Inertianinja

My little brother is dying to get a road bike. He's 11, so the only options are things like the Felt F24 and Pro-Lite TheOne, which are in the $750 range. He's currently got a mountain bike that weighs about a million pounds.

I found this 24'' St Tropez for sale, and i'm thinking of getting it. The guy wants around $125. I figure I could easily polish up and grease all the components, put some new tires on it, new chain, redo the brake pads, etc. I haven't seen it in person, so i don't know the state of the cogs or chainrings.

What do you think?

Genaro

Looks like my first bike, but that was in the 80's. He'll either love you for it, or curse you. You know him best! : )

10 Wheels

Nice bike.

Inertianinja

man, if money were no object, i'd pick him up a tiny carbon frame on Lightweights and SRAM Red.
but even if money was not a problem, he'd grow out of the thing in a year, and kids' attention spans are unpredictable. he might immediately lose interest

roflmao147

he'll lose interest faster on that st tropez faster than he would on say a trek 1.2? just sayin

Inertianinja

the Trek 1.1 is $729 before tax, and the smallest size is a 47cm.
this bike has 24'' wheels and a sloping top tube
so again, even discounting the money, it's not an option

tagaproject6

Do it!

novacoke

Get it and ride with him. Maybe he just wants to chill with you

Genaro

I would get him something like this.

Not the same quality as the Trek, but alot cheaper. The cool factor may keep him interested longer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2011-roa...item588f7bc282

or bikes direct bike

Inertianinja

that is definitely the motivation here. when we ride, i'm on my race bikes and he wants the same.

PhotoJoe 

If it were me, I'd buy the CL bike. Then, take him to the LBS and have him pick out new bar tape. Personalize it for him, but make him part of it. If you have a good relationship with your LBS, see if they have a better set of platform pedals to put on there. IMHO, this, along with riding with you, will carry him until he outgrows it.

ahsposo 

I don't know.

Think about how nice your bikes are.

Your bike would be TOTALLY embarrassed with that thing around. I mean that's a lot of stamped steel. I bet it sold new for $135. And it looks like it's gonna need new tires.

Get him something nice with 650cm wheels, decent components something that he can learn to make keep up with you. Once he gets a taste of fast I'll bet he gets hooked. It'll be money well spent...

Inertianinja

i agree with you man, i really do. the price, though.

KiuBWhy

I wouldn't spend any more than $200 on a bike for him at this point. Unless you're sure (which, there is likely no way) that he won't grow anymore. A started bike like the one you posted would be awesome for him if it fits. But the biggest thing would be for him to understand that he won't have a nice bike for a few more years.

That is, unless you're ready to drop the money for nice rigs every time he outgrows the previous one.

twodownzero

That bike is bigger than mine, and I'm a grown man!

novacoke

I don't agree. He's young (11), he needs to learn that it's not about the bike. It'll make him humble as well, teach him the importance of handling (keeping steady with one hand while shifting), etc.

IMHO, also would be beneficial to learn that if he wants a nice bike, he should work/save for it - not be handed it. That, and he can trash the hell out of this one and learn how to fix it.

ahsposo 

Here's an idea. If he's 4'11" these guys say that they have a $350 bike for him.

https://www.giantnerd.com/tommaso-tie...-beginner.html

47cm comes in a manly blue. No girl's bike for him.

Genaro

That's why I said "one like this"

Here's a 45cm.

Good BD bikes
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kids-road-bi.../250796135047?

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...y/avenue_a.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ington1_IX.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt_dt.htm

ALl bikes under $300

himespau 

I'd say see if you can get him down to $100 or so and then do it. The nice thing about used is that in a few years when he outgrows it you (or he) can sell it at little to no loss, while depreciation of a new bike is killer. Plus, you live in the city, right? If (or should I say when), it gets stolen, if you're only out $100, the hurt isn't quite as bad.

rat fink

You sure about that?

twodownzero

Mine's a 50 cm, so yes.

Commodus

It's going to be a really heavy bike, and I wonder if the shifters will frustrate him.

I'm not sure it's really going to be an improvement over his mountain bike, but then I haven't seen his mountain bike.

SlimRider

I only wish that my brother had ever been that nice to me!

Please get it for 'em!

He'll appreciate the thought, if nothing else...

If he does turn into a regular roadie, then there will be plenty of time for upgrades and perhaps, a new bike!

- Slim

PS.

You're a good brother!

idc

The shifters would frustrate me. Is he into "vintage" stuff?

I've always loved riding but my parents bought my bro and I some pretty heavy old second-hand things through the years. Didn't affect how much I rode but did really make me appreciate having my first new LBS bike. Until it got stolen. Grumble. Anyway, I guess it really depends on how used he is to getting new shiny, modern stuff vs. utilitarian second-hand stuff. I had a lot of cheap second-hand things growing up so I was used to my bikes being subpar.

You could always put him on a bike that's too big since he's only 11. The first time I rode a road bike I found the speed and ease of getting speed was amazing, even though it was too big for me and a little scary. It was a step-through frame though.

RobertL

Good on You! I say your eleven year old brother will love it, especially coming from his big brother.

If he really takes to riding it, an upgrade as he grows will be easy and you'll probably be able to sell this one for what you're paying now, so that can be applied to the upgrade bike.

More important than the bike will be the time spent together riding, enjoy it.