Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg
reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique (1960s?)
Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and loves riding. It's a
super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it out, but
I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available that's not a
mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has multiple speeds, is
fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe 24" diameter.

Any recommendations?

--
- Frank Krygowski

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 12/8/2019 6:22 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg

reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique
(1960s?) Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and
loves riding. It's a super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it
out, but I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available
that's not a mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has
multiple speeds, is fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe
24" diameter.

Any recommendations?


Current product is dominated by 24x1.95 but a tire change to
a smooth tread 24x1.5 is usually free at most LBS.

If you want to talk about an Italian styled youth fixie,
flipflop hub, 24x1 -540, write me.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/jrtrack.jpg

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On Sun, 8 Dec 2019 19:22:23 -0500, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg
reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique (1960s?)
Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and loves riding. It's a
super-cool bike.

I suspect that "cool" means that none of the other kids have bicycles
that are similar. While conformity to convention is a feature of
growing up, rebellion and going the opposite direction is also
present. I suggest you decide if the recipient is a conformist or a
rebel before building another super-cool bicycle.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it out, but
I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available that's not a
mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has multiple speeds, is
fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe 24" diameter.

20" BMX is allegedly for 7 to 10 year olds. A longer seat post and
tilting oversized handlebars can make it work for older kids. For a
few years, we had some high skool seniors (17 to 18 years old), riding
around on modified BMX bicycles. The main draw was that they were
suitable for riding in the local skate and bik parks:
https://www.skatein.com/skateparks/united-states/scotts-valley/scotts-valley-skatepark/
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/facilities/bicycle-trip-bike-park

How old is he now?

BMX is available in 24".
https://www.google.com/search?q=bmx+bicycle+24+inch&tbm=isch
You can also get 26" BMX bikes that somewhat resemble mountain bikes,
but retain the hub gearing, coaster brakes, and the inverted kickstand
that doubles as handlebars.

Any recommendations?

Yep. Ask him what he wants to do with the bicycle.
Launch, fly, and crash = 24" BMX
Ride in the dirt and downhill = Mtn bike
Racing = road bike
Traveling = folding bike
Riding to skool = any of the aforementioned

Don't worry about weight. Kids don't care about weight until they
start to sweat.


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 12/8/2019 7:51 PM, AMuzi wrote:
On 12/8/2019 6:22 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg


reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique
(1960s?) Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and
loves riding. It's a super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it
out, but I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available
that's not a mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has
multiple speeds, is fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe
24" diameter.

Any recommendations?


Current product is dominated by 24x1.95 but a tire change to a smooth
tread 24x1.5 is usually free at most LBS.

If you want to talk about an Italian styled youth fixie, flipflop hub,
24x1 -540, write me.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/jrtrack.jpg

Wow, that looks really cool! But he loves his three speeds. I'm planning
to get at least nine for his next bike.


--
- Frank Krygowski

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 12/8/2019 8:24 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Sun, 8 Dec 2019 19:22:23 -0500, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg
reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique (1960s?)
Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and loves riding. It's a
super-cool bike.

I suspect that "cool" means that none of the other kids have bicycles
that are similar. While conformity to convention is a feature of
growing up, rebellion and going the opposite direction is also
present. I suggest you decide if the recipient is a conformist or a
rebel before building another super-cool bicycle.

Actually, he's a little techie. You'd like the fact that at age five, he
was playing with Snap Circuits, accurately following the graphics and
building quite complicate circuits. And doing other "science" stuff.
Plus, he says he wants to be a cyclist when he grows up. :-) He's
enjoying being the fastest kid on the block, even though he's the smallest.

Based on his (and our) riding, I think a road-oriented bike would be
best, but with tires wide enough to handle some crushed limestone or
dirt paths. He hasn't shown any interest in BMX-style bikes.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 09-12-19 01:22, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg

reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique (1960s?)
Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and loves riding. It's a
super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it out, but
I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available that's not a
mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has multiple speeds, is
fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe 24" diameter.

Any recommendations?


