Hi. I am new here and this is my first post. I was directed here by a friend who advised that you may be able to help me get the correct bike for my daughter.

She is just about to turn 5.
Is not very confident on a bike and still requires stabilisers.
She is 117cm tall
Inside leg measurement (crotch to floor) is 50cm
We bought a brand new bike with 16" wheels for her at Christmas and she has already outgrown it.
As she is not very confident, and is growing so quickly, we do not want to get a bike with gears or one that is too large for her to manage at the moment.
Riding will be on roads/gravel tracks, mostly flat.

I have been looking at bikes with 18" wheels. Do I go just on wheel size or do I need a specific frame size?

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much

A common method of bike sizing is to multiply the inseam by .65. For your daughter that would be 32cm as the nominal frame size. In her case, the bike size should allow the saddle to be adjusted in a relatively low position when her heel is on the pedal and her leg is straight, to give her room to grow.

Perhaps the best way to increase confidence on the bike is to lower the saddle all the way down and take off the pedals and "stabilizers," maybe even the chain. Have her propel the bike with her feet on the ground, so a push bike. She could probably do that with her current bike. In fact the best way to start a child on a bike is a push bike. They can start on one as young as 2. When we bike toured in the Czech Republic, it was very common to see a family on the street, sightseeing or shopping, with the small children on push bikes. Made it easy for them to keep up with the adults and not tire, plus they're easier to keep track of that way.

In my experience a 5 year old will not have outgrown a bike with 16" wheels. OK, I'm a short guy but still, I was riding a bike with 16" wheels until I turned 12.

Photo's would help.

Anthony

Because folding bike have a lot of adjustments to make their 1 model fit most people , they will also Grow with a Young Rider

using their bike as practical transportation , + they can use the Bus too, and haul it aboard.



I'm Back to riding a 16" wheel Bike.