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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider buying this bike for ds (5)?

198 replies

mikado1 · 15/04/2017 17:25

His favourite apparently but his dad thinks it's 'girlish'-only because the halford's man said it's a girl's bike, I believe. And yet I see all the reviews talk about buying it for a girl :/ I feel we should go with whAt he wants, I've always told him that boys and girls can play with/wear/do what they choose and aren't limited to 'boys'/girls'' things. Think dh worried he will be snagged and not want to ride it. I think it's terrible to have to think like that.

OP posts:
LadyLoveYourWhat · 15/04/2017 18:38

Boggling at people who are happy to teach their kids at such a young age that we should make decisions about what we are allowed to want based on what other people think. Other children will only bully him if they think he's sensitive about it, if he handles any comments as confidently as he has in the past then it will be a non-issue. And babyish?!

Aeroflotgirl · 15/04/2017 18:41

I agree bike it a baby design for an older kids bike. My son 5 has an Isla cnoc, he's had it for a couple of years, and has just mastered riding with no stabilisers so will get him a bigger bike next year. I am lucky i know an experienced pre owned bike dealer, so might get him a preowned hotrock, Trek or Dawes bike.i cannot afford or justify the £500 for an Isla benin

43percentburnt · 15/04/2017 18:41

Get a frog bike! Ds (aged 3) has just learnt to ride a frog bike today. He had been riding a balance bike for the last year. It took him 10 minutes to learn to ride the frog bike. It's really light. The islabikes are good too. We bought a frog because you can try it in the shop for size and it comes with 2 sets of tyres.

kingscrossnoodle · 15/04/2017 18:43

Boggling at people who are happy to teach their kids at such a young age that we should make decisions about what we are allowed to want based on what other people think. I don't think anyone has suggested actually saying that to the 5yo Confused

Aeroflotgirl · 15/04/2017 18:43

Ahhh lala another one lumbered with the blooming shopper bike😂😂😂

Trifleorbust · 15/04/2017 18:44

Other children will only bully him if they think he's sensitive about it,

This is very naive. Some people bully because they can. Others do it without realising how hurtful they are being.

And I wouldn't teach my child to make decisions based on what others would think. I would be a bit more subtle about it than that and say the bike wasn't good enough, we were looking for a better quality one etc. If he was absolutely adamant, I would let him have it. If he was persuadable, no harm, no foul.

Aeroflotgirl · 15/04/2017 18:48

The boys bikes back in the 80s were so cool, but the girls well you had 2 varieties, the Raleigh bikes with the doll carrier or the shopper bikes, neither appealed really.

Miloarmadillo1 · 15/04/2017 18:49

I've just bought a big Frog bike for my 10 yr old that is several kilos lighter than that. Buy him a decent bike that will be a pleasure to ride, not some steel piece of crap from Halfords.

BikeRunSki · 15/04/2017 19:08

I had a horrible shopper too! lala and "aero*. To be fair, my DBs did too. My parents bought the cheapest bikes possible. I remember being consumed with envy when younger DS got a brand new Raleigh for her birthday one year. As soon as I was old enough to have a Saturday job, I saved up for a decent bike. It started a bit of a thing.... I'll eat beans and wear rags, but I'm happy if I've got a decent bike. My dc have always had Islabikes. Largely secondhand. Always got our money back on resale.

EB123 · 15/04/2017 19:11

My ds is 6 and would like it. I don't think it looks overly girly. I am looking for bikes for my 6 and 4 year old at the moment too.

Lots of people suggesting the frog bike and they do look fab. Sadly £300 is more than I and many others can afford to spend on a bike!

Didiplanthis · 15/04/2017 19:15

My ds is 5 and his bike is his sister's old one - which he chose. We offered him a new one ! It is purple and white with white tyres. He is cross that we took the doll carrier off as he liked it and also that we swopped the rainbow bell for a batman one. His mates don't bat an eyelid.

jobvcareer · 15/04/2017 19:36

My ds is 7 and he would like that bike as he loves animals. He is riding an 18 inch second hand at the minute, next year when he's mastered it he will get a brand new bmx type, or whatever he likes.
If he insists and you can't afford better I would buy it. My son only cycles with me on days out with the bikes or to school and back not playing out on the street.
I really wish this wasn't a question and I'm quite shocked so many of the responses say don't buy it. Let kids be kids and toys be toys.
We mostly had 2nd hand donated or very cheap bikes growing up, sometimes not even in the right sizes.
I had one new bike at about 5yo, a Raleigh red apple, it was so shiny and bright and I loved it, then a range of hand me down, found in a skip or donated bikes, including a shopper, until I was 16 and got another brand new bike.

Aeroflotgirl · 15/04/2017 19:42

I know lala the pre owned Islas are still very expensive, nearly the price of a new one, even the most used ones. So I will see what my friend has to sell on his e bay site.

Talith · 15/04/2017 19:48

At that age they're not going to get much stick off other kids. If they love it then go with it. Kids don't usually know about dropped crossbars. The main thing is they have a bike they want to ride. My eldest at 9 rides a bike designed for the opposite gender with strong themes which suggest this and they don't give a toss.

BikeRunSki · 15/04/2017 19:50

People who like the idea of Frog bikes, but can't manage the upfront cost, you can lease them at The Bike Club from £5-£16 a month, and exchange for a different size as required.

Werebothcrazyface · 15/04/2017 20:45

I really wouldn't buy it!

We borrowed one from a friend shortly before DS's 5th birthday, friend thought the bike was fantastic and I was foolish looking at more expensive ones.

DS was just about able to hold it up and ride it, it was not enjoyable for him what so ever and he ended up walking it part of the way. The handle bars and breaks are enormous and its comparable in weight to my own bike!

Ended up going for a second hand islabike bienn 20, it took two weeks and I had to travel out to essex (from London) but it was £75 then £20 for a service and new brake cables.

Btw his bike is purple and silver, his friend (boy) has a pink one...

Allthewaves · 15/04/2017 20:52

My 5 year old has the red version outrage. He loves it, no problems riding or finding it too heavy

Moocherbot · 15/04/2017 21:04

Check out Tiger bikes, just got one for older child, as light as Frog but lot cheaper.

Original poster
mikado1 · 15/04/2017 21:49

Thanks for all the additional advice! I had no idea it was heavy/not great. I have found a local shop that stock frog and will look at tiger now. I still don't think it's girly or babyish but perhaps is not the right bike for him. I will look at other options anyway. Will report back if you like!

OP posts:
ilovetosleep · 15/04/2017 21:58

My DS is 6 and has a pink Isla bike. He wanted a pink bike when he was 4 - and no one has ever commented on it. He's still loves it although it's a bit small now. It's very plain though. I'd feel a bit differently about the woodland animals though - more babyish than 'girly' though.

Hunstanton · 15/04/2017 22:06

Interesting different perspective from my 5 year old when we were looking for a bike for her this year and looked at this one in Halfords - she point blank refused on the grounds that it looked like a boys' bike! I think this woodland bike is completely unisex due to the green colour. So if he wants it, get it. I don't think it's girly at all.

Original poster
mikado1 · 15/04/2017 22:12

Can't see tiger available here (Ireland).

OP posts:
Original poster
mikado1 · 15/04/2017 22:13

So funny hunstaton! 😁

OP posts:
madeleinecreek · 15/04/2017 22:13

What about decathlon?

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 15/04/2017 22:14

Why not look on ebay at the second hand islabikes and frogs? There are usually ones on there for £100 or so.

YABU for buying a bike from Halfords when you could have a really decent second hand bike for the same price (IMO). It does make a difference to how much they enjoy riding.