kids bikes - Isla bike, ridgeback or something cheaper?

[weasle]

We are planning on getting new bikes for our 5.5 year old and almost 4 year old. They currently just have balance bikes. Any experiences of Isla or ridgeback? Are they really worth the money and is one better than another? Or should we just go to Halfords/Decathlon? TIA

DD1 had an islabike for her 3rd birthday.The CNOC 14. It is a lovely bike, and was inherited by DD2 on her 3rd birthday. Still going strong. Beautifully made and the big thing for me is how very light it is. The other thing that I only really noticed once we looked at other bikes, is how in proportion everything is, the brakes are truly child sized, rather than the one size fits all approach other manufacturers seem to use.

When Dd1 turned 5 we were looking for a new bike for her and again my most important criteria was that it had to be lightweight. However the islabikes had really gone up in price (we paid £119 when we first bought DD1s 4 years ago) and I just couldn't justify spending £170 (or £250 if we'd gone for the benin) so researched extensively for an alternative.

We settled on the Dawes Blowfish which if you shop around, can be brought for about £120. We've been really happy with it, its actually lighter than the islabike equivalent, and whilst the brakes initailly seemed huge in her hands she's got the hang of them quickly.

If you're shopping around I think its worth looking carefully at the weight of the bikes, especially for your 4 year old.

We have Islabikes and plan to replace them with more Islabikes when they are outgrown. I have not tried Ridgeback or Decathlon but there is no comparison with Halfords bikes. When my children have swapped with other children they have commented how much heavier the halfords bikes are and the other kids have said the Islabikes are a lot lighter. I think they are much better all round, not just weight wise. Islabikes are not considered cool though, and this has been commented on by other children and their parents alike.

People who are seriously into cycling often stop and tell us how good the Islabikes are, but we knew that anyway.

Our ds had a ridgeback scoot and we recently changed it for the Ridgeback MX16, and our main reason for paying out the extra was it's weight. And the fact the Scoot lasted so well and still looked pristine. Halfords etc just so heavy. And I can't bear character/fashion bikes, just not our thing.

Great, thanks for replies. I also hate character bikes. The Dawes looks good, more choice argh! I thought I had it down to 2. Was already to go for the Isla bikes but then actually like the ridgeback colours more (or rather the boys do).

Any more opinions?

Another islabike family here, we're serious cyclists so feel that it's worth the extra to get the kids the best bikes because we will hopefully be doing a lot of cycling with them. Both DCs learned on the Rothan, DS had a Cnoc 14 at 3 and then got a Beinn 20 aged 4.5. We're hoping that one will do him for a few years now.

However, another good reason to get them is that they hold their value and second hand ones on eBay go for quite high prices. We'll be selling our Islabike Rothan after Christmas (DD is getting the Cnoc from Santa!) - we paid £115 for it and they are going for about £80 on eBay at the moment.

Hi my DS has had the Ridgeback mx16 I think it's been great, v light and they also keep their value -

he's getting his next bike for Christmas and whilst I love the Islabike Benin and a friends son had one and it really is a thing of beauty I can't quite get my head round the £250

my DS is a v tall 6 year old and not sure how long we are going to get out of it so we are looking at the Dawes Rocket...

www.bikes2udirect.com/B2301.html

as still Aluminium....and we have a trailgator to tow him if he gets tired...

Another vote for Islabike from a serious cycling family! We looked at a number and were alos originally a bit put off by the price. But I'm glad that we did - as others have commented, they are built so that all of the working features are in proportion and the bike is very light. Serious cycling friends of ours have Specialized bikes for their DS and DD - v similar in price to Islabikes and similar quality.

also

DS had Specialised 20" to learn without stabilisers and learnt quickly - absolutely couldn't stop him cycling.

Then went for decathlon bike when outgrown cheap but very hard work off the beaten track and brakes / gears just became rattly really quickly - but I never worried about him dumping it on the ground or it getting nicked. He lost interest in cycling and I think the less easy bike put him off.

Now he's 10 he has an Islabike Beinn 24" which he loves and we now have our bikey boy back - need to keep on at him to lock it up in park tho! Although they are expensive they hold their price and you get over half back when you sell second-hand (they fly off e-bay and cycle clubs members will also buy them). HTH

islabikes are great - light, durable and easy for kids to learn on!

Both mine have islabikes. Both have balance and muscle problems and dd1 really struggled to learn to ride, but islabike were great.

Isla, Isla, Isla, Isla, Isla, Isla, Isla

for all the reason given above. They are beautiful, well made, sturdy, light, handle well. DH races, and all the Juniors have Isla bikes. DS had an Isla balance bike for his 2nd birthday, and it is an entirely different kettle of fish to our friends' Halfords balance bike.

Second the weight issue - DS has a ridgeback scoot and has just been given a Halfords pile of rubbish bike that his cousin had grown out of. I hate it - DS isn't bothered as he's a strong little thing but I am when I have to drag it back from somewhere when he's bored/naughty/tired it is damn nigh impossible.
I want to replace it but can't without offending DH's family

we had ridgeback mx15 with stabilisers for ds - cost ~£100 (in 2007) and sold for £50 on Gumtree in 2009 when he had outgrown it so was well worth the money. Very light and easy/smooth to pedal.

Great bike, very cool blue colour.

Had a cheapy from MIL after that which was awful and ds never managed to ride really.

Looked at another one last Xmas, took him to the cycle shop and tried the ridgeback mx20 (wanted the orange one) but the frame was too short for him, and opted for the Dawes 20" cycle. Still havent manged to get him to ride without stabilisers yet so its a very expensive nice bike thats spent most of its life in the shed so far

We're an islabike family too

Dd's have had a rothan, a cnoc 14 and a beinn 20 large between them.

They're still ok on them (dd2 on the beinn and dd3 on the cnoc), although dd2 (8) is outgrowing hers now and will need a beinn 26 quite soon.

I've still got the rothan so hope to sell all 3 bikes next year to fund 2 new ones.

I love isla ...and so do dd's.

I just found this and thought I'd update.

We got islabikes and you were all right, they are awesome. Both cycling without stabilisers first time out. They bomb along on them now. One of the best toys etc we have bought, worth the money.

Thanks all for your advice.

We've just today ordered one for ds. Cnoc 16. I liked the fact that they will buy them back from you when your Dcs have outgrown them!