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Im looking for a new bike for my 6 year old. She is too big for the bike she learnt to ride on and dearly wants a new one so Christmas sorted there. Having looked around previously for my elder two I have always ended up at Halfords as other places seem to charge a fortune for something that the kids grow out of in a couple of years. It doesn't need to be fancy kit wise, just a single speed pootle about bike for road/pavement and gentle tracks round the local reservoirs and parks, she will just want it to look pretty. So anybody go anywhere else?
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In reply to the sheep: Islabikes are worth a look, and they hold their value remarkably well if you want to sell when they're grown out of them.
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In reply to the sheep:
My kids have fancy brand name bikes that always seem to need tinkering and adjusting and yes they grow out of them in a few years.
I cycle commute 16 miles a day and have always made do with £100 Halfords bikes and they have lasted 10 years at a time with the bare minimum of maintenance.
Even better; recycle-a-bike for sub £50 second hand bikes. The one that had the most use cost only 25......
My kids have fancy brand name bikes that always seem to need tinkering and adjusting and yes they grow out of them in a few years.
I cycle commute 16 miles a day and have always made do with £100 Halfords bikes and they have lasted 10 years at a time with the bare minimum of maintenance.
Even better; recycle-a-bike for sub £50 second hand bikes. The one that had the most use cost only 25......
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In reply to the sheep:
Go to your local tip - there's always a selection of perfectly serviceable kids bikes at my local one. Most need a puncture fixing, but not too much else
Go to your local tip - there's always a selection of perfectly serviceable kids bikes at my local one. Most need a puncture fixing, but not too much else
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In reply to GrahamD:
Since when is there anything wrong with secondhand?
You sure know how to contribute to the growing pile of "stuff" bought in from China!
Since when is there anything wrong with secondhand?
You sure know how to contribute to the growing pile of "stuff" bought in from China!
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In reply to the sheep:
Do you have a local bike shop? That's where I got mine and the kids bikes. Good advice, better value and cheaper than halfords, a discount on subsequent purchases and the possibility to part ex when the kids need bigger bikes.
Do you have a local bike shop? That's where I got mine and the kids bikes. Good advice, better value and cheaper than halfords, a discount on subsequent purchases and the possibility to part ex when the kids need bigger bikes.
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In reply to Babika:
Don't have a go at me. This is the OP:
"dearly wants a new one so Christmas sorted there"
Don't have a go at me. This is the OP:
"dearly wants a new one so Christmas sorted there"
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In reply to markAut:
Yes have looked round a few LBS's for elder daughters. It's always been big name brands with the price tag to go with it.
Yes have looked round a few LBS's for elder daughters. It's always been big name brands with the price tag to go with it.
In reply to the sheep:
Second hand Islabike? It's a lot of money for a kid's bike, but as long as she doesn't trash it you'll sell it for near enough what you paid for it. My daughter is on her second one. She doesn't care that her birthday present is second hand, it's a shiny new bike as far as she's concerned.
Second hand Islabike? It's a lot of money for a kid's bike, but as long as she doesn't trash it you'll sell it for near enough what you paid for it. My daughter is on her second one. She doesn't care that her birthday present is second hand, it's a shiny new bike as far as she's concerned.
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In reply to Hooo:
Second hand Isla bike every time for me now. We bought a cheap new bike for my son and it put him back 6 months.
Second hand Isla bike every time for me now. We bought a cheap new bike for my son and it put him back 6 months.
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In reply to Hooo:
It's a nice idea, however as middle daughter is called Isla and this is for the youngest I could see lots of trouble!!!
However when it comes to Isla's next bike it's a cert 😀
It's a nice idea, however as middle daughter is called Isla and this is for the youngest I could see lots of trouble!!!
However when it comes to Isla's next bike it's a cert 😀
Post edited at 19:08
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In reply to the sheep:
We bought my niece the Beinn in pink from isla bikes, she loves it. I'm sure you could find one second hand if needed, they also have a selection of clearance bikes too.
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/beinn-20-large
We bought my niece the Beinn in pink from isla bikes, she loves it. I'm sure you could find one second hand if needed, they also have a selection of clearance bikes too.
http://www.islabikes.co.uk/products/bikes/item/beinn-20-large
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In reply to gazhbo:
They actually look like they have a better selection if I'm honest.
https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/road-bikes/frog-road-58.as...
They actually look like they have a better selection if I'm honest.
https://www.frogbikes.com/lightweight-kids-bikes/road-bikes/frog-road-58.as...
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In reply to andy:
Another +1 for Isla.
