Sorry for all the questions about kids bikes.
What age should a child use disc brakes. Yes, the stopping power is great than caliper brakes/rim brakes. But are there fears for heat.
If a child rides a mtn bike, will he burn themself on disc? or should they go with a rim brake without braking heat?
Should a 24 inch or even 20 inch wheel bike have cable pull disc brakes or rim style brakes.
Again, any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
Joshua
“What age should a child use disc brakes. Yes, the stopping power is great than caliper brakes/rim brakes. But are there fears for heat.” “If a child rides a mtn bike, will he burn themself on disc?”
I think the better question to ask yourself would be, does my child know how to ride and operate a bicycle safely?
Lots of moving parts on a bike to potentially burn, sever, pinch or trap skin, digits, loose clothing, long hair etc., if you think about it?
Why not teach them or get someone who teaches beginner bike use and safety, to teach them the basics on safe operation and obviously use of a bike, off road in a school yard or playground first, progressing to on road use.
Stuff like checking your bike before use, then coordination and balance using cones and numerous games and exercises to learn using gears appropriately, moving of safely from a stationary start, signals, turns etc.), into leading to on the road practice of most things first practiced in the playground, but now including moving off safely into the flow of actual traffic, positioning for visibility for you and other road users benefit, real signals and turns, junction protocol etc.)
When I was growing up the gov. dept. for safety on the roads had us doing this in primary school.
To answer your question specifically though, yes discs can get hot and burn you if you are not careful, they can also slice fingers/hands if rotating or just by not being careful when tightening or loosening wheel axle quick releases.
Stopping power is variable on some of the children’s bikes I’ve seen with discs, depends on the set up and also quality of the components, wear and tear (abuse) they’ve received from the owner but also the environment (stored inside or out?)
“or should they go with a rim brake without braking heat?”
Again, it’s not about the brake, it’s about whether it actually works appropriately for it’s intended use. Children’s bikes can be pretty clunky though, with cheap components that often do not work as well as the adult versions, so again, just make sure when buying and testing rim or disc equipped bikes that they are actually set up and work properly. (i.e. stop you when you want to stop!)
Proper use of front and rear brakes will make a big difference so again it’s back to learning to ride safely and in control, including when the need for emergency braking arises, (balance, coordination, practice etc.)
“Should a 24 inch or even 20 inch wheel bike have cable pull disc brakes or rim style brakes.”
The few different brands I’ve seen mostly had rim (‘v’) brakes, and when adjusted worked well for the children using them, (size and weight of the child and use/abuse of the intended bike. But I have seen a couple of brands with disc but they were the exception.
From your questions maybe you didn’t ride bikes a lot as a child, but it’s never to late to start now and have some fun alongside your children, so why not include in that, learning and instilling in both you and them, the safety and technique aspects mentioned above for safe, enjoyable, more efficient riding.
Don’t overlook gaining some basic bike maintenance self-sufficiency, to allow you to keep the bikes rolling along at all times, it’s not that difficult to achieve and easier than you’d imagine.
Have fun.
I actually live in the bike industry of Taiwan and know bikes well, I am a sponsored racer. I am just curious on parents perspective on biking and what they would want to buy a child. I personally am a sponsored triathlete, so I do ride, I appreciate the instruction and appreciate the advice. Thanks
Josh,
The market for 20 inch or 24 inch wheel road bikes is tiny. Whats more, its a low-end market as parents are generally not willing to drop much money on a bike for a beginner. And kids that age grow up so quickly. My 2 kids only got 2 seasons out of the bikes before they needed to upgrade to 650C wheel bikes.
So to answer your question, spec the bike with whatever braking system is the cheapest (but works well) as its all about hitting the right price piont. The sweet spot being around $175 - $200 US.
Note I am talking about roadbikes. Their is ZERO market for 20/24 inch Tri bikes. The race organisers would not even let the kids race on a tri bike as it would be too dangerous on the small crowded multi-loop courses (In Taiwan).
Call me again if you want to talk further. I have been to every kids tri race in Taiwan for the past 5 yrs so …I think I kinda know what I am talking about.
Shane
No worries. So these questions were for marketing and gathering feedback?
In that case (coming at it from that perspective), personally I would prefer to see children’s bikes kept really simple, with one speed, simple rim brakes that work, (what happened to the coaster brake!), no crappy suspension for show and no go, child size appropriate brake levers with adjustment for reach that works and doesn’t break or have the threads strip after one attempted use.
If kept simple maintenance would be not as daunting for most who think it’s beyond them, and there would be nothing to go wrong (sort of, but true really).
