Folding Bike for (Small) 9 Year Old
04-16-16, 06:51 PM
#1
The Recumbent Quant
Thread Starter
Folding Bike for (Small) 9 Year Old
Hi,
My 9 year old daughter needed a bike with gears. And everything I saw that was designed for someone her size came with knobby tires (which, yes, can be changed) and a cheap front fork with a shock. And I didn't want to deal with that.
So instead I got her a Citizen Tokyo, turned around the stem, and bought a 140 mm crankset.
She rode it for the first time today and while she's still getting used to the hand brakes, she's already very comfortable on it and learning how to change gears.
I'm sure I'll buy her other bikes as she get bigger, but that's because I'll want to get her faster bikes as we go further and further. She'll be able to take the bike with her to college.
I'll likely get a similar bike for my 6 year old son for his seventh birthday.
My 9 year old daughter needed a bike with gears. And everything I saw that was designed for someone her size came with knobby tires (which, yes, can be changed) and a cheap front fork with a shock. And I didn't want to deal with that.
So instead I got her a Citizen Tokyo, turned around the stem, and bought a 140 mm crankset.
She rode it for the first time today and while she's still getting used to the hand brakes, she's already very comfortable on it and learning how to change gears.
I'm sure I'll buy her other bikes as she get bigger, but that's because I'll want to get her faster bikes as we go further and further. She'll be able to take the bike with her to college.
I'll likely get a similar bike for my 6 year old son for his seventh birthday.
04-17-16, 01:10 AM
#2
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Glade you have found a solution. It s hard to get a folder to fit a 8 or nine year old. I tried it. Changing cranks length is clever. Got to help.
04-17-16, 07:11 AM
#3
The Recumbent Quant
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by bhkyte
Glade you have found a solution. It s hard to get a folder to fit a 8 or nine year old. I tried it. Changing cranks length is clever. Got to help.
04-17-16, 09:31 AM
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Oh, let's talk about what is really important. She looks adorable with the cute pink knee pads and elbow pads and the cool orange bike with the cream tires. Well done!!!
04-17-16, 09:34 AM
#6
Senior Member
This is something we don't see too often - folders modified for kid use. Bravo. Wish my dad would have been interested in bikes at all, much less folders, so whenever I see a parent doing this for their child, I note my appreciation.
David Henshaw in A to B magazine did something similar for his son Andrew when he was quite young, but he went all out, modifying a Brompton. We got to watch Andrew grow up with one and even graduate to other bikes, as he was often the test subject for various rides.
David Henshaw in A to B magazine did something similar for his son Andrew when he was quite young, but he went all out, modifying a Brompton. We got to watch Andrew grow up with one and even graduate to other bikes, as he was often the test subject for various rides.
04-17-16, 10:54 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by bargainguy
This is something we don't see too often - folders modified for kid use. Bravo.
Thanks,
Yan
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Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
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Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
04-20-16, 08:51 PM
#9
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I recently got a Bickerton Portables for my 8yo daughter. Had to flip the saddle post to let the saddle move as much forward as possible. Thanks for the idea of flipping the stem around; it's definitely worth trying!
04-21-16, 11:12 AM
#10
Part-time epistemologist
Sweet! That's crafty.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
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