My daughter's first bike was a cheap and heavy supermarket special. She learnt to ride (the main point, I guess) but never really enjoyed it. Then we bought an Isla Bikes bike and she was immediately off and enjoying cycling reasonably long distances. When we came to sell it, we easily got about 75% of the new price back so I don't think the net cost was bad - of course, if we had been smarter and bought second hand, depreciation would have been even less.
Another +1 for Isla.
My daughter's first bike was a cheap and heavy supermarket special. She learnt to ride (the main point, I guess) but never really enjoyed it. Then we bought an Isla Bikes bike and she was immediately off and enjoying cycling reasonably long distances. When we came to sell it, we easily got about 75% of the new price back so I don't think the net cost was bad - of course, if we had been smarter and bought second hand, depreciation would have been even less.
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In reply to the sheep:
isla bike , frog bike , or decathlon.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes/N-102501-type-of-bike~kid%27s-20%2...
isla bike , frog bike , or decathlon.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-10829-bikes/N-102501-type-of-bike~kid%27s-20%2...
Post edited at 21:31
In reply to the sheep:
Ha! An unforseen complication. Maybe a frog then, as others have suggested. I don't know about resale value on Frogs though. TBH that's the main reason I went for an Isla - almost certain to get most of the purchase price back again. Other brands didn't have the same guarantee, although that might have changed now.
Ha! An unforseen complication. Maybe a frog then, as others have suggested. I don't know about resale value on Frogs though. TBH that's the main reason I went for an Isla - almost certain to get most of the purchase price back again. Other brands didn't have the same guarantee, although that might have changed now.
In reply to the sheep:
Heh!
One of my daughters is called Isla, too, but her older sister had no problems with her Islabike. They're really good bits of kit.
You could always rebrand it with a sticker or some paint. Or, is it too late to rename your other kids 'Isla' too?
Heh!
One of my daughters is called Isla, too, but her older sister had no problems with her Islabike. They're really good bits of kit.
You could always rebrand it with a sticker or some paint. Or, is it too late to rename your other kids 'Isla' too?
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In reply to skog:
I'm kicking myself now for calling my daughter Frog rather than Isla, Islabikes being clearly the better brand. At least I had the foresight to call my eldest son Colnago.
I'm kicking myself now for calling my daughter Frog rather than Isla, Islabikes being clearly the better brand. At least I had the foresight to call my eldest son Colnago.
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In reply to felt:
Our girls have Isla bikes, I think that they make riding much easier for them. It's worth noting the resale value. Our smallest bike was bought for £180 and sold for £150 two years later (with two new tyres which cost about £10). I think that's pretty cheap for two years cycling and there's no poorly made bike on a landfill site......
Jb.
Our girls have Isla bikes, I think that they make riding much easier for them. It's worth noting the resale value. Our smallest bike was bought for £180 and sold for £150 two years later (with two new tyres which cost about £10). I think that's pretty cheap for two years cycling and there's no poorly made bike on a landfill site......
Jb.
In reply to the sheep:
Noooooo..... not Halfords!
Islabikes have led the cycling world to understand that kids' bikes don't need heavy suspension and hi-tensile steel frames but can be built simple, robust, lightweight and with child-sized controls. At last other manufacturers are waking up and building decent bikes. Islabikes are still the most respected brand and as long as it's not too neglected your Islabike will resell for almost what you paid for it. Otherwise, go to a good local bike shop and ask for simple lightweight kids' bikes withut suspension, which they do not need when pootling along in the park or on a Skyride.
Noooooo..... not Halfords!
Islabikes have led the cycling world to understand that kids' bikes don't need heavy suspension and hi-tensile steel frames but can be built simple, robust, lightweight and with child-sized controls. At last other manufacturers are waking up and building decent bikes. Islabikes are still the most respected brand and as long as it's not too neglected your Islabike will resell for almost what you paid for it. Otherwise, go to a good local bike shop and ask for simple lightweight kids' bikes withut suspension, which they do not need when pootling along in the park or on a Skyride.
Post edited at 11:57
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In reply to the sheep:
I got munchkin a Cuda Mayhem after some decent advice from bike heads. She wanted one new bike which put isla out our range but actually I think I just can't do Isla. It's just too bloody middle class branded!
I got munchkin a Cuda Mayhem after some decent advice from bike heads. She wanted one new bike which put isla out our range but actually I think I just can't do Isla. It's just too bloody middle class branded!
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In reply to the sheep: Isla bike or a Frog bike.
Quality kit with a good resale value.
Go to the websites and they tell you how to measure for frame size.
