Kid's road bikes

[RDP]

Does anyone know of any good (i.e quality lightweight) children's 22 or 24 inch road bikes? I only know of Colnago's models used for the Italian cycling federation's junior development program. Are there any other companies or builders who make them? My son seems to have a natural talent for cycling and so far he enjoys it (probably acquired from watching too many TdF videos w/ Dad).

I have heard rumors about custom bikes for kids and though I want to keep this budgeted within reason (can not be more expensive than Dad's bike :p) I would love to hear if anybody has gone custom. I imagine someone here probably has accomplished this with a Serotta built for a little one. If so, would like to hear about it.

Thanks,
R

[Bruce K]

Trek used to make one. You might check RBR or eBay as they show up every once in a while.

Some companies make smaller framed 650 wheeled road bikes.

When my son wanted to start road riding we got a compact framed road bike with a relly short stem. The compact geometry helped with standover height. Specialized and Giant make fairly reasonable compact road frames.

BK

[RDP]

....at this time I think a jump to a 650 would be a bit much but we may re-look getting a compact. I think it will be awhile before he can handle anything more than 24 inch wheels.

Thanks,
R

[Matt Barkley]

Colnago has 2 - very pricey - check out "Boeries" or Beoris" , I think one is spelled right - they have really nicely priced ones 22 and 24" - they come with tubulars - so you may want to build (find) some clinchers. - Matt

[RDP]

Those Colnagos are cute...and such a great little setup. BTW - in the March issues of Cycle Sport there is a picture of an fdjeux.com rider pushing along a kid in what looks like a minature (22 or 24 in?) lugged steel road bike. The little man looks so serious!

[H.Frank Beshear]

Try a google search but I know that Orbea and Argon 18 both have child sized road bikes in that size. I have 9 year old twins and my LBS son is 7 and we were both looking at them. His price was better than mine( twins always need 2 of the expensive things :p ). Check with your local shop and see if they can order something. Hope this helps Frank

[TmcDet]

not sure about a 22 or 24" I know that several bikes come in small 650's.......I found a used 650 that I was able to make fit my 8 yr old pretty well, but it took some redo to get it usable for her....I had to put a different seat and seat post on (so the seat could go a bit lower), put some brake levers on the tops of the bar because riding the drops stretched her out just a tad too much (within a few more months she will be on the drops), and last but not least I changed out the cranks to a smaller size so she could reach the bottom better and so that she could spin with a higher cadence (this picked her up about 2 mph average)

Trek, Orbea, Felt, Colnago, and several others make 650 wheeled bikes that will run you around 600-700

[Keith A]

Felt is making a 24" wheel bike that is their F24 model (http://www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/f24.html). I just recently saw one of these a LBS and I think it was in the $500 to $600 range.

[Kevin]

RDP,

I think Dad needs a more expensive bike so that he can increase the budget for the kid's bike. Maybe the wife will fall for it.

Kevin

[davids]

Check out Ibex Bikes (http://www.ibexbikes.com/). They make reasonably priced, high quality children's (and adult's) bikes. I bought my daughter a Alpine 440K last year, and I continue to be impressed with the quality and workmanship.

They're mail-order only, and ship the bikes mostly assembled. I wrenched hers together in about 30 minutes. It's a tremendous value.

They're introducing a road bike this year, the Vantage VeeJay (http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/2004/VTG-JV-Specs.html) (where did they get that name?), and it looks to be just as nice. $470 for the 24".

[Bruce K]

david;

It's the Vantage Jay Vee as in Jumior Varsity version of their Vantage adult road series.

Looks like a good value for a kid's bike.

Goven the quality of the Orbeas I've seen they would warrant a close look too.

BK

[dts]

Google Jitensha Bike Studio and check out the one-of-a-kind road bike the owner, Hiroshi, built up for his kid long ago. It's available for sale. I've seen it in the shop and it's way cool. If my kid were still small enough, it would be sold.

[TmcDet]

It's the Vantage Jay Vee as in Jumior Varsity version of their Vantage adult road series.
nice looking bike but the standover is a bit much...this Orbea has a standover of 25.5
Orbea 24" (http://www.orbea-usa.com/Bikes.php?id=18)

[Keith A]

The Orbea Carrera looks nice, but it does have a little higher price tag ($800) than the Felt. Both websites have the detailed specs on their bikes and I saw that the Felt was 2 lbs lighter than the Orbea. BTW, the Felt's standover is 23.7"

[Keith A]

On a related note, check out this picture that is on Chain Reaction Bicycles' website and related bigger picture & story (http://www.chainreaction.com/tdf03oldmanyoungboy.htm)

http://www.chainreaction.com/images/oldmeetsyoung300.JPG

[rwl]

Here's the Colnago (http://www.trialtir-usa.com/2004-colnago/full-bikes/kids-main.htm). I think River City Bicycles has them. Everyone should go out and buy them, cause, uh, the only way my kids are gonna get them is if there's a lot of used ones on the market in a year or two.

[RDP]

Thanks for all for the links and information on kid's road bikes. I hope manufacturers will offer even more models in the future. This is great information for junior riding/racing programs.

R