We are a family of 4,with 2 boys aged nearly 7 and 9 (birthday bikes needed!!)We do quite a bit of off road biking...mainly on well made tacks,and we do go to Sherwood Pines....but nothing too tricky.The lads have had Appollo bikes from Halfords and these have been fine...but wondered if we ought to spend abit more and get them lighter bikes? Anyone advice,or suggestions for bikes..would spend upto £150 on each.

I would look up on the internet sources for used bikes for the kids cause they grow fast and will outgrow the bikes. You pick them up for next to nothing, then sell them in the yard sale. You can make money on them, break even or at least recoup some costs.

for the adults I would advise buying these full size folding mountain bikes. They ship world wide direct from the manufacturer. They can fit in your trunk (or bonnet as you call them in uk) but will do anything a standard mountain bike will.

please see www.canambikes.com -- I bought the "SwissLX" and absolutely love it!

hello apprentice/IM with 323, maybe you could let the older boy have some input in a yard sale bike he really likes.//A story ///Im a hard core mountain biker who looks for a hill to climb But the only race I ever won or was in was a tandum race with my son,he about ten at the time,his rabbid encouragement from the back seat was the only reason I outlasted the students out for a picnic run //my son went to engines soon after and still loves the dirters and four wheelers./Ken

Over on your side of the pond is what appears to be a decent kids bike manufacturer, Isla Bikes (http://www.islabikes.com/index.html). One option would be to get a used bike for your 7 year old and buy a decent bike for your 9 year old that could later be passed down to the younger brother. You might be able to come in at your £300 limit but end up saving money in the long run with a quality bike that can be passed down. If taken care of, you might even be able to recoup some of your costs after your youngest is done.

How much you should spend should partly depend on how much use the boys will get out of the bikes. I have seen plenty of kids with well off parents and to-die for bikes that hardly get ridden. In conjunction with the hand me down idea, buy them something appropriate to what will support their riding style.