My daughter and I are also looking into a 24" bike for my granddaughter.
Lots of hills here, so we think light weight can be an advantage. You
can ride everywhere on unpaved field and forest roads, so we want
not-so-narrow tires. The current choice is this one (but the only dealer
they list in the US is in Austin Texas):
https://woombikes.com/en_US/shop/pro...oom-5-2019-531 .
The SRAM derailleur should be better quality than the Shimano Tourney
that a lot of kids' bikes have.

Ned

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 12/8/2019 4:51 PM, AMuzi wrote:
On 12/8/2019 6:22 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg


reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique
(1960s?) Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and
loves riding. It's a super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it
out, but I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available
that's not a mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has
multiple speeds, is fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe
24" diameter.

Any recommendations?


Current product is dominated by 24x1.95 but a tire change to a smooth
tread 24x1.5 is usually free at most LBS.

If you want to talk about an Italian styled youth fixie, flipflop hub,
24x1 -540, write me.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/jrtrack.jpg

My next door neighbors daughter has a lovely 24", 7 speed, Mixte with
road tires. Here is a used one on OfferUp
https://offerup.com/item/detail/263873976/

Her brother is about the same size and wants a bicycle like hers. He
likes the low step-over and doesn't care that it is "a girls bike."

Alas, there is no such animal available anymore even though this bike is
only about a year and a half old. If you know of any new bike that is
similar, that is under $300, it would be great.

I suggested that he get the 24" unisex L.L.Bean Ridge Runner ($200)
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/120828 and change the tires. But he
really has no need for 21 speeds, nor a front shock.

The other option is the REI Co-op Cycles REV CTY Step-Through Kids' Bike
but that's $349
https://www.rei.com/product/143202/co-op-cycles-rev-cty-step-through-kids-bike.

I had a 24" Jamis bicycle when my son was small, but I donated it to
Good Karma Bicycles.

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 12/9/2019 5:08 AM, Ned Mantei wrote:

snip

My daughter and I are also looking into a 24" bike for my granddaughter.
Lots of hills here, so we think light weight can be an advantage. You
can ride everywhere on unpaved field and forest roads, so we want
not-so-narrow tires. The current choice is this one (but the only dealer
they list in the US is in Austin Texas):
https://woombikes.com/en_US/shop/pro...oom-5-2019-531 .
The SRAM derailleur should be better quality than the Shimano Tourney
that a lot of kids' bikes have.

Look at:
https://www.rei.com/product/143202/co-op-cycles-rev-cty-step-through-kids-bike.
But it is Tourney.

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 4:22:27 PM UTC-8, Frank Krygowski wrote:
Seeing Jeff's link
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/wp-c...e-1024x865.jpg
reminded me:

I spent a lot of time building up a really lovely antique (1960s?)
Italian made mixte for a young lad. He loves it and loves riding. It's a
super-cool bike.

But the boy is growing. I've got a couple years to figure it out, but
I'm wondering about what's [going to be?] available that's not a
mountain bike, is reasonably light weight, has multiple speeds, is
fairly kid-proof, and has wheels maybe 24" diameter.

Any recommendations?

--
- Frank Krygowski

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARRY-HAVNO...AOSwUuFW0L6 z

Kid's next bike after 20"?
 

On 09-12-19 16:44, sms wrote:
On 12/9/2019 5:08 AM, Ned Mantei wrote:

snip

My daughter and I are also looking into a 24" bike for my
granddaughter. Lots of hills here, so we think light weight can be an
advantage. You can ride everywhere on unpaved field and forest roads,
so we want not-so-narrow tires. The current choice is this one (but
the only dealer they list in the US is in Austin Texas):
https://woombikes.com/en_US/shop/pro...oom-5-2019-531 .
The SRAM derailleur should be better quality than the Shimano Tourney
that a lot of kids' bikes have.

Look at:
https://www.rei.com/product/143202/co-op-cycles-rev-cty-step-through-kids-bike.
But it is Tourney.

Should have made clear that the only reason I mentioned the lack of
sellers in the US is because most of the readers of this newsgroup are
from there. I (and my family) live in Switzerland, where the Woom bike
is easily available.

The REI bike looks quite reasonable, but there's no REI in Switzerland.

Ned