Tween Bicycles, what are some choices?

[SMS]

I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.

The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
12-13" frame and 26" wheels.

I saw the K2 Stormy at REI and LL Bean:
"http://www.rei.com/product/761092" which claims to be a "girls bike"
but doesn't look like it to me (not that it matters).

Anyone know of any others?

[landotter]

On Jan 5, 5:50 pm, SMS > wrote:
> I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>
> The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
> 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.

When I was that age visiting my grandpap, I'd ride his folder which
allowed for tremendous seat height adjustment. The fact that it was
missing the hinge lock pin made it into a super cool circus bike!

[landotter]

On Jan 5, 6:20 pm, landotter > wrote:
> On Jan 5, 5:50 pm, SMS > wrote:
>
> > I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>
> > The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
> > 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.
>
> When I was that age visiting my grandpap, I'd ride his folder which
> allowed for tremendous seat height adjustment. The fact that it was
> missing the hinge lock pin made it into a super cool circus bike!

Here ya go, a Dahon Curve with a stupid proof gear hub...and it's
super fast red!

http://www.dahon.com/us/curved3.htm

Claims that riders down to 4'6" should fit.

It's not a girls bike, but looks lipsticky enough.

[Grolsch[_2_]]

"landotter" > wrote in message
...
> On Jan 5, 6:20 pm, landotter > wrote:
>> On Jan 5, 5:50 pm, SMS > wrote:
>>
>> > I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>>
>> > The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
>> > 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.
>>
>> When I was that age visiting my grandpap, I'd ride his folder which
>> allowed for tremendous seat height adjustment. The fact that it was
>> missing the hinge lock pin made it into a super cool circus bike!
>
> Here ya go, a Dahon Curve with a stupid proof gear hub...and it's
> super fast red!
>
> http://www.dahon.com/us/curved3.htm
>
> Claims that riders down to 4'6" should fit.
>
> It's not a girls bike, but looks lipsticky enough.

No self respecting kid would ride that. When my boys were at that tween
stage I just had them on 24" wheeled bikes (Specialized HotRock) and got
longer seat posts and stems, till they were ready for a 26" bike (GT
Anatomica). The GT had this "triple triangle" frame that gave more clearance
over the bar. The younger son still prefers the anatomica for trail riding,
light and small for dancing in the bush.

[Grolsch[_2_]]

"landotter" > wrote in message
...
> On Jan 5, 6:20 pm, landotter > wrote:
>> On Jan 5, 5:50 pm, SMS > wrote:
>>
>> > I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>>
>> > The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
>> > 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.
>>
>> When I was that age visiting my grandpap, I'd ride his folder which
>> allowed for tremendous seat height adjustment. The fact that it was
>> missing the hinge lock pin made it into a super cool circus bike!
>
> Here ya go, a Dahon Curve with a stupid proof gear hub...and it's
> super fast red!
>
> http://www.dahon.com/us/curved3.htm
>
> Claims that riders down to 4'6" should fit.
>
> It's not a girls bike, but looks lipsticky enough.

Also, try "Cruiser" class BMX bikes.

[landotter]

On Jan 5, 7:04 pm, "Grolsch" > wrote:
> "landotter" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > On Jan 5, 6:20 pm, landotter > wrote:
> >> On Jan 5, 5:50 pm, SMS > wrote:
>
> >> > I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>
> >> > The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
> >> > 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.
>
> >> When I was that age visiting my grandpap, I'd ride his folder which
> >> allowed for tremendous seat height adjustment. The fact that it was
> >> missing the hinge lock pin made it into a super cool circus bike!
>
> > Here ya go, a Dahon Curve with a stupid proof gear hub...and it's
> > super fast red!
>
> >http://www.dahon.com/us/curved3.htm
>
> > Claims that riders down to 4'6" should fit.
>
> > It's not a girls bike, but looks lipsticky enough.
>
> No self respecting kid would ride that.

No self respecting *American* kid I presume?

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article >,
SMS > wrote:

> I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>
> The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a
> 12-13" frame and 26" wheels.
>
> I saw the K2 Stormy at REI and LL Bean:
> "http://www.rei.com/product/761092" which claims to be a "girls bike"
> but doesn't look like it to me (not that it matters).
>
> Anyone know of any others?

Norco's got a bunch of bikes that might work. Here's a cheap hardtail
available in a 12.5" frame and a manly orange:

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/adventure/scorcher.php

That 12.5" seems to be their standard "smallest" frame size on all their
hardtails, so you can basically buy a bike with similar geometry (but
different components and frame materials) at any price from $300 to
$5200. How much do you love your kid?

Norco and Kona both also make "serious" 24" bikes, where the machine in
question is a kid-sized version of one of their "real" mountain bikes.

For example, the $1500 Norco B-line is a bike with 24" wheels but a
deadly serious FS component spec.

For $1000, something like the Norco Ryde combines indestructability with
a fairly low standover height.

Or maybe the 24"-specific Norco Kompressor:

http://www.norco.com/bikes/mountain/shore_hardtail/kompressor.php

As others have mentioned, Cruiser BMXes would be another choice if your
child was into it.

And never underestimate the power of bodgery: faced with the dilemma of
speccing a cyclocross bike for a rider with a 27" inseam, I found a very
small rigid mountain bike frame and went to town. I helped with a
similar CX project for a young girl desperate to be like her hero, Mandy
Poitras.

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

"SMS" > wrote in message
...
>I need a bicycle for my 10 y.o. who's outgrown his 24" wheeled bike.
>
> The pickin's are slim apparently. It'd have to be something with a 12-13"
> frame and 26" wheels.
>
> I saw the K2 Stormy at REI and LL Bean:
> "http://www.rei.com/product/761092" which claims to be a "girls bike" but
> doesn't look like it to me (not that it matters).
>
> Anyone know of any others?

Trek, and probably others, produces a kids hybrid bike, the 7.2FX, that fits
larger than a 24"-wheel mountain bike. But the main issue with next-size-up
machines for kids will always be seat-to-bar reach. That's where you run
into problems with 26"-wheel bikes, not standover clearance.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

[SMS]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:

> Trek, and probably others, produces a kids hybrid bike, the 7.2FX, that fits
> larger than a 24"-wheel mountain bike. But the main issue with next-size-up
> machines for kids will always be seat-to-bar reach. That's where you run
> into problems with 26"-wheel bikes, not standover clearance.

I was able to adjust my wife's 15" Specialized Expedition enough to fit
my daughter in terms of seat to bar reach (when she was 12 and had
outgrown the same bicycle the son-unit is now outgrowing). It has a
height and angle adjustable quill stem which made it very practical in
terms of adjustments. With the stem at the lowest setting, and the angle
at vertical it was fine.

The Giant Sedona comes in 13.5", and has an adjustable height and reach
stem, though the standover is higher than the Raleigh Venture 3.0 14".

In any case, I may just get a longer seat post and stem for now.