Recreational & Family - looking for 24" wheeled bike for 10 year old

Hi all,
I'm looking to get my daughter a 24" wheeled bike for the holidays. I think that a 26" is going to be too big for her. Any recommendations? This is for riding in town, not off road. She is a decent rider, will not be riding in town without me along for the ride. She's been riding a 20" wheeled bike, and it's gotten to be way too small.

Thanks for any recommendations!
Bryan

My daugter has a Novara Moxie 24" from REI.

http://www.rei.com/product/799450/novara-moxie-24-bike-2012 On sale for $240 through Novmber 26.

She really enjoys riding it as does her best friend.

Thanks. That's a nice looking bike. There's an REI on my way home, I'll swing by to check it out.

Think used: Peugeot, Motobecane and others made good 24" road bikes that come up on CL every so often. Much better than a BMX bike IMO if you're riding on the street.

Think used: Peugeot, Motobecane and others made good 24" road bikes that come up on CL every so often. Much better than a BMX bike IMO if you're riding on the street.

If you do end up with the REI bike (or similar), consider taking of the knobby tires and putting on slicks (unless she will be riding off-road. It can make a huge difference for speed and comfort.

Cheers,
Charles

Yes, she will be riding primarily on the street, so a bike with road tires would be very preferable.

Felt and Redline have some 24" wheel bikes,
Though Why not get a nice folding bike, they will grow with the Rider.

Felt and Redline have some 24" wheel bikes,
Though Why not get a nice folding bike, they will grow with the Rider.

That's not crazy at all. They're geared, they're customizable, upgradeable.

Cheers, Charles

Felt and Redline have some 24" wheel bikes,
Though Why not get a nice folding bike, they will grow with the Rider.

Good thought, I'll also add Fuji to the list for new 24" road bikes.

Fuji:
http://www.fujibikes.com/images/bike/ace_24/highres/2013_FUJI_Ace_24.jpg

Some interesting insights can be found here....

http://affordableroadbikereview.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

Some interesting insights can be found here....

http://affordableroadbikereview.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

+1 for Sportaid (mentioned in the article) for 540mm tires- got tubulars for my daughter's Viner there.

Unless you have more kids coming up, think used. She won't fit in a 24" for long. Been there done that.

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/3426007246.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/3407258355.html

Well, We were at the same crossroads when my son was about 8. I wound up going with a 26" mountain bike and it was not even the smallest frame size for him. I switches to smaller slick tires to lower the crossbar a bit and it was perfect.. He is 12 now and still comfortably riding the same frame. We got a Dawes Haymaker for $299 from bikesdirect.com, but the same bike is a little more expensive now. The slick tires were the answer for road riding with a mountainbike, and the slanted top tube on the mtb frame was perfect. You should look at the 26" mtb frames; you might be surpriswd how well she fits, and also be delighted that she will be able to ride the same bike for 4 years or even more, which is unlikely on a 24" wheel bike.

Felt has a 24 inch wheeled bike and a 650(c?) road bikes. I think that 4'7" is where they recommend the 650. The 650 was speced better. Bianchi use to make one. Fuji still does. Redline makes a cross bike.

... ah the days of new bikes every year ... a few years ago I was able to finally gets my kids adult size bikes. I kinda miss bike shopping every year though ... ;)

btw we pretty much always got used bikes from craigslist or friends or yard sales

We own 2 Trek Kids 24" Fx's. We're small sized folks, and the Treks fit well. Our first FX was purchased new, an 8 speed I believe. My daughter, 11 has inherited that one. I found an older kids FX 2, 24" used, that came with a triple crank, that really lets my son handle hills, flats, doing pretty long rides, up to 25 miles, and beyond (plenty of breaks, snacks, etc.). I'm looking at a Cannondale Quick 4, XS frame, 26" wheels, on sale, as a move up for him.

In the past year I've picked up two Trek 220's for a granddaughter and a grandson. I expect they'll get 2-3 years out of them. My Trek Antelope 820 is an ageing and seemingly ageless machine. Looking for another couple of adult sized, comfortable, hybrids for the oldest grandson and his mom. We don't ride as much as we should, or would like, so used is the only way to go. I'd go nuts if I spent what these nice older bikes cost in the new versions and never saw the kids using them beyond riding up and down the street near home. CL is my LBS.