Kiddie Pron on it's way...

Which is a pretty near the knuckle way of introducing a new pair of
bicycles into the Bramah garage; current Raleighs are both now too small
for growing children. We all went down to the new Manchester branch of
Edinburgh Co-Op this afternoon and came away having ordered a pair of
Specialized Hotrocks, a 20" boys bike:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22126

and a 24" girls bike:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22149

which heaven help me has a triple, I can see endless hours of fun
explaining trimming to my 8-yo, ho ho...

We actually went down there to see their own-brand Cairn and Skye bikes
which are both much cheaper but are completely unsuitable; in the 20"
case because they have none to sell until June and in the 24" case
because someone saw fit to spec it with 170mm cranks... which meant my
darling daughter having a face full of knee twiceper pedal revolution.
It also had a huge great reach for her, plenty of growing room
admittedly but after ten minutes she wanted off it and that was just sat
in the shop! I mean, really - how can a bike have 20" wheels and a seat
that at it's lowest is only just above a snake's belly yet use cranks
that are longer than the ones I use on my fixed? The sales lad was
reasonably aware though and agreed that their bike was trying to cover
too big a target market.

I wanted to look at Isla Bikes, however Mrs B was agin travelling to
Wolverhampton (fair enough) and with the 20% off coupon for the new Manc
shop the two Speshes have not been much more expensive. BUT we have
managed to end up with a pair of front suspended kids bikes, I'm not
really happy about it... here's hoping it works out.

EBC had a load of good stuff in; a really nice single speed MTB, a
Cervelo R3 frame, a Specialised S-Works Roubaix with all the right bits
on, some very good looking "town" bikes, a lot of great looking adult
own-brand bikes, nice clothes and a huge store. The boys and girls
staffing the place were cheerful, helpful and friendly. I think I'll use
them again.

The kids are in bed happy. Obviously they would have liked to have
brought new bikes home today but hey, you don't want those ones that all
the other boys and girls try out - you want a brand-new-made-for-you one
etc. and they seem placated.

Roll on next week and we can get 4yo boy into using his gears!

I don't know what to do with the old bikes, maybe a punt on ebay
otherwise I'll have to see if the bike exchange project is still going,
ISTR they used to be glad of decent stock.

bfn,

Tony B

Tony B wrote:

Mrs B was agin travelling to Wolverhampton

I wish her a speedy recovery.

BUT we have
managed to end up with a pair of front suspended kids bikes, I'm not
really happy about it... here's hoping it works out.

Their range of 24"-ish wheeled kids bikes is rather limited. Everything
has suspension and is all rather heavy. The range desperately needs a
normal, unsuspended bike. Allegedly they don't sell, but I've had three
people looking for a 'normal' bike so far.

EBC had a load of good stuff in [...] a Specialised S-Works Roubaix

You have to take a test ride on that one - it's amazing...

The boys and girls staffing the place were cheerful, helpful and
friendly. I think I'll use them again.

Um, did I mention I work there (there today but wasn't the one serving you
thobut)? Glad you liked the place.

Mark Thompson wrote:
The range desperately needs a normal, unsuspended bike. Allegedly they don't sell, but I've had three
people looking for a 'normal' bike so far.

The Cairn/Skye bikes are almost perfect, build quality looks fine and
certainly they are priced to sell but the huge cranks on the 24" was
just too much - options for shorter would be nice. Also, an option to
loose the "suspension" fork would be good; it would be interesting to
see how many people buying in a proper bike shop would opt for the sus
fork. Not many, I reckon - certainly all the cycling parents I know hate
kids bikes being equipped with suspension shaped components....

You have to take a test ride on that one - it's amazing...

as well it should be for four grand :-)

Glad you liked the place.

I did! Look fwd to collecting later in the week.

bfn,

Tony B

I got my son a giant mtx250 which is suspension free. Goes like a
rocket with slicks as well.

My daughter manages to navigate an XS Giant Boulder ladies version.
Navigate in the sense that she seems to sit in it and drive it like a
barge rather than ride it.

The main gripes with the 24" wheeled bike were a) the seatpost had a
minimal amount of travel. Easily sorted by buying a long one. and b)
the V-brakes have a very deep thingy for holding the noodle so are a
pig to disengage. They need to have almost twice the nipple length of
free cable, which is more than is available on a properly adjusted
pair of brakes. I might swap them purely for ease of maintenance.

The wee one is just about outgrowing his Raleigh Max 16". He'll either
have his sisters old bike (Lion 20" retrofitted with decent brakes and
levers) or I will splash the cash and get a Beinn 20" from Isla. It is
only a few quid more than the comparable offerings from elsewhere and
so much better.

He is definitely ready for gears and a bike he can ride offroad or on
more than gentle slopes.

...d

In article .com,
David Martin
says...
the V-brakes have a very deep thingy for holding the noodle so are a
pig to disengage. They need to have almost twice the nipple length of
free cable, which is more than is available on a properly adjusted
pair of brakes.

Just set the brake up with the barrel adjuster on the lever wound out a
bit, then you can wind it in to get the extra slack.