pmondrag
My 4 year old daughter is ready for a two-wheel bike w/training wheels. When we went shopping for bikes I noticed she is way too big for a 12" bike but she felt very unstable and hesitant on the 16" wheeled bike. It looked too big for her. They had a couple of 14" bikes at Toys R Us, none of which we liked, but she seemed most at ease on those and seemed to be best fit. Instead of buying a 14" bike this summer and another 16" bike next, I was wondering if I could buy a 16" bike (that we actually like) and just put 14" wheels on it until she is ready for the 16" wheels. And if I can, where do I (and can I) find 14" wheels that makes sense it terms of cost?? Doing custom-order would defeat the purpose.
Thanks so much for the feedback. I hadn't thought about the frame sitting lower. I'll probably find a cheap used $12 just so she learns and then when she is confident switch her to the 16" - who knows maybe she'll be ready for it before I know it! I'd rather her be confident as you mentioned. Thanks so much!
Answer
This might work. You need to keep in mind, everything about a 16" bike is scaled up. Everything is bigger, not just the wheels.
Anyhow, the first problem will be with hand brakes. The hand brakes won't be in the proper position to squeeze the rim of the wheel if you put a 14" wheel on a bike made for 16" wheels.
Putting 14" wheels on will also put the pedals closer to the ground which may cause your daughter to drag a pedal on the when turning. If she drags hard enough, it might flip her right off!
Finally, finding 14" wheels is going to be a pain. Consumers just don't go out a buy 14" wheels. Thus, I suspect, if you can find the wheels, they will be cost prohibitive.
In my humble opinion, a small bike is easier for a kid to learn to ride. They feel more in control of a bike they can put their feet down with. In the dear, dead days of my youth, we started our kids on a little tiny bike with 12" wheels. We promised to get them a "real" bike as when they learned to ride. In next to no time, the training wheels came off and they learned to ride. Good to our word, we got them "real" sized bikes and they were pleased as could be with themselves. My daughter was just over 4 when she learned to ride and my son was about 4 1/2.
Hope this helps.
This might work. You need to keep in mind, everything about a 16" bike is scaled up. Everything is bigger, not just the wheels.
Anyhow, the first problem will be with hand brakes. The hand brakes won't be in the proper position to squeeze the rim of the wheel if you put a 14" wheel on a bike made for 16" wheels.
Putting 14" wheels on will also put the pedals closer to the ground which may cause your daughter to drag a pedal on the when turning. If she drags hard enough, it might flip her right off!
Finally, finding 14" wheels is going to be a pain. Consumers just don't go out a buy 14" wheels. Thus, I suspect, if you can find the wheels, they will be cost prohibitive.
In my humble opinion, a small bike is easier for a kid to learn to ride. They feel more in control of a bike they can put their feet down with. In the dear, dead days of my youth, we started our kids on a little tiny bike with 12" wheels. We promised to get them a "real" bike as when they learned to ride. In next to no time, the training wheels came off and they learned to ride. Good to our word, we got them "real" sized bikes and they were pleased as could be with themselves. My daughter was just over 4 when she learned to ride and my son was about 4 1/2.
Hope this helps.
Are 20 inch mountain bikes only for kids?
Joseph
So I'm 14, almost 15, and also fairly tall. Lately I've been looking to buy a new bike, and I started looking at 20 inch wheel mountain bikes. Now I don't know much about bikes, but I figure that these kinds of bikes would be good for me because I liked how its a small size with 20 inch wheels like a normal bmx bike, but I also liked that it had suspension and the ability to change gears. I was getting ready to order one, but I noticed that the reviews mainly involved parents buying them as gifts for their 8-10 year old kid. Are these kinds of bikes really only meant for small children, and will I look stupid if I buy one for someone as old and as tall as I am?
Answer
Those are little kids bikes you want one with 26" wheels.
Those are little kids bikes you want one with 26" wheels.
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