Have you got your kids into mountain biking? Do you have any tips for getting just the right bikes or riding kit? Share your thoughts with the community 💬👇
Removing the cranks is the best way to transition from a balance bike to a pedal bike. Also as you mentioned its a great way for kids to get familiar with the brakes before the cranks for back on. Another easier solution is to just remove the pedals and zip tied the crank arms to the frame. I've done this and the moment you put the pedals back on, they're gone! Another tip is to properly adjust the brake levers closer to bar for their small fingers. Also progressively moving the levers inward(depending on power of the brake system) allows them to transition from three/two finger to one finger braking. Cheers 🍻
I bought my son a 12” pedal bike for his 2nd birthday. I set it up inside the house with the training wheels set up so the rear wheel was off the ground effectively making it a stationary bike. He rode his balance bike outside and we practiced pedalling and using the brakes on the 12” bike inside. At 2-1/2 years old I took off the training wheels and let him go outside where he had no issues. This worked really well for him because he mastered balancing on the balance bike and was already familiar with pedalling and braking on the new bike.
Struggled & struggled getting the 4x yr old riding with hand-me-down bikes. The cheaper kind, which weigh almost as much as an adult bike. Got an ‘early rider 16” & off the little one went with no issues at all. A few weeks later & we are almost ready for the Blues! I find the cheaper, Smyths, Halfords bikes too heavy & cumbersome for little legs. The residual value to sell-on for the Frogs, Early Riders & the like are worth it.
As for kids gloves: Dakine made gloves where you could kinda open the entire bank of the hand, so it was quite easy to get them on. Don't know if they are still doing this, my kids are a bit older than Neil's... So it's working fine now
The Kids Ride Shotgun stuff is brilliant! The new balance bike they do comes in 12 inch and 14 inch wheel sizes with the option for a hydraulic magura rear brake! Plus you can fit the 14 inch wheels to the 12 inch model when they outgrow it! Winner winner all round
TIKTOK HACK ACTUALLY TEACHES HOW TO CYCLE IN 10 MINS... Put a rolled up towel or jumper around their chest and under their arms like a pool noodle, and just release tension as they cycle. My 3yo got it in about 5 mins and i had one arm in a sling. Highly recommend
My almost nine year old son has a Nukeproof Cub scout 26 coming in the mail tomorrow!! Factory yellow just like you guys ride!! He has outgrown his Commencal Ramones 24.
My little shredder is about the age where her 12" balance bike is too small, but she won't quite be able to run a crank bike yet... the tip of removing the crank for the first bit while learning the bigger bike and brakes is genuis!
My grandpa bought me a sixteen inch tired Schwinn when I was like three years old but I mostly road my Big Wheels three wheeler and my trike. This was in the 1970's
I bought a specialized rock hopper for my son today. Hopefully, he will gain the confidence to cycle it, and we can then hit the trails! We've both watched the video, some useful advice
@@theimperialangler My boys started on the 12" Hotrock and worked their way through the range to the 24" as they got taller - superb, solid bikes that gave my boys a really good start in mountain biking.
My advice would be the opposite of Neil's. Go big too soon! I bought my then 8yo daughter a nukeproof cub scout 24" last year and she's outgrown it already. She's nearly 10 now and spent summer bombing about on my size large cube stereo hybrid and specialized turbo Levo, so I just bought her a size small nukeproof giga mullet. Ok, she's tall for her age, but a dropper fixes a lot of size issues. It also depends massively on the type of biking they do, but I find for kids' confidence a big bike works better than a small one. Adult bikes are also far far better value for money than a dedicated kids bike which are, to be honest, a rip off.
I’ve been waiting for a video like this to drop. There seems to be plenty of clothing out there for 8+ year olds, but always so difficult to find for 3, 4, 5 years olds
Agree, it takes a lot of effort finding clothes that fit. As for shorts, pants and jerseys I found Dharco, use it for my 3 year old daughter and used it for my oldest when she was 5 and 6 years old. Age 7 and up you get more choice. Commencal also has some nice race jerseys that fit a 3 year old. Gloves was a total pain to find, Woom makes besides bikes also gear, and I found their smallest gloves actually fitting my 3 year old. Good luck!
