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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:
Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 08:14

Wow that looks like my sons £230 Isla cnoc bike Rebus, I bought it 2 years ago and Isla have since put £100 extra on their bikes so its now £330 pricing a lot of people out who simply cannot afford it. My friend who has been dealing with, and reconditioning and maintaining bikes for years has said with Isla your paying for the name, and I can see that. They know there is a market, well most of Mumsnet love Isla so can charge the earth. Ive looked at equally good bikes recommended by him Ridgeback, Trek, Specialised Hotrock,for kids, and they are cheaper and just as good.

My son is due to move up a bike in a years time, to pay £500 for an Isla benin is a lot, and most people don't have that spare in the first place. I will buy my sons next bike from my friends shop, not Isla.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 08:16

He also deals with Halfords Carerra bikes, and tells me that they are good bikes too, my daughter 10 has one from him, and she finds it very easy to ride.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 08:40

Just looked at more Wiggins bikes, they look great, similar to Isla but a tonne cheaper. I will ask my friend about them.

floatingfrog · 16/04/2017 08:42

As PPs have said save up and buy a better bike. It will be too heavy for a 5 year old a Frog or an Isla is the way forward.

GoodGirlGoneWrong · 16/04/2017 08:42

Yabu for even looking at a Halfords bike - head off to your local bike shop.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 09:09

Or do your research and then choose a bike that is right for your chd and budget. Don't be bullied into getting a certain type of bike, look at reviews and recommendations, Isla is not the only way to go sorry it is not!

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 09:14

Whoever recommended the Wiggins bike, looks fantastic, designed for children and lightweight. Great reviews, similar to Isla but kinder on my pocket. I am cannot pay £500 for an Isla benin, when I've hardly got anything left at the end of the month. I just can't justify the cost.

Funnyface1 · 16/04/2017 09:15

I think it's lovely. And it's nice if he chose it himself. My ds is a boys boy as you say and has a digger bike, but still likes things like peppa pig and toy kitchens/playhouses. We just encourage whatever he likes.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 09:15

Wiggins bikes are available at other retailers online not just halfords for those bike snobs!

Temporaryanonymity · 16/04/2017 09:27

I spent nearly £300 on a specialized bike for my son when he was around 5. Bright blue from the local bike shop, who have maintained and serviced it on a regular basis. He rode it every day in the Park and now his younger brother is the proud owner.

I nearly fainted at the price but happily bought the bigger version (and one for me!) because it has lasted so well. I do plan on these bigger purchases to be handed down so the older one wouldn't be allowed to pick the one in your first link as there would be no guarantees his younger brother would be happy with it.

At five my boys were happily non conformists. At 10 and 7 it is an entirely different story.

loonieleftie · 16/04/2017 09:29

I find this thread quite disappointing really. It just shows that it's parents who are keeping this gendered toys stuff going, the kids do actually want different things that they like and the parents are encouraging each other not to get them.

How do we expect boys not to be aggressive when they are bought toys covered in angry faced characters shooting each other (I'm aware that this is an extreme example but you get what I mean).

Makes me a bit sad anyway.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 09:43

That's more reasonable Temporary, ds 5 is my last so no other chikdren for it be passed down.

HalfCarrot · 16/04/2017 10:12

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112364705746
This one looks almost new and they will post it. They're REALLY light. You can get cheaper but there aren't any on eBay Ireland so you'll have to get posted from U.K. ?

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 10:17

Halfcarrot it only has one bid on, I am sure it will get higher as the auction ends. Looking at the Wiggins cycles, they look just as good, and the reviews are good too, for £200, I can get my son a decent brand new bike. I might also see what my friend has in his pre owned shop at the time.

HRHTiggyD · 16/04/2017 10:34

Probably closer to being unisex that 95% of other bikes, but still has fluffy animals on it. If he can stand the teasing, go for it. If he gets negative about it or withdrawn, get him a different one.

StinkPickle · 16/04/2017 10:35

Oh come ON! This is absolutely fine as a unisex bike. My 5 year old boy would love it.

If any of you have a 5 year old that would bully another 5 year old over this you need to sort your parenting out Hmm

If his heart is set on it then I'd buy it without thinking.

Natsku · 16/04/2017 11:01

Natsku, another strategy "No, it's not a boys' bike because it's mine and I'm a girl"

Ooo that's a good one, I'll tell her to say that.

How heavy are Halford's bikes? Not sure how heavy DD's is but its a pretty bog standard 16" child's bike and she manages just fine with it.

Can you get Tunturi bike's over in the UK? They have a neutral style called Poni that has one thick bar and no cross bar or dropped bar, they look really good think I'll get DD one of those now she's outgrowing her current one, if I don't go for the traditional Jopo.

onwardsandbeyond · 16/04/2017 11:08

Have not read the whole thread but agree, it looks very girly and twee.

If you can (not sure what your budget is), I would spend a bit more and get him a proper bike. the specs are not great and it is over 11 kg for an 18 inch bike. way to heavy and your DS won't have much fun with it.

loonieleftie · 16/04/2017 11:28

Don't listen to them! Don't! He is 5 ! Get him the bike he wants! Blimey if this was reversed would you all be saying the same about a 'boys ' bike for a girl? Hmm

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 16/04/2017 13:34

Aero we took DS to have a look at the wiggins bikes and TBH they felt clumsy compared to the islabikes he has had. The equivalent wiggins to the islabike he has just gone onto is 2kg heavier.

I would definitely choose a second hand isla over a wiggins.

Original poster
mikado1 · 16/04/2017 13:34

Thank you so much HalfCarrot and you aeroflot for the other recommendations.

LoonieLeftie, I agree and also feel it's sad. My dh now says not girly but, it's almost the same weight as him and it now looks like 16" a better fit for him (he's 112cm). Don't worry though, he'll be getting whatever colour scheme he likes if we decide to fork out-actually the smaller frog, while expensive , isn't too bad and ds2 will have it and we can sell on.

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 14:26

A secondhand Isla is nearly the price of a new one, the reviews for the Wiggins, have been very good, so I'll take a look.Tbh 16inch one looks exactly like the cnoc, i don't see much difference. I will also take a look my friends shop, he has lots of pre owned, Ridgeback and specialised hotrock in, so can pick up a decent ore owned bike for under £100

rebus1 · 16/04/2017 16:18

Aeroflotgirl this is the road bike my 9 year old DS has now as well as his frog (he's really getting into cycling!):

www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/wiggins-rouen-junior-road-bike-650c

If you join British Cycling you get an extra 10% off when you buy in store- it is a really good bike for the price.

www.britishcycling.org.uk/

This one looks good as well if you are thinking of a hybrid:

www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/kids-bikes/wiggins-chartres-junior-hybrid-bike-26

I like the way they have small frames and bigger wheels like frog and Isla do, we also had a trek bike from wiggle which was great too.

BeaderBird · 16/04/2017 16:23

Animals and the outdoors are for girls? What sort of shit are you lot teaching your children?

The bike is great for a boy. To dissuade him would be doing him a disservice and teaching him that the opinion of others is more important than his own preferences. Raise him to be strong enough to defend his choices not to be another bloody sheep.

Aeroflotgirl · 16/04/2017 16:32

Thanks rebus, the Wiggins bikes look very good, and they have good reviews too. I am also looking at specialised and Ridgeback, Dawes😁