Hi Guys and Gals, I am looking for a bit of advice. I am looking to get my son a new bike for his 4th Birthday but unsure as to what bike and size to get. I have looked at the Spesh Hot rocks and Ridgeback MX(?). Does anyone have any recomendations?
I got this http://islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/cnoc14.html for my son for Christmas. It's still a little big for him (he's 3 and 97cm tall) but should soon fit. It's a beautiful bike; very lightweight aluminium and the brakes are very light and easy for small hands to use. There's a sizing chart on the website that you may find usefull.
My lad got the Spesh Hotrock 12" for his 3rd birthday/christmas. Its a fantastic bike and as has been pointed out the coaster brake is a godsend. No one can skids better than my son on that bike :-)
Its also very well built and uses high spec (For kiddies bikes) alu for the frame etc which makes them very light.
I know its extravagent but i upgraded to the 16" bike for his recent christmas as he was throwing the little one about so much it was holding him back on kerbs & bumps cos the wheels are so small. The 16" isnt really any bigger in leg length requirements as the saddles sit at similar heights. Its more the length and weight. Its very heavy compared to the 12" and he isnt as cramped on this one either. If the kid is 3.5yrs old its a difficult question cos the 12" is so much easier to throw around but in 12mths time i reckon its very small on a 4.5yr old.
We have kept the 12" one for his brother/sister due in 10wks time to use as they are that good a quality.
Agree, the 12" is definately too small for a 4 1/2 year old. The quality is good. I'm about to sell my daughters and get the bigger one for her Birthday.
Can your kiddie ride without stabilisers Stevey? I am tempted to take the pedals etc off the 12" one and just let him scoot about on it to learn some balance.
Not yet, she's not the most confident little soul about and until recently wasn't really going very fast, or fast enough for no stabilisers. The initial struggle has been getting her to pedal. Though recently the confidence and strength seem to be coming, she managed a hill without whinging/getting off and got to a speed where I needed to run alongside. Part of the reason for going for a bike with bigger wheels is she should get a bit more speed up so whipping the stabilisers off should be easier.
My lad is the other way atm. The 12" was so light and small he was throwing it around like a mad man and i was only able to keep him in check by riding my own bike with him.
Now he has the bigger one he is finding it so much harder to get started but once he is its even flipping faster but a lot more stable :-/ It is amazing the difference in weight of the two sizes. The 16" even has proper aheadset stem which looks like its made of pure granite!
He is learning to swim atm and its worth every penny. Wish i could pay someone to teach him to ride cos i know i havent got the patience for it.
mmmm, patience, yes. Though I think her Papi (ex PE teacher) will be on hand in the summer to able to teach this, so far as teaching kiddies sport is concerned lots and lots of patients.
I will have a go though as I'm sure she'll be well happy when she learns, put I won't push it, don't want to put her off.