Frog can deliver to one of their network of dealers who will build the bike and fit it to your child as part of the package. They come with mudguards and two pairs of tyres and tubes. You pay the dealer, not online.
Many of the Frog dealers have bikes in their shops but as we approach Christmas (!) stock gets short.
You should get great after sales service from your local bike shop but at Halfords and the like you are mainly speaking with a general assistant and not someone who is a bike specialist/
Quality kit with a good resale value.
Go to the websites and they tell you how to measure for frame size.
Frog can deliver to one of their network of dealers who will build the bike and fit it to your child as part of the package. They come with mudguards and two pairs of tyres and tubes. You pay the dealer, not online.
Many of the Frog dealers have bikes in their shops but as we approach Christmas (!) stock gets short.
You should get great after sales service from your local bike shop but at Halfords and the like you are mainly speaking with a general assistant and not someone who is a bike specialist/
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In reply to OP:
I still reckon Isla win out over on frog in two ways : slightly better build quality and much better resale . And if the daily mash took the p1ss out of the perfect outdoors family they would definitely have Isla bikes on the back of mums transporter algonside dads single speed steel Klein roady , which, in my book is a definite plus.
I still reckon Isla win out over on frog in two ways : slightly better build quality and much better resale . And if the daily mash took the p1ss out of the perfect outdoors family they would definitely have Isla bikes on the back of mums transporter algonside dads single speed steel Klein roady , which, in my book is a definite plus.
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In reply to felt:
High maintence hot rod ?
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Felt-IA-FRD-LTD-2017-Triathlon-Bike_82613.htm?
sku=271170&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=CNXD9oGS9c4CFaIV0wodGCwDNA
High maintence hot rod ?
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Felt-IA-FRD-LTD-2017-Triathlon-Bike_82613.htm?
sku=271170&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=CNXD9oGS9c4CFaIV0wodGCwDNA
Post edited at 08:07
In reply to the sheep:
As others have said Islabike of Frog are both miles ahead of the competition in terms of build quality. Islabike being the more expensive of the two (for a 6 yr old the Islabike Beiin 20 is £370, vs a Frog 55 is £270), but they do seem to hold their resale value.
I've looked at kids decathlon bikes but they don't look any better than halfords.
Evans own range of kids bikes (Pinnacle) look fairly good, better than Halford's all steel rubbish and marginally cheaper than Frog bikes.
I think I'll be getting a Frog for our next kids bikes.
There's a facebook page dedicated to reselling is islabikes, probably worth a look.
As others have said Islabike of Frog are both miles ahead of the competition in terms of build quality. Islabike being the more expensive of the two (for a 6 yr old the Islabike Beiin 20 is £370, vs a Frog 55 is £270), but they do seem to hold their resale value.
I've looked at kids decathlon bikes but they don't look any better than halfords.
Evans own range of kids bikes (Pinnacle) look fairly good, better than Halford's all steel rubbish and marginally cheaper than Frog bikes.
I think I'll be getting a Frog for our next kids bikes.
There's a facebook page dedicated to reselling is islabikes, probably worth a look.
In reply to the sheep:
My 6yr old son is on his third Isla bike. The first two a balance bike and the first size for pedalling we bought second hand and he had them for Christmas. we got our money back on both, in fact the latter sold on Ebay for £60 more than we paid for it!! The third we bought new as it appeared the second hand ones in the size he needed were going for silly money i.e. £50 less than a new one, my rationale was that if we bought a new one, admittedly at what seems an expensive price as long as we look after it we should get a lot of the money back when we sell it on, and in real terms a couple of years cycling might only cost us £100. There is also a Facebook group for second hand islabikes people on there seemed happy to pay good prices for the bikes.
As with all things it probably also depends on how much and what type of cycling you do, we'll be back at Coed Y Brenin in November and at 7 he'll hopefully make it round the blue run.
If you want to do a comparison on weight against anything else you might be considering buying the Isla Bike Beinn 20 (small) the old style used to weigh in at 9.59kg but the new one is 7.86kg.
My 6yr old son is on his third Isla bike. The first two a balance bike and the first size for pedalling we bought second hand and he had them for Christmas. we got our money back on both, in fact the latter sold on Ebay for £60 more than we paid for it!! The third we bought new as it appeared the second hand ones in the size he needed were going for silly money i.e. £50 less than a new one, my rationale was that if we bought a new one, admittedly at what seems an expensive price as long as we look after it we should get a lot of the money back when we sell it on, and in real terms a couple of years cycling might only cost us £100. There is also a Facebook group for second hand islabikes people on there seemed happy to pay good prices for the bikes.
