Juvenile - 12, 16 and 24

Bikes For Kids - Which One Is Right?
The safest bicycle that fits your child's body and abilities today! Kids bikes come in a few different sizes and styles, geared, BMX freewheel and coaster brake. Kids grow though, both in body size and ability, as well as interest.

You know as a parent that the shoe that fits your kid today, won't fit him or her in 3 months. Hopefully, your bicycle purchase will last longer than that - but if a bicycle is too small or too large, it can range from merely uncomfortable to ride, to outright dangerous!

Why Not a Department Store Bike?
Well, why not? Well because those bicycles generally are not assembled safely, are often not proportional to the child's body, are of such poor quality that they tend to fall apart with your kid on them, and are insanely heavy. If your kid weighs 40 pounds, a 40 pound bicycle that doesn't stop safely is going to be more than a little discouraging to ride! A bicycle is not a toy, it's your kid's first vehicle and should be treated as such.

Bicycle shop bicycles are made for kids to ride and parents to either trade in, or pass on. Of course any bicycle needs to be cared for properly when it comes to maintenance and being left out in the rain. And no bicycle, no matter how well made, does particularly well when backed over by someone's car when left in the driveway. Make the rules about bike care and storage before coming to look at new bikes!

How Are Kid's Bike's Measured?
The industry standard is to refer to kid's bicycles by wheel size. Adult bikes are also referred to by wheel size, but frame size as well. Not kid's bikes though, just wheel size and only frame size on specialty items like BMX.

12" Bikes
These bikes are usually for brand new riders who have just graduated from a tricycle. 12" bikes usually have training wheels and coaster brakes only. Since a 12" bike is more oriented to riders learning to brake and steer and pedal, don't expect your little rider to outgrow the need for training wheels before the bicycle no longer fits them. And it's pretty much impossible to learn to ride without training wheels when your knees are hitting the handlebars! Usually kids ages 2 to 4 fit these bikes.

16" Bikes
Since they seem to be growing kids large today, there are lots of tricycle riders who go straight here. All kid's bikes need to be short enough to allow for stand over space between the child's body and the frame of the bicycle. All kid's bikes need to allow the child to sit up comfortably and grip the bars and remain in control. So if you have a child who fits a 12" bike, the next size up may be too big. Bring your child in and ask. We are really good at being agent's of Santa when need be - just let us know your child needs to be fit and you want to keep something secret, so your child can be safe - as well as surprised. Most 16" bikes come with training wheels and coaster brakes, but there is a freewheel BMX model available in this size for those children who may be emulating their favorite stunt rider. We have helmets too. 16" bikes often fit kid's 3 to 6 years of age.

20" Bikes
None of the 20" coaster brake bikes we stock come with training wheels as original equipment. However, your little rider may still need training wheels. Big 4 or 5 year olds, to more average sized 7 year olds and a few smaller 8 year olds fit well on 20" bikes. This is generally where training wheels are grown out of, if not on the 16" bicycle. Again, we check for the same fit requirements as the 16" bicycle - stand over and seated position. If your child is bent forward with elbows locked, but can still stand over the frame, this bicycle is too big! 20" wheel bikes also come in the most variety, from single speed coaster brake models to multi speed mountain bike-like models. BMX bikes also have 20" wheels, but the length of the top tube is how they are fit. Adults ride BMX too, and they use a much larger frame then the BMX bike that fits your 8 year old. We can help your potential BMXer as well.

24" Bikes
This is the last stop before adult sized bicycles and 24" wheel bikes generally fit kids ages 7 through 11. Kids this age vary in size and this age is often where little girls often get height before little boys. The 24" bikes we carry look like little mountain bikes, have multiple speeds and are not suitable for training wheels. We've put tires without knobs on this kind of bike, which makes it more road worthy for riding with parents, but less resistant to wheel damage from curb hopping. Again, we check fit, and since these bikes are geared only, they use hand brakes exclusively.

Where To Next?
Luckily for us, the manufacturers we work with have recognized the need for very small, adult sized, kid safe bikes, that are affordable. We currently stock two different brands of adult 26" wheeled mountain bikes, with a 12" frame and have a greater variety in a 14" frame. The same fit rules apply, correct stand over between the child and the bicycle frame, good riding position that allows control of the bike. We fit kid's ages 11 to 14 on this size bicycle.

So bring your child in for a test ride. We'd be happy to set you up in a quiet place to ride in the parking lot with a helmet and some instruction. We also have lay away, which can be helpful for birthdays and other events.

HOME