Moving on up - Bike for a 7 yo

[chris French]

DD1 (now 6 1/2) is outgrowing her current bike (well, seat post already
past the - 'do not extend past here mark' - so I guess technically
outgrown) - both in size and also in what it provides - she could
certainly get to grips with gears now. Time to move on to here first
'proper', bike - though she has done at least 10 miles on her current
bike

So I'm looking for experinces/recommendations from anyone re the next
one.

Her current bike is a Puky Z6, which is a 16 inch wheeled bike, single
speed, coaster brake. Been well loved and used.

She is a bit above average height/leg length for her age I guess. We do
use it for transport around the village and leisure rides both on road
and on off road tracks, so looking for some practicality, a basic range
of gears, no sillyness like suspension forks etc.

Liking the look of the Islabike Beinn at the moment


--
Chris French

 

[Tom Crispin]

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:59:13 +0100, chris French
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Liking the look of the Islabike Beinn at the moment

Islabikes are simply the best children's bikes available at the
moment.

I recently let a friend's 7 year old daughter try out a Beinn 24 -
during a rest on the return journey from the London Freewheel. The
saddle was at its lowest point, and the girl struggled to have tiptoes
on the ground on both sides while sitting in the saddle - i.e. the
bike was 1-2 inches to big for her. But once she started pedalling
around a smile grew from ear to ear across her face. I asked her to
try changing gears (her current bike has no gears) and she had no
difficulty getting used to the gears. Although the bike was too big,
once cycling she appeared to be at perfect ease and comfortable on the
bike.

If you do go for Islabikes, check what tyres the bike comes with. If
knobbly and your daughter won't be going off road ask for slicks. The
rear rack is definately worth the upgrade if any luggage is likely to
be carried now or in the future. The mudguards are great, but the way
the stays attach to the mudguards themselves on the Beinn 20 and Cnoc
16 is aweful. Consider investing in a tube of superglue if buying a
Beinn 20. The Beinn 26 comes with the triple chainring - I wish it
didn't. I have yet to find a child who can use a triple chainring
effectively.

Finally, insist that you child only lays the bike down on the ground
chain side up - and never drops it. The deraileur hanger is made of a
soft metal which will bend easily, and, although it's cheap and easy
to replace, it could cause further damage to the rear wheel if, when
in bottom gear, the deraileur goes into the spokes.

If you live in London or the south east you would be more than welcome
to pay me a visit to try out the bikes. I have the Cnoc 16, Beinn 20,
Beinn 24 and Beinn 26. If you are within striking distance of
Wolverhampton I suggest you try out the bikes at the point of
assembly.