Cycling Thread - All Peddlers and Pedallers welcome.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Have started a new thread as the other one is very nearly full.

Mine is a Giant Revel 1 Ltd (434 at Cyclestore) and I like it a lot. What make was your old bike?

UniS - dd has just turned 7 and I think she'll fit a Beinn 26 before long!

Ds (U14) has just started racing CX. He has a borrowed Islabike Luath with cross tyres from his club 'cos I refuse to buy him a third back to add to his expensive road bike and not quite so expensive track bike and seems to be enjoying it. He's nowhere near winning but is doing it purely pragmatically to improve his road racing (both strength and technique) over the winter.

He's off tomorrow to Loch Lomond to a CX race there. It looks like it is going to be really wet and muddy

The U8s are soooo cute and so determined.

Habbibu - if you're in Scotland, you can join the Facebook group "Youth Racing in Scotland" and see some of the photos from the ERC Introductory CX Race a few weeks ago (an atypical apparently warm sunny day) and the CX last weekend at Callendar Park in Falkirk.

SummerLightning - I've seen the younger kids racing on all sorts of bikes - including a tiny wee Barbie bike.

Habb- Yes the Beinn 26 is not stupidly big for a 7 year old. The Luath is a little larger but DS aged 7.5 fits one JUST.

He owns a Beinn 24 ( formerly owned by Prettybirds DS) as he didn't fit the 26 when he turned 7. he's saving for a luath 26 having had a club one on loan for the back end of the road season.

The Facebook group is "youth cycle racing in Scotland"

Unis - ds is now using a 700mm Luath from his club for the CX. Glad your son is enjoying the Beinn 24. I was able to buy him a Madison Genesis track bike with the proceeds from selling his 26" Luath and the rest of his inheritance from his granny (after buying his Cannondale Road bike). His race wheels for his road bike (bought by his Opa/grandad) cost more than his dad's b'twin road bike!!

Just went to join the Facebook group but it says you have to be "friends" with at least two people in the group.

There is a CX race in Inverness soon and I think ds2 would love it.

Got accepted anyway :)

Notinthemiddle - PM me and I'll give you my fb name so you can friend me. Then I'll work out how to get you another name. You'll be able to see the photo albums of recent races via me anyway.

I took a photo today at the CX at Loch Lomond especially for this thread: it was a wee kid who couldn't have been more than 4 in the U12/U10/U8 race on a teeny weeny bike. I've not downloaded them from the camera yet but will add it to my MN Flickr account and link to it from here.

Would love to see that :)

Morning all - Have to say all this kids racing sounds exciting. My DS is 4 and has very little interest in his bike - got him a nice little ridgeback which he will probably have grown out of before he learns to ride it! I'm thinking of getting a follow-me to take him out with me but fear he'll refuse to go on his own then if he can just hitch a ride from mum! We are just discovering cycling and DH has just bought a second hand hybrid after much nagging this weekend - need to get him on the road too!

We are in Yorkshire so will take DS to Grand Depart next year and hope that ignites his interest a little

Well it's about 18 days since I've been out. I'm tempted today as calf is feeling much better but I'm really scared of doing stuff too soon. Has anyone any experience of calf strain and cycling and how long I should give it? Last thing I want is to do it again and be off for longer but I really want to get going!

sticky did you get your new bike?

Hello all.

So jealous of all your kids going on proper races, you sound a like really dedicated lot!

DD is just about to swap her balance bike for her first proper pedal bike. I hope Crappy's scenario doesn't play out and she does get some use out the new one - it wasn't cheap! We measured her up and paid for it today, with a view to picking it up in a few weeks. A lot of coincidences with Crappy, we are also in Yorkshire, also planning to take DD (who is also 4) to see the Grand Depart, and I almost got her a little Ridgeback too .
This is DD's bike, a Frog. They are newish to the market, very light, aluminium bikes. Any of you have any experience of them? www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/hybrid-bikes/frog55.aspx

I have gone to try the Ridgeback Speed today. Feels exactly the same as the Meteor but it's metallic grey. I am now thinking that I need a quick-release front wheel so I can put both our bikes in the boot, and why not have the adjustable stem that the next model up has as well. The Speed has none of those, so that one looks like a no (especially as that horrible famous lime green does not seem to be available anymore).

Got the new catalogue today and I have fallen in love with this Ridgeback Velocity (finalist 1)- www.ukbikesdepot.com/m18b187s18p11692/RIDGEBACK_2014_Velocity_SE_Ladies_Hybrid_Bike/RS_GB/34055?gclid=CLjt3JvdvLoCFfMbtAodXgYARA. But it doesn't make sense, it's more expensive and then I'd have to add the mudguards and pannier rack myself. But I like it! .

