd hand bikes though I only found out later that he includes a free service regardless of price. As long as it's safe and not going to cost you a fortune later then you're smiling. But I think R500 is a good starting point, less than that and you might be looking for trouble.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Thanks.

 

I'm also not so sure how much she will enjoy cycling as even though she has a bike at home (Amzmtoti), she is not allowed to ride as her Mom is paranoid about the saftey of the streets.