Advice about buying child's bike

[Peggetty]

DD (7) needs another bike, having now grown out of her third one. She wears age 9/10 clothes as is very tall so needs a 24' wheel next. Needs a low crossbar as wears school uniform and gets annoyed if her clothes don't let her get on and off comfortably.

Her current bike weighs 14kg and she struggles to manouvre it when not riding.

We have found two options, a Giant Liv (new for 2016 so no reviews) which seems to fit her well and she likes. It's approx 13kg though, although she managed it well, maybe the weight is distributed better as it's bigger.

Or a Frog 62 which only weighs approx 9kg. She wasn't keen on the low handlebars of this, though you can buy an extension pole to raise them. It would surely be so much easier going up hills?

DD likes the first one but my head says get the second! Anyone have any cycling advice? Thanks.

Can't comment on those choices, but we go to Townsend's Light Blue Cycle Centre www.townsends-lb.co.uk/ on Chesterton Road, as kids have got on well with Ridgebacks.

Prices seem to have gone up since I last bought one though!

Oh, and you get a discount if you're a member of www.camcycle.org.uk/

Wow 4kg is a big difference, are you sure about the Giant's weight as that is heavy and Giant are a good make.

Assuming correct, I would definitely go with the Frog. It will not be that expensive to either get a stem that has a higher rise on it or handlebars that have a rise on them to make the front end higher. The bike shop should be able to advise, they sell the frogs in Station cycles don't they?

Ilsa bike!! Depending on your budget of course - but really can't fault them. Only 8.7 kg
www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/beinn-24

Yes they weighed the Giant one for us. Looking at Ridgeback and now also the Raleigh Performance, as well as Islabikes. Think there are enough choices to get something less than 10kg for her.
Thanks :-)

But Islabikes at least £100 more than the others so unlikely, despite their resale value.

Ended up going bike shopping for DS1 (8) on Saturday, and after a fact-finding tour, we went to Evans on Mitcham's Corner and got a Pinnacle 24". This is lighter than his 20" Ridgeback and he can pick it up to chest high on his own. We found there was more choice for older children in there than Light Blue, and Evans will also offer 10% off a full price bike if you're a CCC member. Here it is: www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/aspen-6-speed-24-inch-kids-bike-ec119035.

DH took DD to light blue on Sat and we are now looking at the newest Ridgeback 24 but it's a fair bit more than the others so far at 300 quid. Will look at the Pinnacle. Thanks

You're welcome - hope you find something suitable!