I’m looking to buy my daughter her first road bike. Here is a little background, I have 3 daughters ages 2, 4 and 7. We have every size kids bike from a strider, 12", 16" and 20" wheel size.
My oldest really enjoys riding, and I’m looking to get her a real road bike. So we can do some longer rides. I know these are expensive, but I will get my use out of them with 3 kids.
The problem I’m having is nobody stocks them so I cant have her try one to make sure the size is ok. Has anyone purchased one of these bikes for their kids?
If so how tall is your child?
The good news is that you can use Stack and Reach numbers (just like an adult!) to determine correct size. The F24X only comes in one size, are not not considering the F24 road version? The F24 has two sizes, the 40cm is smaller than the F24 cyclocross frame in reach but taller in the standover. It may be that just the standover is the ‘decider’, depending on her morphology.
I think it’s a great idea. I have a 7 year old too (also a 5 year old) and would love to get them something like the F24 or F24x for longer rides. I just bought a Felt a couple of months ago, love it! In the shop they had an F24x on the floor. My son, the 7 year old, isn’t big enough yet for it for sure. He’s certainly one of the smaller kids in his class, I think 47 inches tall, but the size ranges on Felt’s site for the F24 go down to 4’ 5", and just from my eyeballs it seemed about right. So if your daughter is getting close to that height it might work, otherwise I think it’s just going to be a little big. Of course, she will grow into it.
I started doing long rides, ~50 mile days, at about age 11 and loved it, so I’m definitely going to try to get my kids into it, but I think they’ll be 9-10 before they fit the F24. But I’m 5’ 5", my wife is being generous when she says she’s 5’ 0", so maybe your kids will be quicker to fit the bike.
We have 3 daughters, 8, 6, and 2. We have 2 of the F24s. The 8 year old has been riding it for about a year. She definitely cannot comfortably ride in the drops or really even on the hoods. She has to ride on the bar tops and use the cheater brakes. She can safely move her hand to shift, and then right back to the tops/cheater brakes.
The 6 year old still isn’t off her 20" bike and mostly hates riding:( So the 2nd F24 sits and waits.
Best of luck. If you’re near Panama City Beach, FL, your daughter is welcome to try one out.
She is only 47" tall on a good day so i think she may have to wait till summer 2016.
She has a specialized 20", it has semi smooth mountain bike tires on it. I may look into the 20" wheel Fuji Absolute. It has thinner tires and a flat bar.
She definitely cannot comfortably ride in the drops or really even on the hoods. She has to ride on the bar tops and use the cheater brakes. She can safely move her hand to shift, and then right back to the tops/cheater brakes.
I’m sitting here wondering whether it’s the rider (and speed), or whether this bike is really just that poorly designed.
She definitely cannot comfortably ride in the drops or really even on the hoods. She has to ride on the bar tops and use the cheater brakes. She can safely move her hand to shift, and then right back to the tops/cheater brakes.
I’m sitting here wondering whether it’s the rider (and speed), or whether this bike is really just that poorly designed.
She’s probably still a little too young and short to fit right.
She is only 47" tall on a good day so i think she may have to wait till summer 2016.
She has a specialized 20", it has semi smooth mountain bike tires on it. I may look into the 20" wheel Fuji Absolute. It has thinner tires and a flat bar.
Where in Ohio are you? I’m in the Cincinnati area, the F24 I saw was at Campus Cyclery.
I went with the Moda Minor (Road) for my son. I swapped the stem for a 60mm (comes as a 70). He was able to ride it as a pretty average 7 year old. Starting and stopping were a challenge. Moda makes a great road bike with 20" wheels the Moda Mini. Depending on the size of your 7 year old I would either wait one more year or look to bringing the mini over from the UK. Culprit sells some of their jr bikes with deep rims which contravenes the equipment rules in some countries for youth tri.
Thanks for the offer but we are in Ohio.
She is only 47" tall on a good day so i think she may have to wait till summer 2016.
She has a specialized 20", it has semi smooth mountain bike tires on it. I may look into the 20" wheel Fuji Absolute. It has thinner tires and a flat bar.
Where in Ohio? I make frequent trips to Cleveland and Felt’s area sales rep is from NW Ohio as well. I am sure we could find an OH dealer with the F24 or F24x in stock, especially in the Christmas thru Spring season.
I’m from Findlay. Our local shop carries Felt but does not have one in stock.
Small world! I grew up in Monroe and raced a bit with the Maumee Valley Wheelmen in the mid 90s and shuttled around the state for Tym Tyler’s Tour of Ohio many times. In any case, if you want to contact me directly so I can share your search with our local sales team in your area I’d be happy to try to connect you to a test-ridable bike.
We did develop special shifter/brake levers with our partner Micro.shift specifically for kids bikes as well as a unique handlebar that further shortens the reach to the brakes and controls but 7 years old is really the youngest I’ve seen kids ride either bike comfortably. A “small” 7 y/o could have difficulty as the poster above details.
The F24x is a bit more versatile for riding mixed terrain such as some of the cindered rail trails and even light MTB trails. The brakes have adjustable spring tension as well to lessen the effort. The F24x is also 9speed vs. 8speed and has a wider gear range. There are greater tire options in that wheel’s size as well.
If you strictly want speed, the F24 is it. If you’re planning to do something like TOSRV, the pure road bike will be a bit easier.
Yes, definitely sounds like another year’s wait is best. When you get one, make sure it has brakes both on the hoods and also on the top handlebar. Small, female fingers will struggle to pull the hood brakes, and she may even struggle to change up to the big ring if the shifter is stiff.
Keep an eye out on ebay for 24" kids road bikes. Becuase you have time, you can be patient and try to enter a few bids without being too aggressive. End of season is a good time to buy.
I have purchased 2 24" bikes over the years as my children have grown up. Both of those bikes listed are great.
I would like to make another suggestion though.
If you’re going to spend the money on a bike like this when maybe take a peak at the 24" CX bikes. Redline makes a model that I am familiar with. You can run road tires on it easily, plus if you’re child ever wants to give CX a try they’ll already have the bike. Resale on those bikes,when the time comes, is fantastic too.
My youngest, who finally graduated to a 43 cm 700c, rode a Fuji Ace 24. I had installed some cross top levers (brake) which he used often.
I never did thank you for tracking down the Felt 24X for me. It is a little big for my daughter but I bought it anyway. Right now she is tearing it up on her 20" but next summer she should fit great.
I never did thank you for tracking down the Felt 24X for me. It is a little big for my daughter but I bought it anyway. Right now she is tearing it up on her 20" but next summer she should fit great.
Quite the contrary, I thank you for your business.
