Recreational & Family - Aluminum or steel for an 8-year old ?

For a kid who just learned how to bike, is it best to go with an aluminum OR steel bike? And why? Also want him to keep bike awhile. Thanks.

Steel will take a lot more abuse than aluminium which is a pretty important factor as my daughter's tell me that the most important thing about learning to ride a bike is knowing how to crash well... :)

They have also inherited their brother's old bikes which are going into their second decade of use and my 10 year old also has a beautiful vintage 20 inch cruiser that was made in 1973.

Age, skill, and where you ride is going to a factor... if a child is able to follow you on the trails and or needs to do some climbing, a lighter aluminium bike would be a better choice.

For flats, weight is not an issue and a steel bike will likely cost less.

At some point Bialy, you should either act on all the questions you have asked opinions on or stop trolling.

14 posts (http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?do=finduser&u=113182), all to threads you started with some repeat questions.

Carbon Fiber.

At some point Bialy, you should either act on all the questions you have asked opinions on or stop trolling.

14 posts (http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?do=finduser&u=113182), all to threads you started with some repeat questions.

Kindly retract your implied accusation of 'trolling'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
I believe your post violates the Forum Guidelines (see 'harassment' provision).
Chill man; I'm asking very legitimate questions which have stimulated several informative threads which I'm appreciative of, and to the annoyance of seemingly no one else.
Have a good, better week.

Kindly retract your implied accusation of 'trolling'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
I believe your post violates the Forum Guidelines (see 'harssment' provision).
Chill man; I'm asking very legitimate questions which have stimulated several informative threads, which I'm appreciative of, and hope to reciprocate downstream from here.
Have a good, better week.

or to generally disrupt NORMAL on-topic discussion.

Best gear number for 8 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=397997)
Best brake system for 8 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=397386)
shifters: twister or trigger/toggle (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395875)
hybrid handlebars (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395879)
26" or 700? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=106170)
700 (hybrid) versus 26 (comfort) tire (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395267)
Car bike rack (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=389868)
Bike for 7 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=392386)
Hybrid bike size (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=390527)
Entry hybrid bike (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=389179)

These are all the threads you have started. You have responded in 3 of them I think (not including this one). Only one response was not another question (again not including this one). You have not participated in any threads other than your own. You ask questions at what appears to be an oddly detailed level on a rather frequent basis.

You ask the 26 vs 700 question twice. The age of the child changes from 7 to 8. The best bike question morphs into a best frame material question. I can't wait to see what comes next, lol.

I stand by my original assertion....make up your mind or stop trolling :).

I'll help you a little more though. Try the search function. Your questions have pretty much been asked and answered in much greater detail before.

If the forum search function does not work, you can have google focus its search down to the forum:

search term(s) site:http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=182

or to generally disrupt NORMAL on-topic discussion.

Best gear number for 8 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=397997)
Best brake system for 8 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=397386)
shifters: twister or trigger/toggle (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395875)
hybrid handlebars (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395879)
26" or 700? (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=106170)
700 (hybrid) versus 26 (comfort) tire (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=395267)
Car bike rack (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=389868)
Bike for 7 year old (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=392386)
Hybrid bike size (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=390527)
Entry hybrid bike (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=389179)

These are all the threads you have started. You have responded in 3 of them I think (not including this one). Only one response was not another question (again not including this one). You have not participated in any threads other than your own. You ask questions at what appears to be an oddly detailed level on a rather frequent basis.

You ask the 26 vs 700 question twice. The age of the child changes from 7 to 8. The best bike question morphs into a best frame material question. I can't wait to see what comes next, lol.

I stand by my original assertion....make up your mind or stop trolling :).

I'll help you a little more though. Try the search function. Your questions have pretty much been asked and answered in much greater detail before.

If the forum search function does not work, you can have google focus its search down to the forum:

search term(s) site:http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=182


You have a lot of time on your hands to dissect my legitimate posts. Big deal if the child changes age from 7 to 8; one does age on birthdays and it does not change the nature of the query. All the thread topic headers per your list that I started are unique, and the 26 v 700 repeat was b/c the original one was started by another author and got a bit long and off topic, so I restarted it fresh and got useful responses for the forum community. Let's see I joined the forum Feb 17, less than a month ago, with a bunch of forum-appropriate questions, so why should I make up my mind per your time table. I'm busy and the forum is a time-efficient way to go about research, and I'll make up my mind not per your schedule as this is not your business or relevant. I believe you are the disrupter, and the harAsser, and the bike forum bully..

For a kid who just learned how to bike, is it best to go with an aluminum OR steel bike? And why? Also want him to keep bike awhile. Thanks.

Doesn't matter. Kid will outgrow it faster than you think.

Source: My experience. 2 kids.

I would go for steel for the durability factor. Move up to alu if the interest in the bike progresses.

At some point Bialy, you should either act on all the questions you have asked opinions on or stop trolling.

14 posts (http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?do=finduser&u=113182), all to threads you started with some repeat questions.

I was just about to post about the same thing. A couple days ago I realized that I had posted in another one of these threads. Bottom line is for an 8 year old just get the kid what ever fits its not going to be used for long. Please just get the kid a bike before s/he forgets how to ride. The last thing any one wants is to see your posts in 5 years - What is the best chain oil for a 13 year old? - What is the best break cable housing for a 13 year old....... All this while the kid is skateboarding with no more interest in bikes. Unless the kid is a child prodigy just get them what ever works. If they are a child prodigy then get nothing short of full CF Campy equipped 20" tired road bikes until the can step up to a 24" then repeat.

I think all people are trying to say is just be more active in the forums instead of just starting threads that can be answered by using the search feature.

Get the cheapest functional and safe used bike for the kid you can find. Allowing the kid to modify it with a bell and a tassle or something will far more greatly influence their commitment to the bike.

Get thee to a thrift store.

You have a lot of time on your hands to dissect my legitimate posts. Big deal if the child changes age from 7 to 8; one does age on birthdays and it does not change the nature of the query. All the thread topic headers per your list that I started are unique, and the 26 v 700 repeat was b/c the original one was started by another author and got a bit long and off topic, so I restarted it fresh and got useful responses for the forum community. Let's see I joined the forum Feb 17, less than a month ago, with a bunch of forum-appropriate questions, so why should I make up my mind per your time table. I'm busy and the forum is a time-efficient way to go about research, and I'll make up my mind not per your schedule as this is not your business or relevant. I believe you are the disrupter, and the harAsser, and the bike forum bully..

I really do not have alot of time, my guess is less than the average person, but that is a guess. I'm just calling it how I see it. I'm not mad at you. You may be offended by my characterization of your method of participation but I can't do anything about that. Others have apparently thought the same as I. I'm sorry you don't like having your style dissected. My posts are my opinions and you can do with them what you will.

There is a forum feature that allows you to ignore people (from the Control Panel). I have never used it, so it may only allow you to ignore PM's (private messages). You can try that to see if you can exclude my posts from your reading. Learning a new forum and its style can be tough. If you are trying to get somewhere with biking, hopefully you will be able to find your answers here.

I will also let you know that you can edit your posts. I read each of my posts as if my kids will read them. Did you want your kids to read that last name calling bit? I won't copy it in here in case you want to change that.

I see there are some basic answers to your question above this. Write back with what you decide to do with all the answers you have received.

Good luck.