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07-09-07, 12:21 AM
I want to get a bike for my 9yo girl.
She rides to school every day (only about 1km away) but likes to come for longer rides on bike paths and wants to start traveling longer distances on country roads with me. Light touring is even an option if we can find a safe route. She is currently happily riding a Dahon Boardwalk (folder) of mine but wants something a bit more 'normal' :-)
Out of three local bike shops 2 just recommend 24" wheel bike, all of which seem to come with suspension forks that look like a weak point to me and will add weight she doesn't need, and they don't want to discuss further.
A third shop is trying to sell me a Giant Upland women's bike in a 14" frame. It seems to be better made than the kids bikes and the guy is offering to swap the tyres for road slicks and put the stem all the way down, even replace brake levers if necessary. With the seat all the way down the seat-to-pedal distance is right, and I'm sure she will reach the handlebars, based on measuring the Dahon.
I'm kind of leaning towards getting the Giant because of the better quality and the fact that it might last a while longer, but the question is will the whole thing be too unwieldy, is she better on the smaller bike with smaller wheels? Are the 26" wheels really too big for a frame that size I wonder?
(This is a birthday present or I'd just take her down for a test ride)
pt
She rides to school every day (only about 1km away) but likes to come for longer rides on bike paths and wants to start traveling longer distances on country roads with me. Light touring is even an option if we can find a safe route. She is currently happily riding a Dahon Boardwalk (folder) of mine but wants something a bit more 'normal' :-)
Out of three local bike shops 2 just recommend 24" wheel bike, all of which seem to come with suspension forks that look like a weak point to me and will add weight she doesn't need, and they don't want to discuss further.
A third shop is trying to sell me a Giant Upland women's bike in a 14" frame. It seems to be better made than the kids bikes and the guy is offering to swap the tyres for road slicks and put the stem all the way down, even replace brake levers if necessary. With the seat all the way down the seat-to-pedal distance is right, and I'm sure she will reach the handlebars, based on measuring the Dahon.
I'm kind of leaning towards getting the Giant because of the better quality and the fact that it might last a while longer, but the question is will the whole thing be too unwieldy, is she better on the smaller bike with smaller wheels? Are the 26" wheels really too big for a frame that size I wonder?
(This is a birthday present or I'd just take her down for a test ride)
pt