Bike sizing for kids

[PhilBixby]

A friend of mine has a 10yo daughter - small for her age - who's starting to get serious about triathlon and wants a "proper" road bike. They've had conflicting advice on what to get, on frame and wheel size etc. Does anyone have experience of this, and could offer advice? If so, can I put her in touch with you?

[dave c]

Hi Phil

I got my 9 year old daughter a Isla bike which is a race bike, 26" wheels and is the best that I could find at the time.

She can contact:

http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/luath26.html


Cheers


Dave

[barberj]

I would concur on the Islabike. Some other manufacturers do childrens race bikes (like bianchi) but these are hard to get hold off and still tend to have cranks that are too long and have 24" wheels. Islabike do 26" and 700c wheel race/cyclocross bikes that are designed to be chidrens bikes (crank lengths, easy reach brake levers, shallow drop bars) and you get access to a greater choice of tyre with the bigger wheel.

[justsweat]

Can I just say that most of the triathlon bike courses are on grass. Last year only the IRC and a couple of others where on closed roads.

If she wants to be a good triathlete then I would suggest getting her a lighter mtb (most kids bikes I can hardly lift) and on the races where the grass is hard, or the occassional road one then put slicks and tribars on.

Brian

[barberj]

I don't think you would say Islabike bikes are heavy. Certainly no haever than an adult bike at the same price. Also there road bike is a cyclocross bike so goes well on grass too. It weighs 9.7kg.

[MarkA]

Another vote for Islabikes

My oldest daughter rides a Beinn and before that we had the smaller 24" road going flat barred bike

Nice and light with well thought out young person friendly spec

Sizing is difficult in my experience especially around 10

The Isla team are v friendly and knowledgeable but by all means put your friend in touch Phil as welcome to come and try out