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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think boys bikes are better than girls bikes?

72 replies

MumblingRagDoll · 31/08/2011 22:04

DD is 7 and has realy gotten into her bike this summer. It's far too small and DH and I were jus looking online for a new one for Christmas.

She's a normal girl of 7 in that she is very active and likes to ride for long periods of time...we go for up to 5 miles together but her old bike is looking knid of shaky and tiny now. We thought we'd find really sporty, sturdy bike...some kind of mountain bike but they all look like pink nightmares with tassely handle streamers and shopping baskets.

The bikes marketed at boys look like they could withstand some riding..no streamers or shopping baskets.

AIBU to ask...what is the actual difference between girls and boys bikes? DO boys bikes still have a crossbar" and what is that FOR? Can a girl ride a "boys" bike?

Can you help me find a good one under 100 pounds?

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 01/09/2011 08:37

The Ridgeback bikes are brilliant, DS has always had one and some of the girls at his school have the girl's versions, some have the boys ones.

Now DS has a Carerra bike from Halfords, it is brilliant, and green in colour, why not just get her one like that?

You don't have to buy her a girl's bike.

I agree, the Isla bikes, although fab, are way to pricey for a normal kid's bike, unless they are going to be cycling as their only form of transport and have to use it every single day then a ridgeback or carerra will be fine.

Just don't buy a cheap crappy bike. Or one with silly suspension.

Original poster
MumblingRagDoll · 01/09/2011 09:44

MilaMAe I am NOT looking for a girls bike I am questioning the need of manfacturers to make frigging seperate bikes for different sexes. ffs

Thanks for all the recomendations people!

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 01/09/2011 09:45

Decathlon.

Original poster
MumblingRagDoll · 01/09/2011 09:45

Overmydeadbody she will be going to school on it.

OP posts:
SiamoFottuti · 01/09/2011 09:56

snarky. Hmm

perhaps my point is that you don't have a problem at all, and don't actually need advice. There are girlie bikes, there are boyish bikes, but mainly there are just bikes. Just buy the one you like best, and quit making problems where there are none.

Original poster
MumblingRagDoll · 01/09/2011 10:36

Nosiamo you are wrong.....I do have a problem. I can't be arsed explaining it AGAIN though and if anyone's snarky it's you.

OP posts:
tyler80 · 01/09/2011 10:37

This question crops up again and again on biking forums in relation to adult purchases, I don't think YABU to ask the question regarding childrens bikes.

midnightexpress · 01/09/2011 10:43

I second the Islabikes - they're really well made and pretty 'genderless' iyswim. Just plain colours and a bit of silver. They will set you back more than £100 new, but you can probably pick one up cheaper on Ebay or bikesoup.

SiamoFottuti · 01/09/2011 10:43

yes it appears you do. You can't seem to understand that you can buy any bike you like, no matter what the gender of the child its for, and no matter how it is described by the manufacturers. That is a real problem for you.
Do you need internet randoms to buy, build and ride the thing for you as well as pick one?

Jodianna · 01/09/2011 10:44

www.sterlinghouse.co.uk/prodlist.php?catid=40&curcatgrp=1
We get ours from here. Hope it helps.

Jodianna · 01/09/2011 10:45

Apologies. You'll have to cut and paste.

talkingnonsense · 01/09/2011 10:47

Don't buy Carreras! They weigh a ton. Go to Evans, or a local independent for advice. Some bikes are fairly gender neutral if you look around, but mostly in the next size/ age group up.

tyler80 · 01/09/2011 10:52

But back to your original question, I think at age 7 then I think it doesn't really matter whether it's marketed as a boys or a girls bike as long as it fits and is decent quality and fairly lightweight, as opposed to looking fancy but weighing a ton.

A bit older and it might start to make a difference as males and females have different body proportions (women on average have longer legs relative to their height than men).

florenceuk · 01/09/2011 10:56

I wonder if the problem is the price point you're looking at which TBH won't be that well made? Agree that there is no reason for a girl's bike to look girly but actually most kids bikes will have a downward sloping bar - they don't really need the strength of a "cross bar" construction in the same way.

have a look here evans for quite a wide selection, but all the "serious" brands (that my DH would take seriously anyway) are well over £100.

While Isla bikes are expensive they do hold their resale value really well - have a look on ebay.

ragged · 01/09/2011 11:04

If she's going to school on it daily do not get an Islabike, they are way too nice for that! We buy Islabikes (4 and counting!) because A) we are bike snobs & do bike snob things on our bikes; and B)I have 3-4 DC to pass each bike thru. DC are allowed to ride their Islabikes to school about once every 6 months on a sunny day when I'm in a very good mood (ONLY).