As with all things it probably also depends on how much and what type of cycling you do, we'll be back at Coed Y Brenin in November and at 7 he'll hopefully make it round the blue run.
If you want to do a comparison on weight against anything else you might be considering buying the Isla Bike Beinn 20 (small) the old style used to weigh in at 9.59kg but the new one is 7.86kg.
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In reply to the sheep:
You need to find out what style of bike she wants. Our daughter has a pretty reasonable Giant bike but despite best advice (or maybe because of) she won't ride anything other than a heavy Dutch shopper with basket.
You need to find out what style of bike she wants. Our daughter has a pretty reasonable Giant bike but despite best advice (or maybe because of) she won't ride anything other than a heavy Dutch shopper with basket.
In reply to the sheep:
It really depends on your budget and how much she's actually going to use it. Halfords is good for cheap bikes for young kids and normally have decent sales on too. Isla and frog are really well made and do hold their value but the initial cost is a lot more. They are bombproof though.
It really depends on your budget and how much she's actually going to use it. Halfords is good for cheap bikes for young kids and normally have decent sales on too. Isla and frog are really well made and do hold their value but the initial cost is a lot more. They are bombproof though.
In reply to the sheep:
All the smaller Halfords bikes tend to be very heavy, which isn't great for light kids trying to go up hills. Isla and frog look great but cost more than some of my bikes. We compromised with bikes from Evans, who have some reasonable Hoy and Ridgeback bikes for small kids. Definitely worth spending a little more if you can.
All the smaller Halfords bikes tend to be very heavy, which isn't great for light kids trying to go up hills. Isla and frog look great but cost more than some of my bikes. We compromised with bikes from Evans, who have some reasonable Hoy and Ridgeback bikes for small kids. Definitely worth spending a little more if you can.
Post edited at 22:18
In reply to Monk:
Agree with the weight of halfwords (love the auto correct version of halfords!) kids bikes. Got ours Meridas which so far, apart from the bell and reflectors have been bomb proof. The weight seems more than manageable for them. And would recommend.
Agree with the weight of halfwords (love the auto correct version of halfords!) kids bikes. Got ours Meridas which so far, apart from the bell and reflectors have been bomb proof. The weight seems more than manageable for them. And would recommend.
In reply to the sheep:
They have already been mentioned but a big up for the frog bikes, they are starting to come around second hand and not to silly prices.
They have already been mentioned but a big up for the frog bikes, they are starting to come around second hand and not to silly prices.
In reply to Wsdconst:
To be honest most of the budget kids bikes (halfords etc) are bomb proof too. They tend to use adult size fixings (which I presume makes production more standard, but adds to the weight. We brought a halfords type bike as a 1st bike for our two and it lasted them fine (couple of miles to school/ nursery each day for about 4 years in total). Certainly no more in maintenance than the Specialized bikes they now have.
In my experience, adults care about weight/ design/ quality because they know the options; kids care about what the bike looks like. Obviously no commuter bike for a 6 year old needs front suspension, but they like to have it, and if it makes them want to ride it, then it's a price worth paying in my opinion.
All kids are different, so my experience may not be the same as everyone's, but just make sure you are buying the bike your child wants, and not the bike that you want them to have!
> It really depends on your budget and how much she's actually going to use it. Halfords is good for cheap bikes for young kids and normally have decent sales on too. Isla and frog are really well made and do hold their value but the initial cost is a lot more. They are bombproof though.
To be honest most of the budget kids bikes (halfords etc) are bomb proof too. They tend to use adult size fixings (which I presume makes production more standard, but adds to the weight. We brought a halfords type bike as a 1st bike for our two and it lasted them fine (couple of miles to school/ nursery each day for about 4 years in total). Certainly no more in maintenance than the Specialized bikes they now have.
In my experience, adults care about weight/ design/ quality because they know the options; kids care about what the bike looks like. Obviously no commuter bike for a 6 year old needs front suspension, but they like to have it, and if it makes them want to ride it, then it's a price worth paying in my opinion.
All kids are different, so my experience may not be the same as everyone's, but just make sure you are buying the bike your child wants, and not the bike that you want them to have!
Post edited at 10:05
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In reply to MarkJH:
The weight thing may be more or less important depending on where you live. We live in a very hilly area and my kids struggled to get up the hills on heavy bikes. They were absolutely fine on the flat so if you live in a flat area a Halfords bike will probably be ok.
The weight thing may be more or less important depending on where you live. We live in a very hilly area and my kids struggled to get up the hills on heavy bikes. They were absolutely fine on the flat so if you live in a flat area a Halfords bike will probably be ok.
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