The sensible option is the Ridgeback Meteor (finalist 2) - www.cycle-heaven.co.uk/bikes/brands/ridgeback/ridgeback-meteor-women-s-2014/. I am normally the Ms Sensible, but I am tired of being sensible. Then again, my budget is not great.

So, still undecided. I do wish bikes came in more exciting colours [& childish, I know!]

(Haven't downloaded the pictures from my camera yet, sorry )

Our LBS has just started stocking Frog bikes and I know many of the more knowledgeable other parents at ds' cycling club have said lots of positive things about them.

I have heard a lot of good things about Frog bikes (haven't seen one yet though) and if I was in the market for a new kids bike and could afford it I would probably buy one. You will have to review it for us when you get it ;) Is she very tall btw? The bike you linked to is for approx age 6+.

The velocity isn't much more expensive... ;)

I'm also looking for a new bike. I started a thread but no one replied :( www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/1896270-Oooh-fell-in-love-with-a-mountain-bike-today

Thanks prettybird and NotintheMiddle, I'll certainly report back on the Frog. (BTW, NotintheMiddle, I have replied to your other thread . Not very helpfully, sorry )

Yes, DD is quite tall for her age. We tried her on the smaller size but it looks as if it will last her no more than 5 or 6 months. She can reach the floor OK but she does look a bit stretched on that one. My reasoning is she'll get it in one month's time when she turns 5 and then the winter will be here, so she won't use it much for a few months now. DH worries that the gears are a bit too much and I agree, but she can ignore them until next spring.

I was looking for the lightest thing (grandma's) money could buy, and that seems to be it. But yes, it is quite expensive. I would not have gone for it if it hadn't been a very generous gift, and I still feel awful about having spent that amount on a child's bike. Also, there's a massive price difference between the smaller one and this one (obviously no gears on the little one).

As for the Velocity, it doesn't cost much more, but then I'll have to add the mudguards and rack so it adds up. Plus, I think the wheel is fixed. The specs don't seem to be very, uhm, specific.

sticky just something to think about with the quick release wheel and getting the bike in the back of the car. Assuming you are fitting mudguards you will still have the front mudguard to contend with and fit in the car so not much smaller than without the wheel on.

Thanks for the replies on my thread :)

Sounds like the Frog will fit her fine.

Hopefully, as the Frog bikes establish a reputation, you'll be able to sell on the bike for a good price once your dd grows out of it.

If I were to advise someone now for whom funds were tight, I would suggest buying an Islabike 2nd hand as they would probably be able to sell it for approximately what they'd paid for it when their child grows out of it. As long as it was maintained properly of course

Frog bikes do look good. I haven’t seen many yet. just one sticks in my mind which someone had swapped the flat bars off and put drop bars on. It looked very odd as the geometry didn't really work.

A 5 year old can get the hang of gears. DS had a 20 inch wheel bike for his 5h birthday. he was able to gear shift for himself after a month or two.

Have any of you seen kids raceing on a "Formeula" bike? they look similar to Isla's Luath bikes. I'd be interested to try one.

I was going to say I hadn't come across them but after clicking on the link I realised that I'd seen quite a few kids on "Forme" bikes and they look good.

Hey sticky I have a velocity and mine at least has qr wheels

Oh, Summer, does it? What's it like? Would you recommend it?

Hi sticky I did talk a bit about it further up the thread

Basically, I am not the best person to ask as I have 4 bikes and the velocity it the cheapest and therefore the heaviest and the slowest. I know this makes me a bike ponce but I have bought the 4 bikes over the last 10 years so I am not too bad!!

Anyway I do actually think it is quite heavy as even my husband has commented when lifting it onto bike roof carrier. But potentially for the price you are paying for it being a good reliable hybrid is its a bit heavier. I have had no problems with reliability it's lasted great on 12 miles a day for 3 + years. I did have to pay for the mudguards and rack on top of the price. I have had to change chain and cassette once and prob one set of brake pads. In addition the adjustable stem just gave up the ghost so I now have a fixed one.

It's a good reliable bike. You are right though the colours are dull. Mines a metallic light green - not particularly cool!

Thanks Summer!

Yes, I remember you saying the adjustable stem is not great. To be honest, I hadn't realised it was adjustable on this one too. It does seem a bit less upright than the Speed and the Meteor, which is not a good thing for me.

Another candidate was the Vita Specialised, but then that one stopped making sense as the specs were similar to the Ridgebacks but without the rack and mudguards.

Wish I hadn't looked at so many now. I am totally confused .