Recreational & Family - got the 11 year old on her road bike!

This spring I picked up a 43cm trek w/ 650c wheels for our 11 year old and she was terribly frightened of it all summer and refused to ride it. Today I had her meet me outside and with the help of our neighbor across the street, taught her how to push off and get going, and later how to manage changing gears... after 15min she had it down pretty well and we went out for about 20min while I was on my road bike, then came back home and swapped out for my mtb w/ the trailer and we took the 2.5 year old out for a trip around the neighborhood. She is all excited about her new found ability to ride a "scary" road bike (and so am I, maybe have a new riding buddy in the works like when I was a wee lad) We started out with the saddle a little low but I plan to move it up a tiny bit each ride until it's a proper height.

Here's a pic of the proud new rider (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/vw_nick/2009bikerides/DSC_0101.jpg)

Congrats! A very nice bike and it looks like it should be a good fit for the young lady. My twelve year old girl '"rediscovered" riding this summer so we have been letting her ride her mom's old Trek 930 hardtail. Next year I may put slicks on it for her. The older girls are driving and have no interest in biking.

Just the other day we were discussing bike riding and how kids today don't seem to be into it much compared to my generation. When I was a kid we were always on our bikes! You could tell where the kids were at by where the bikes were parked. Of course in those days (mid - late sixties) most of us rode 3 speed 20" "banana" bikes.

Have fun riding with your daughter!

Congrats on recruiting a new member of the club.

One small question, tho'. Has she grown much since you bought her the bike? Maybe it's the angle of the photo, but it looks as tho' she might outgrow it any minute ;).

Bearing in mind that one girl in our club grew about 3" during the spring when she was your daughter's age

She needs shorts gloves and shades to go with the bike.

she's got gloves... needed to make sure she'll actually ride the bike before we buy her shorts. (same goes for the torn bar tape and rear tire w/ flat spots on it from previous owner) I bought it in February and she's just now got on it last week.

Really jealous, that is a great bike. I can't get my 11 y.o. to touch anything with drop bars (she rode one once). She is outgrowing her 24", so looking to move up next spring. Probably going to get a small womans "fitness" bike, or basically a relaxed geometry road bike with flat bars.

We did our first 40 mile organized ride this last summer and hope to do more next year.

That's great. I go out fairly often with my 12 year old son (who, at 5-8 and growing fast, rides a grown up hybrid). Sometimes, I'll come home from a long (50+ mile) ride and he'll be on the driveway shooting hoops and waiting for me with his bike. With my dead legs, he can pretty much keep up with me and we have a great time pushing each other.

Keep her on two self-propelled wheels, and you'll have a biking companion for life.

Congrats, its always cool to see kids enjoying an outdoor sport!

Awww, that's so sweet! Way to go!

My 11 yo just graduated from a 24" trek kdr to a 43cm trek 1500 wsd, took her a few trys and now can't ride enough