Photo by Cameron Neveu Kids’ Bike FAQs Buying a Kids’ Bike? Our Expert Jack Baruth Shares What to Spend, What Size to Try, and More! When should a child get their first bike? Here, our expert’s son, John, soars on the Trailcraft Maxwell 26. If your kid is serious about mountain biking, consider spending up for a higher-end bike with top-notch components and kid-specific sizing, which can only increase a young rider’s confidence. The same is true for bicycle weight a rough guide is that a one kilogram increase feels to a child like a five kilogram increase in bike weight does to an adult. Adults are far more tolerant of “bad bike fits” than children, who have limited strength and experience. It’s critical to get the lightest bike that meets your needs, in the correct size for your child. It’s also possible to buy a traditional road bicycle for children, but unless you’re planning on doing long-distance touring with a child it’s not the best bet due to fragility, maintenance, and cost issues. It is not suitable for downhill or jump-line riding for that, consider an enduro bike with dual suspension, or a dirt jumper with special geometry. This can be used for neighborhood trips, park outings, and general-purpose riding. The majority of children will be happiest with a front-suspension mountain bike in the appropriate size. If your child is interested in skatepark or freestyle competition, they will need a BMX park bike, which is built for the rigors of landing on concrete. The downsides: They’re slow and have a limited range due to their singlespeed drivetrain and inefficient geometry.įor those children who want to actively compete in BMX racing, however, they’ll require a BMX racing bike, which is entirely different from a BMX street bike-size-specific and usually quite expensive, and anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more. They are sturdy in daily use, difficult to damage, and tolerant of a wide range in physical size. More Bike Stuff for Kids: Best Kids’ Bike Helmets īMX street bikes have long been the default choice for children, and for many situations they’re still the best bet. So if you expect to take long or skill-intensive rides with your child, you’ll want to make sure their bike matches or exceeds yours in capability. Today’s options generally mirror adult models in design, equipment, and even price. Kid's bikes have diversified quite a bit since every kid on the block wanted one of those super-cool, candy-colored “Krate” Schwinn Stingrays during the Summer of Love. What to Consider When Buying a Kid’s Bike Style: BMX, Road, Mountain … or Something Else? I currently spend most of my riding time with my son, a 13-year-old downhill mountain biker and BMX rider with multiple wins in different categories and a few Strava times that rival the very top rank of adults at Snowshoe Bike Park in Snowshoe, West Virginia, and Trestle Bike Park in Winter Park, Colorado, among others. I’ve worked with young riders since 1991 and count national and world champions among my former students. Show more The Expert: I’m a former professional BMX racer, bike store owner, and cycling coach. We’ve selected some of the best kids’ bike options for a variety of riding styles. After that, you’ll want to get the lightest bike that works for your budget and situation, in the proper size. The first step of buying a kid’s bike is to figure out what kind of riding your child will be doing and select the best type of bicycle for that endeavor. The increasing variety and complexity of cycling environments for children mean that it’s never been more critical to find a bike that fits correctly and offers the right capabilities for the job. Parks, pump tracks, skateparks, lift-service mountain bike parks, you name it-fun places for kids to ride are likely being built near you. Not since the 1970s and 1980s has so much effort been put into building places for children to learn and exercise their skills. It’s a lifetime activity that pays big dividends in everything from hand-eye coordination to long-term cardiovascular health. There’s no better way to get kids out of the screen-staring habit than by putting them on a bicycle.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |