XC Junior setup

[bikejack]

I'm setting up two bikes for Junior riding/racing maybe. suit 10 and 12 year old.

I see a lot of riders with cutdown flat bars, does anyone know what the bar widths are based on, body dimensions etc..

I've also fitted the bikes with rigid forks to keep the weight down, any experience with this good or bad?

Barends for kids good or bad?

All help appreciated.

[MasterSezFaster]

Bar width is based on shoulder width. The hands should be ABOUT shoulder width. Some riders like it wider and some narrower. If you go to narrow though the bike will be very squirly and the kids may have a hard time controlling the bike. If you go to wide they will not be in proper riding position and if they need to squeez through some trees or large bolder it will be difficult.

The ridged fork will work fine but if the races/rides are over very rough terrain a small travel fork may be the way to go, 80 to 100mm travel. Back in the day all we had were ridged forks and at race speeds you better know how to use your elbows to absorb the hits. Also, on fast descents there may be so much vibration that their hands will go numb from trying to hold on or if they loosen their grip a bit then they may loose control of the bar. Both situation will make it hard to brake.

Bar ends are fine, just explain how to use them.

:beer:

[bikejack]

Thanks MSF,

I know what you mean about the barends they ride on them all the time, they've done a bit of BMX so hopefully they will use their arms.