I suggest you get something from a carboot, OP, that's the sort of bike that goes to school & stays there all day; nothing better for it.

I suggest Halford's or local bike shop if you must buy new because they will give you some customer service. Do NOT get suspension on the bike if you can possibly help it; totally unnecessary weight. General rule of thumb is to buy the lightest bike possible. I would seriously look for an ex-racing BMX child's bike as an all-round value-for-money beast, but you have to know what you're looking at to get value for money on that.

tryingtoleave · 01/09/2011 11:04

There are a lot of odd comments on this thread.

Of course adult men and women ride different bikes. I have just ordered a bike and everywhere I looked had women and men bikes. I was really pleased to see that 'ladies' bikes with a low bar were making a comeback because for a while they seemed to disappear and I had a slightly too big bike where I had to jump over the crossbar. I hated it and hardly used it.

As for the dcs they both have a giant bike. Ds's is blue, dd's is pink with tassels, a doll seat and a basket. Ds was a bit jealous so we got him a basket for his bike too. They are equally sturdy - I don't think tassels detract from a bike's functionality.

When I was a kid I had a malvern star ( red with tassels). I got it second hand and it lasted me till I grew out of it. I recently saw one in ashop, so they must have reissued it. Just buy a decent brand that your dd likes the look of.

ragged · 01/09/2011 11:06

MilaMae am very interested in your experience of Giant bikes. Can you tell me which models your DC or their friends are riding?

tryingtoleave · 01/09/2011 11:07

Yes, ds's 'boy's' giant has a downward sloping bar. It probably makes it easier to fit a range of sizes that way.

Tattyhead78 · 01/09/2011 11:08

YANBU. They "pink it and shrink it"! This does not get any better as you become an adult and ladies' bikes are generally more expensive that the equivalent men's model.

Haven't read whole thread (sorry, shouldn't really be on MN at the mo!), but here's my take on it...

We can distinguish between two kinds of female-specific bikes, the step-through frame with female-specific geometry or lower bar and the female-specific geometry (the latter only relevant when you are past puberty and in any case designers have recently discovered that ladies don't all have the same body geometry). You only really need a step-through frame if you are mobility limited or wear a skirt.

Ladies generally have longer legs in proportion to their height and may find that the reach to the handlebars is too far on a man's bike. However, unless you have a custom-made bike you are never going to get a perfect bike fit, but you can try different models or take measurements to get the best fit. In any case, reach is a personal preference and some people favour a more aggressive riding position.

I am not sure about bike fitting for girls. I suspect that they are more similar to boys pre-puberty and there would probably be no harm in buying a bike designed for boys, but you should take body and bike measurements before trying. The reach is the most important measurement IMHO. A good bike shop should be able to advise.

I have heard good things about Islabikes and you could also look at continental makes, such as Cube (more children seem to cycle to school in Germany, for example, and I have seen loads of good children's bikes there, nothing too pink either!).

tryingtoleave · 01/09/2011 11:09

I don't have long legs in proportion to my body Sad

Tattyhead78 · 01/09/2011 11:12

Oh, BTW, I have a Ridgeback that I love. I see they have been recommended as children's bikes. While I haven't seen a Ridgeback children's bike, they may be worth a look. The price points are good for the adult's bikes considering the spec. Also look at Revolution (Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative's own brand).

GrimmaTheNome · 01/09/2011 11:21

I am questioning the need of manfacturers to make frigging seperate bikes for different sexes

Because they sell. But quit thinking 'boys' bike - there are bikes with crossbars for strength for kids who want a tough practical bike. Then there are sparkly ones with step-through frame for kids who like that - I know one girl (but only one!) who lives in skirts. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Its up to us parents to reject unecessary gendering of kids (and adults) products. Same with clothes, toys, everything. Buy what suits your kid - which may be glittery pink with tassels.

tryingtoleave · 01/09/2011 11:33

The one thing that puzzles me is why the don't make boys' baskets. Ds is quite happy with his flowery one, but eventually it will probably bother him.

2rebecca · 01/09/2011 11:45

If you look at women in cycling clubs and women who race they tend to ride the same bikes as the men. There are some women's specific bikes like Terry bikes but if you are a tall woman with large hands like me then there is no need for a women's specific bike. My elderly father has a bike without a crossbar as he has arthritis, all the women in my cycling club have unisex bikes.
In general the women's bikes are aimed at the cheaper end of the market at women who don't really cycle.

tyler80 · 01/09/2011 11:48

Not really true 2rebecca, plenty of high end (1k+) womens specific mountain bikes. I'm sure the same holds true for road bikes too. I know many women who have no choice but to get womens bikes as they don't make men's bikes small enough, choice can be very limited if you're a short arse.