Carerra 14 inch mens bike

[endoftether12]

Please someone help me! I need to find a 14 inch frame, 26 inch wheels mens bike for my sons birthday. I can only find 16 inch or bigger. I found a ladies one that suits that to my unexperienced eye looks good but will it be noticeable to him (and his friends!)that is a female bike? He has his heart set on this particular make.

14 inch is very small. Are you sure he needs that? How old is he? You could possibly get a bike shop to build one to your spec but i don't think it would be cheap.

I'm sure they do a junior range which may be more appropriate. If he's set his heart on that range then presumably he's researched them enough to have a particular model in mind and will also be aware if you buy a ladies model? What type of bike? Mountain, road, hybrid etc

www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165607&productId=1021553&storeId=10001

I'm no bike expert but i think you could do better for the money. We go to a mountain bike hire place and buy good second hand bikes that have been fully maintained etc.

He will be 13. Went to halfords and got him measured, it was them that said he needed that size. He isn't tall for his age, average to smaller side.
I have emailed a few 2nd hand places but not having much luck. I don't want to buy on gumtree etc as I have been ripped off a few times over bikes on there!

He wants a mountain bike. I don't think he has done so much research, think it is just the 'in' bike with his age group/his group of friends.

14" doesn't come in mens bikes. How tall is he? My ds has just got his first adult mtb, and its a 16"

I would recommend going to a more specialist bike seller - someone like Evans Bikes - we have had a number of bikes from them over the years, and they know far more about bikes, and what's available, than Halfords do, imo.

Carrera is Halfords own make, so if his heart is set on one of those then it's pointless going to Evans or similar.

Carerra will be popular because a lot of people buy from Halfords and that's what they sell.

Personally I'd go with a 16 inch as it will widen your choice and if need be you can get a bit shaven off the bottom of the seat post to make it go down further. For context, my boys got their last bikes at age 10 ish, admittedly they were/are tall. They got 20.5 and 20 inch frames at that age, they fit them well. They are now 6'3" and 6'1 and have only just completely grown out of them.

Your son isn't going to get smaller especially at his age.

Carerra will be popular because a lot of people buy from Halfords and that's what they sell. I meant to add that that doesn't necessarily make it a good bike.

Go to Evans or a local independent. Halfords are clueless and their bikes are crap (IMO) and their after sales service is atrocious. Your DS can more than likely get away with bigger than 14" as he is still growing. I am out 5'2" and pretty sure my bike is bigger than that.

Thanks for the great advice. I didn't realise that carrera was sold only at halfords! That explains why a lot seem to have them round here (halfords is the local shop!). Yes probably right about buying a larger frame, I want it to last him a good couple of years or more. Will go to a different store I think. Thanks again

Well it's in their best interests to recommend a bike he's going to grow out of soon so that they get to sell you a new one next year...

Again, very true! I must be a salespersons dream at times