It’s a good time to be a (biking) kid.
Kids’ bike options have never been better. Walking around Sea Otter 2015, looking behind the all the fat bike and gravel bike options, we couldn’t help but notice how many bike companies were now showing off options designed specifically for the young cyclist. Whether you’re looking for a balance bike for a toddler who can barely walk, a 700c cyclocross bike for the still-growing youngster, or a full suspension, disc brake-equipped bike for a little ripper, parents’ options have exploded.
Some companies like Islabikes and Cleary Bikes center their who business on bikes designed specifically for the youth, while bigger companies like Trek, Kona and Felt have expanded beyond their lines to include smaller performance bikes for the younger crowd. And while the smallest balance bikes start with tiny 12″ wheels and under $200, parents can still break the bank buying a bike for their kid, spending nearly $3k on a full suspension, disc brake bike.
Want your young one to try cyclocross? The first step is to get a lightweight bike that fits, and get your little one comfortable riding off the beaten path.
See the slideshow below for some of the bikes that caught our eye, as well as the eyes of many of the kids running around the Sea Otter 2015 expo.
Islabikes, based in the UK, but with an office in Portland, had the most impressive display of aluminum kids’ bikes, starting with a 12″ $199 Rothan balance bike that features a hand brake, presta valves and headset, to the $699 700c wheel Luath 700 with 8-speed Altus components and cantilever brakes. Although the Luath comes with road tires, there’s plenty of clearance for cyclocross tires.
Islabikes howed off a full suite of pedal bikes starting with the CNOC 14″ wheel bike. They’re sold in the UK and US direct-to-consumer, and are some of the lightest, kid-erognomic bikes available. © Cyclocross Magazine
