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November 26, 2014
Searching For The Perfect Kids’ City Bike
Finding the ideal city bike can be tough for most adults. For children, it is no different.
Photo by Chris Bruntlett
Finding the ideal city bike can be tough for most adults. For children, it is no different. The search for the perfect bicycle can even be more difficult for younger riders as they have fewer options available to them than adults.
Over the last few decades, the focus in North America has been on sport and recreational cycling, and the kids’ bike market is no exception. Most bike shops offer a very limited selection, especially in 24”-wheel size. Shops stock mainly mountain and trail bikes that are equipped for rougher terrains and geared toward weekend and occasional riding, seeming to forget that even children need a practical bicycle to get to school, friends’ homes, and extra-curricular programming.
For our daughter Coralie, who is eight years old and a little over four and a half feet tall, we asked her to think about the different styles of bicycles she has ridden and how often she uses a bike. Since learning to ride, she has used everything from a cruiser to a BMX and even a few mountain bikes. She expressed that she feels best on an upright city bike. Any forward positioning is too hard on her wrists and arms, leaving her sore and tiring her out quickly. She also wanted a light bicycle with gears as we encounter many inclines on our travels and these help make uphill pedaling easier.
Encouragingly, with North America’s growing urban cycling culture, the availability of city bikes for adults has been slowly increasing and manufacturers are beginning to recognize the needs of younger riders are no different. More and more brands are beginning to offer lifestyle options for children, bikes suitable for city riding and better equipped for daily cycling. Companies like Linus and Opus are coming out with youth models of their urban lifestyle bikes, so stores carrying these brands tend to also carry the smaller versions for young riders.
Still though, challenges remain, especially for children in the 8-12 year range as they are frequently too small for adult frames and yet too large for the common 20”-wheel kids’ options. The small 24” market is growing, but options are not always stocked and can be hard to find. For children, a bicycle is an investment, a step on the path to independence, and a choice that helps foster a joy for riding that will stick with them well into adulthood.
Coralie Bruntlett puts the 24” kids bikes shown here to the test. Read her reviews Opus Rambler 24” Norco City Glide 24”
Melissa lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and two young children. The family has been living car-free since 2010 and together with her husband, Chris, they share stories, images, and expertise through modacitylife.com. When not busy writing and working, Melissa enjoys spending quality time with her family bike riding through their city together.
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It is very nice posting, thanks for sharing with us!!
This is very cute bike, thank you very much to share with us.
Hey buddy, being grateful as you posted such a useful and informative post. These gonna help others for sure. I would like to save it as I have promised my daughter that she will get a bike on her next birthday. Thanks a lot for sharing your great idea. Keep posting, looking forward to more from you
This is very helpful. Thank you, Melissa.
You are right. I experienced this once when I was trying to find a bike for my 10-year-old sister. Kids are growing differently these days.
Very nice city bike with kids, really awesome looking.
This is very cute bike, thank you very much to share.
Nice Bike! <3 <3 <3 <3
If you really want a quality bike and you are in the SanFrancisco Bay Area, Check OUt Family Bike Collective (dot org) at Spokes Bike Lounge in Berkeley.
Not only are they deidicated to three generations of cyclist, they are the only bike shop in the world with all of the best kids bikes in one place where your kid can compare and ride them. What’s better than your kid telling you witch of these great bike they like the best.
WOOM, Frog, CLeary, Islabike, Fiuji, Se and more.
They also do an outdoor demo every second Sunday of each month where you can gian riding skills and there is training wheel free instruction. They often have cargo bike demo’s and ebikes with Burley frailers and kid seats for the parent’s to try.
Spring 2018 they are hosting their first annual Family Biking Expo and will have Family Biking gear, Bikes for elders, and youth bikes to check out, demo and purchase.
I will take my kid to your place that had recommended. thank you Melissa Bruntlett for your article.
Hi,My daughter was 9 years i want to chose a good bicycle for her thank for sharing.
Great article !when i was young i like to ride bike but now unfortunately i have broken my leg i cannot rike it.
I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to see new information on your blog.
Really nice post. Thanks for sharing this information.
Well done! Nice post! This really helps me to find the answers to my question. Hoping, that you will continue posting articles having lots of useful information. Thanks a lot!.
Amazing article and best reviews ever , love reading this and nice picture,
really appreciate thanks for your sharing !!!!!!
Nice article, Really interesting. thank for sharing!!!
Wow that’s really nice post and guide for bike thanks for sharing it 🙂
My 5-year-old son loves biking though he’s not skillful in it yet. Perhaps I can check Linus or Opus after he grows taller. Thanks for sharing!
I feel exactly the same way about kids bikes here in the USA. My current plan is to have someone send me a bike from Germany. I want to get my daughter a Puky 24 inch (wheel) with 7 speed hub shifter, dynamo, lights, fenders, good brakes, rake, etc. This would replace her current Puky bike. Which has all those features, but is a little smaller.
If you really want a quality bike and you are in the SanFrancisco Bay Area, Check OUt Family Bike Collective (dot org) at Spokes Bike Lounge in Berkeley.
Not only are they deidicated to three generations of cyclist, they are the only bike shop in the world with all of the best kids bikes in one place where your kid can compare and ride them. What’s better than your kid telling you witch of these great bike they like the best.
WOOM, Frog, CLeary, Islabike, Fiuji, Se and more.
They also do an outdoor demo every second Sunday of each month where you can gian riding skills and there is training wheel free instruction. They often have cargo bike demo’s and ebikes with Burley frailers and kid seats for the parent’s to try.
Spring 2018 they are hosting their first annual Family Bikeing Expo and will have Famaily Biking gear, Bikes for elders, and youth bikes to check out , demo and purchase.
It’s so nice that let kid ride a bike. but we shouldn’t let they ride it alone.
We have had great luck with used kids bikes from the bike coops in Chicago, especially Working Bikes. Rigging an older bike from a used bike co-op after a tune up with good dynamos has been our usual practice for our now 14, 10 and 6. They tend to be very cost efficient compared to a new bike and can be easily replaced as kids grow. Many co-ops have a small stable of bikes so kids can try a big variety out and see what they like.
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