If mom and dad want their little one to grow up to be like Caroline Mani who we spoke with not too long ago or Jamey Driscoll, then they might do well to consider Raleigh's new RX24 kid's cyclocross bike. We got a look at the new bike at the 2016 Sea Otter Classic, and we think it's a great way to get the younger members of the family racing along side mom and dad.
The RX24 is, like other kids bikes including the Kona Bikes Jake 24, an alloy frame and fork sized down for junior riders. Built around Weinmann U28 24" wheels, the bike features technology and a build that rivals many adult bikes.
Raleigh's new RX24 kid's cyclocross bike. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
The alloy frame shares the same general tube shapes as the adult Raleigh cyclocross offerings and the alloy fork offers a tremendous amount of clearance for tires far wider than the 24x1.25" stock offerings. While the adult models feature internal cable routing, the RX24's cables are externally routed, a good thing on a kid's bike in our opinion. But the color still screams Raleigh-Clement, which is pretty cool.
Chainguards are still a great solution for 1x systems as seen on Raleigh's new RX24 kid's cyclocross bike. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
The drivetrain is a SRAM Apex offering, using the same shifters and rear mechanism you'd find on mom or dad's bike perhaps. And, like mom and dad's SRAM levers, the reach is adjustable for smaller hands. The crankset is a 1x offering that uses a dual-sided chain guard rather than a more expensive narrow-wide ring offering that parents likely ride. But, perhaps like mom and dad's bikes, or maybe even more up-to-date than a parent's current bike, the RX24 features Promax 300R cable-activated post mount disc brakes.
The alloy cockpit components are from Raleigh and are sized with smaller riders in mind. The bike, available soon, will retail for $649.99 USD.
The Raleigh RX24, like the Kona Jake 24, is a surefire way to get the kids loving cyclocross and riding in general.
More info: raleighusa.com
Chainguards are still a great solution for 1x systems as seen on Raleigh’s new RX24 kid’s cyclocross bike. Sea Otter Classic 2016. © Cyclocross Magazine