No bent or mangled rear derailleurs from crashes or when the bike just gets dropped on it’s drive chain all the time. Problem solved when it’s single speed. Most children (and many adults!) do a bad job with gears and just favor riding along in one only, hardly ever changing, standing up to get going up to speed, so why bother with those really low end cheap and clunky rear derailleurs.
Back to the suspension, absolutely no need and what a weight penalty. I don’t think it is necessary on any bikes for children under about 11 or 12, and by that age they’ll be starting to approach the ability to ride xs and s adult bikes.
If there was a need for suspension, the parents would find a way to provide it, but stuff that actually provided suspension, not in looks only.
I know a guy who took a s or m full suspension giant frame and just cut the main front triangle tubes reducing the size and height of the bike, re-welded and adapted 24" wheels to it for his 3 or 5 year old at the time. Great little riders by the way, but they wouldn’t have managed to do the stuff they were doing then on any child’s suspension bikes off the shelf from the main bike players.
K.I.S.S, they’re just bikes so all you need is two wheels, two brakes, and a simple drive-train, and away you go. All the other stuff is ancillary, if it actually works properly at all or lasts.
Being in the business, ymmv obviously, but it would be great to see a simplification of two wheels for those who only need the joy of two wheels, no bells and whistles that just weigh the bike down, add cost and are not necessary.
Hope that helps, be interesting to know what you feel is “necessary” spec…?
I am feeling out if there is a need for high end kids bikes. I know that they are only on them for a short time, but are parents willing to spend dough on a bike that will only last 1-2 seasons before their child outgrows it.
18 speed road bike built on real parts like an adult bike but parts made in size respect for kids…
20 inch wheels, 24 inch wheels, 650 wheels.
1000 USD + bike for a kid.
That is what I am really asking about. Does it exist? Should it exist. If it existed, who would buy it?
Thanks
Joshua
Hey Joshua, If there’s not a market, I think plenty of businesses have manipulated their target audience and marketed their wares and made one for themselves!
My perspective is HK based so take that into consideration.
Here there has been a huge (in my opinion) surge of children participating over the last 5 years, and joining swim/tri clubs and then taking part in the local aqua, du and triathlon events that take place each year from Jan thru’ Dec.
The club based approach is big here, very few individuals taking part amongst the local children, and when they are most are expat offspring.
It really is 12 months of the year what with HKTriA events plus all the additional club and other race company organised events.
As to what they are riding in the events i have been at, many are on the small, old, cheap chris cycle hire bikes with a mixture of 26" and many 24" wheels, or their own xs or s size adult bikes with better components.
I think there is a market here for what you’re offering from many parents who would pay (and could afford to pay), what you are thinking of offering, but the majority get by quite nicely on the chris cycle road bikes offered for hire here I reckon.
I would imagine that families with a competing child with a younger sibling would entertain the purchase more than single child families, but the 2nd hand market for bikes here is pretty good, and along with the many clubs, i am sure that they could be sold on quite easily when the bikes are outgrown.
The triathlon market is your target audience here though, mtb and road is still in the dark ages when it comes to representation from gov. sports bodies, and the resulting lack of promotion .
Next time they have a duathlon or triathlon here, i’ll do some research in the transition area.
NA, Europe, NZ and Oz, I can’t comment, but the picture that re-surfaced in your first post, of the aero-helmet wielding 8 year old on her custom crabon (haha…) lightweight wheeled bike, lined up next to what you would expect children of that age to be riding/wearing is a classic, and although her parents went that route, maybe you’ll have more takers at US1000.
Good luck.
On a separate note, do you know of any companies or individuals in Taipei offering guided bike tours in and around Taipei other than inmotionasia?
Someone was asking about options for their trip to Taipei in the middle of March, but inmotionasia were fully booked (as usual apparently).
Thanks in advance.
Best.
What age should a child use disc brakes. Yes, the stopping power is great than caliper brakes/rim brakes. But are there fears for heat.
If a child rides a mtn bike, will he burn themself on disc? or should they go with a rim brake without braking heat?
Rims get hot from braking too
Thank you
.
There is always a market for high end kids bikes…as long as the price is low 
Seriously, that’s what your going to find.
I bought two of my kids (11 & 14 year old) new MTB’s this winter with disc brakes. Thing was they were Focus brand bikes on a nice sale. I think I paid just under $500 each.
I’m also looking for a new bike for my son who is 7. Moving up to a 24" bike (but too small for a 26" even using 24" wheels). If I can find one with disc brakes at a good price I’d definitely go that route but there are limited options. Ibex is really the only option at a budge price @ just under $500. There are a few other players, but their prices are closer to $900+ Most people are not going to spend that on a bike the kid will likely outgrow in a few (1-3 years).
http://www.ibexbikes.com/IBEX_BIKE_SPECS.html?Alpine440K#top
