My son wants to start doing triathlons with me, which is fantastic news. He's already run a few 5k races and is on the local swim team, so he's got a decent background from which to start, and we've got him signed up for a local kids tri this summer (I think the distances are something like 100m open water swim, 5 mile bike, 1 mile run). I don't doubt that he'll be moving on to sprint distances in the near future once we get open water sighting nailed down.
The problem I've got is figuring out what bike to put him on. He's outgrown his old bike (a typical kids mountain-style knobbly tire deal that he beat the hell out of) so it's time to get him a new one anyway. I've done a lot of reading, consulted my LBS, etc., and we're all struggling with what to get him because of his size vs. his age. He turns 10 in two months...but he's already 5'1" with a 29" inseam. We've considered a youth road bike like a Fuji Ace 650 but based on his height/inseam, that seems small and he'll certainly outgrow the bike quickly. We've also considered a used full adult road bike in a 51" or so, but I'm worried about the ability of a kid to control a 700c wheel, especially in triathlon traffic.
I'm also trying to keep costs low because he's likely going to end up being 6'4" or so. This bike is going to last 2-3 years max.
Has anybody else had to deal with this quandary and/or do the bike experts here have recommendations?
The problem I've got is figuring out what bike to put him on. He's outgrown his old bike (a typical kids mountain-style knobbly tire deal that he beat the hell out of) so it's time to get him a new one anyway. I've done a lot of reading, consulted my LBS, etc., and we're all struggling with what to get him because of his size vs. his age. He turns 10 in two months...but he's already 5'1" with a 29" inseam. We've considered a youth road bike like a Fuji Ace 650 but based on his height/inseam, that seems small and he'll certainly outgrow the bike quickly. We've also considered a used full adult road bike in a 51" or so, but I'm worried about the ability of a kid to control a 700c wheel, especially in triathlon traffic.
I'm also trying to keep costs low because he's likely going to end up being 6'4" or so. This bike is going to last 2-3 years max.
Has anybody else had to deal with this quandary and/or do the bike experts here have recommendations?