Bikes - has anyone bought a frog bike?

[Loueytb3]

Trying to decide between an islabike (which we can't try out) and a frog bike, which is sold by our local bike shop with aftersales service. There are very few frog bikes available secondhand so I can't work out what their resale value is going to be. Islabikes are going for only a little less than the new price on ebay.

I just wondered if anyone had bought a frog bike and had any feedback - positive or negative?

Its for DS3 and we are looking at the frog 43 or 48.

[Loueytb3]

So I've bought two frog bikes today. One for ds2 (a 55) and one for ds3 (a 48). Its worth saying that ds3 would have been on a 43 by inside leg measurement but when we tried the 48 in the shop he was tall enough - despite only having an inside leg measurement of 40cm. So it is worth trying them for size if you can. The guy in the shop said they routinely found that they recommended the next size up from the one that you thought would be the right size by measurement.

[BikeRunSki]

I got a new bike last week. I'm 44 and it wasn't even my birthday. When I say bike, I got a second hand frame someone was giving away and dH rummaged around for components. Cycling is what we do.

[CMOTDibbler]

I had a bike for my 40th, and am getting one for christmas this year! My first racer since I inherited my brothers when I was 15

[OldBeanbagz]

And you're never too old to get a new bike for your birthday BikeRunSki. My DH is getting one for his 50th next year!

[dontmesswithmytutu]

We've also had Isla bikes btw and the resale was excellent and the actual bikes were superb too. Use the size guide on their website and you won't go wrong. Hth

[dontmesswithmytutu]

Haven't read whole thread but we bought a frog for dd1. My dh is a bike fanatic and it's great. They're becoming increasingly popular and he thinks resale will catch up with Isla (obviously cheaper as the bikes are cheaper).

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

I'm looking forward to seeing those smiles on 5th of December!

[5madthings]

Waves to meanwhile I love seeing your videos and pics of H on Fb!

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Sounds ace! We bought ds3 a proper BMX (United Recruit 12) for his 4th Birthday.

We got it about a month before and I was so excited to give it to him, I could hardly wait! (you'll probably recognise me and my bike mad son from November 2010 group now!)

[5madthings]

Omg we just got it out the box to check it's all there etc. She is going to bloody love it! She wanted a pink/purple bike with real pedals and that's what she has, even I like it and I don't like pink! It's so brilliantly scaled, the cranks, the pedals, brakes everything! And so light! Omg how am I going to wait til the 5th to give it to her?!

[5madthings]

Indeed! So glad the box didn't have a picture on it so she didn't know what it was!

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Brilliant!

[BikeRunSki]

Woo hoo!!! There's nothing like a new bike for your birthday!

[5madthings]

Our isla bike arrived ttoday! Only ordered it on the 24th! Have hidden it and can't wait for madthing5's bday!

[5madthings]

That frog is in Yorkshire btw.

[OldBeanbagz]

The resale values on Islabikes is excellent. We've just sold one for £300 and it was only £350 new so £25/year for a well used but well cared for bike is pretty good i think.

DS is now on his 5th Islabike (DD has moved up onto an adult bike) and we've never had a single problem with them. The first two we went down to the factory to pick, everything else we've ordered over the phone.

Having said that we know lots of people with Frog bikes who are equally happy and have had the benefit of buying froma local shop.

[5madthings]

Spotty frog 48 on buy it now for £100! That's a good buy for someone! Collection only though.

[5madthings]

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/161496812730?nav=SEARCH

[5madthings]

Madthing5 is currently on a 14" balance bike with seat at maximum height so we want a 16" but frog say for the 48 their inside leg needs to be 48cm, her inside leg is 42cm so too small but fine for the isla cnoc 16.

It was the size issue that swung it for us, dd is actually pretty tall for her age so I was surprised she wasn't big enough for the frog 48, though I haven't tried her on one in store, just gone by their online measurements. Have to say I love the look of the frog but with only £10 price difference I think it's worth going for the isla in terms of brand quality etc. It's hard though and we like you are too far away from isla to go and look at them.

I think either bike will be a good buy tbh given what I have read.

I need to remember to add it to our bike insurance, we have a special policy as the cost of what will be 7 bikes adds up! Ds2 and ds3 had new bikes in the last year, a felt for ds2 and trek for ds3, i have a scott and then dp has a hybrid and a road bike. It's an expensive business! But we cycle everywhere and the boys love going to thetford forest for a ride etc.

We passed ds3s 20" dawes down to ds4 and ds2's felt is adult size with small adult frame so will last. At least there is more choice as they get bigger. Some people think we are mad spending so much on kids bikes but we learnt the hard way, when ds1 and ds2 were little they had cheaper bikes and God they were so heavy and forever adjusting brakes etc.

[Loueytb3]

Wow so many messages!

5madthings - you were looking at the same two bikes as I am. When we tried the frog 48 in the shop the owner said at the lowest seat level it's hardly any higher than the 14" and DS3 needs stabilisers so it makes more sense to get the 48.


Resale value is an issue for us as it won't be passed down and the money we make will go into the next bike. Also it was how I convinced DH that it was worth spending that much on a bike in the first place.

I am stil undecided. Loads of islabikes have just gone onto ebay over the weekend. I am also watching a couple of larger frog bikes to see what they go for. I suspect they won't be far off the islabike price - ones already at £150 with several days to go still. I think I'm going to go back into the shop on Friday with DH and get him to see what he thinks. Such a shame islabikes aren't sold in shops. We are too far away from the factory to visit.

[5madthings]

Yes I was worried re shipment but they said at the moment orders are going out within a week which is pretty good.

[BikeRunSki]

Oh fab!!!! Their shipping times can sometimes be very slow! Must have got a shipment in for Christmas.

[5madthings]

I wanted the green but madthing5 wanted the pink/purple colour and as its for her we went with her choice :)

I am excited for it to arrive, she is desperate for a real pedal bike and it will mean she can cycle the school run rather than going in the bike seat!

It will be shipped by the 29th Nov so will be here in time for her bday on 5th Dec :)

[BikeRunSki]

Pinnacle is Evans' Cycles own brand. I think they are being replaced by the Hoy range.