Recreational & Family - Building a bike with your kid

My youngest is on the verge of outgrowing her Trek Mt. Track 220, so rather than just buyer her a new bike we’re building her one up from an old MTB frame. I can’t tell you how rewarding this has been. Not only has it provided a lot of quality father/daughter time, she’s also learned so much about bicycle maintenance that I’m confident she could handle most breakdowns on her own.

So if you kid needs a new bike, consider building instead of buying.

Sounds intriguing, but tell us more. Are you cannibalizing parts off of the Trek, or are you on the hunt for other used/new components?

In a way it would be a real shame to strip down the 220, as good used intermediate sized girls bikes are so hard to find, and in great demand. My daughter loves hers....

Sounds intriguing, but tell us more. Are you cannibalizing parts off of the Trek, or are you on the hunt for other used/new components?

In a way it would be a real shame to strip down the 220, as good used intermediate sized girls bikes are so hard to find, and in great demand. My daughter loves hers....


We're not stripping the 220. It'll probably be put up for sale once we finish this project. I supplied the derailers, shifters, and bars that I've had lying around from other projects. New parts include brakes, crankset (on order) and cassette (on order). She's also talking about adding fenders, lights, and a rear rack.

You're 100% right about the 220 being a great little bike. Best $200 I've spent on cycling. It helped turn my daughter into a cycling nut and my best riding partner.

Little buggers are always borrowing wrenches...I'm threatening to get 'em tools for birthday presents.

If you have the know-how and the tools, building a bike for your kid can be a very rewarding experience. My 10 y/o son was getting pretty good at road riding on his Gary Fisher MTB, so I built him a road bike from a Nashbar frame and a bunch of new and old parts. He loves the bike and seems to really enjoy telling people that his Dad made it for him.

A few pictures of Kong.

A few pictures of Kong.
Nice job!

I'm in the process of upgrading my son's bike to a 26", I already have a GF Marlin GS on order for him and will tell you why.

1st, he wants me to convert his 24" bike to singlespeed. My main ride is a SS and he wants one too.

2nd, considered building but the cost of building from scratch were higher than a full bike. Took a serious look at the Carver Mini but got a full bike for about the same price of the frame alone.

3rd, the plan is to remove the best components of the 24" bike and put them on the 26" and he will participate.

He already understands that the bike needs some caring and maintenance in order to work properly and I enjoy spending time with him wrenching. I also take him along to my part time LBS job and he helps the mechanic on basic stuff and helps me assemble bikes so he's learning basic bike mechanics while having fun at the shop.

There's nothing better than wrenching and riding with your kids.