Big or little wheels easier on a bike

[lexcat]

With the lovely weather dd (soon to be 6) has had her bike out. I did have to put the seat up about an inch and now she is at the max hight,and it's just a little on the small size.
The question is, her birthday is in about 3 weeks away and I was thinking a new bike. She would be going from an 14inch wheel to a 20inch wheel would this make riding easier or harder. Should I try and hold off for next year or go for it.
Any ones help would be greatfully recieved.

[SugarmagEatsMatzah]

We're going through the exact same thing just now. DD was 6 2 weeks ago and we promised her a bike for her birthday. She has a 14" bike she got two years ago but she's now tall enough for an 18". I thought it might be easier for her to learn to ride on the small one so we took the stabilisers off last week to see if she could do it. So far she's a bit wobbly but definitely getting the hang of it. But I don't know how long to wait before getting her the bigger bike. Like you I don't know which is harder. I don't know if once she can do it, she'll be fine. Or if getting her the bigger bike will be like going back to square one.

[LizP]

Having been on a family cycle this afternoon my suggestion is get the biggest wheels they can manage as it makes them go so much faster. ds1(7) on a 20inch bike can more or less cycle at adult pace. ds2(5) on the 14inch wheels is peddling like mad and not really getting anywhere.

[emat]

We got a 20" for dd's sixth bday and she's much faster on it than the 16" she had.

[lexcat]

She not to keen on to much speed but having said that she is starting to go quite fast, just don't let her know that.
Really will a big bike be easier or harder to pedal and control.

[flack]

Big wheels are Easier to pedal, frame geometry and weight makes more of a difference on ability to control than wheel size. I'd go for 20" if she's big enough. Easier to get spare intertubes and tyres for 20", too. If you go for 16 or 18" she'll just outgrow the bike within 2 years, anyway.

Good quality bikes here ; Paying £150+ may seem a lot, but you get a lot better quality for it. This one is especially good value for money : good make, versatile, light weight, well-made, will have good second hand value (Ebay), solid enough to pass down to little sister.

[SugarmagEatsMatzah]

Well, she was riding her old 14" all over the park this morning with no stabilisers. So we went and bought her the 18" as promised and of course it was like starting from square one again. BUT I am hopeful that another few days and she'll have the hang of this one as well. She certainly looks more comfortable sitting on it - her knees were out to the side on the little one to avoid hitting the handlebars.

[SugarmagEatsMatzah]

lexcat - you never said if she's still using stabilisers or not. The only problem you might have is that if she still needs stablisers you might have trouble getting them for a 20" bike. If she's riding without them then I would say go for the bigger bike.

[pointydog]

if still using stabilisers, best stick to small wheels as it's much easier to learn to ride without stabilisers on a small bike, small wheels, low to ground.

If she's confident without stabilisers, go for big wheels as she'll go faster with less effort.

[lexcat]

Shes had no stabilers for about 3 years now and is still on the same bike. Very confident on her bike. Shes not sure of the idea of a larger bike. Worried it will be harder. So I need to feel I am doing the right thing to get a bigger bike.

[lexcat]

Sorry meant to say just over 2 years no stabilers.

[SugarmagEatsMatzah]

IN that case I would say def go for the bigger bike. If she's tall enough for a 20" she'll not be very comfortable anymore on a 14". I saw with my DD that her knees were sticking out to the sides on the 14" to avoid hitting the handle bars.

[lexcat]

Thinking I need to get to the bike shop, thanks for all the feedback.