I love this video! I actually bought an e-gravel bike so I could try to keep up with my son (now 17) who first had his training wheels off at 6 y/o (ua-cam.com/video/72r6_Z2ad3w/v-deo.html) and there's no way I can keep up with him. But I'm SO glad that kids these days have so many options and ways to get into this life-long sport.
Have you got your kids into mountain biking? Do you have any tips for getting just the right bikes or riding kit? Share your thoughts with the community 💬👇
at what Age did u start with balance bike? my doughter is 2,5 and she does not want to ride it..
Make sure bike is as light and "smooth" as possible, so the child can have loads of fun on it.
Removing the cranks is the best way to transition from a balance bike to a pedal bike. Also as you mentioned its a great way for kids to get familiar with the brakes before the cranks for back on.
Another easier solution is to just remove the pedals and zip tied the crank arms to the frame. I've done this and the moment you put the pedals back on, they're gone! Another tip is to properly adjust the brake levers closer to bar for their small fingers. Also progressively moving the levers inward(depending on power of the brake system) allows them to transition from three/two finger to one finger braking. Cheers 🍻
Yes finally some kids gear content! Need more of these vids plus some kids guest appearances and their ride opinions & takes.
I bought my son a 12” pedal bike for his 2nd birthday. I set it up inside the house with the training wheels set up so the rear wheel was off the ground effectively making it a stationary bike. He rode his balance bike outside and we practiced pedalling and using the brakes on the 12” bike inside. At 2-1/2 years old I took off the training wheels and let him go outside where he had no issues. This worked really well for him because he mastered balancing on the balance bike and was already familiar with pedalling and braking on the new bike.
I’m totally doing this for my son. He’s been on a balance bike since he was one y.o. This sounds like a really good transition plan!
Struggled & struggled getting the 4x yr old riding with hand-me-down bikes. The cheaper kind, which weigh almost as much as an adult bike.
Got an ‘early rider 16” & off the little one went with no issues at all. A few weeks later & we are almost ready for the Blues!
I find the cheaper, Smyths, Halfords bikes too heavy & cumbersome for little legs.
The residual value to sell-on for the Frogs, Early Riders & the like are worth it.
I'm over 40 and I still smash my shins 😢
As a 3-year-old professional downhill racer, I can recommend all of this gear!
As for kids gloves: Dakine made gloves where you could kinda open the entire bank of the hand, so it was quite easy to get them on. Don't know if they are still doing this, my kids are a bit older than Neil's... So it's working fine now
I second the cheap shoes. For some reason the toe drag is an intuitive breaking solution for my kids as well 😂.
The Kids Ride Shotgun stuff is brilliant! The new balance bike they do comes in 12 inch and 14 inch wheel sizes with the option for a hydraulic magura rear brake! Plus you can fit the 14 inch wheels to the 12 inch model when they outgrow it! Winner winner all round
TIKTOK HACK ACTUALLY TEACHES HOW TO CYCLE IN 10 MINS... Put a rolled up towel or jumper around their chest and under their arms like a pool noodle, and just release tension as they cycle. My 3yo got it in about 5 mins and i had one arm in a sling. Highly recommend
My almost nine year old son has a Nukeproof Cub scout 26 coming in the mail tomorrow!! Factory yellow just like you guys ride!! He has outgrown his Commencal Ramones 24.
My little shredder is about the age where her 12" balance bike is too small, but she won't quite be able to run a crank bike yet... the tip of removing the crank for the first bit while learning the bigger bike and brakes is genuis!
My grandpa bought me a sixteen inch tired Schwinn when I was like three years old but I mostly road my Big Wheels three wheeler and my trike. This was in the 1970's
I bought a specialized rock hopper for my son today. Hopefully, he will gain the confidence to cycle it, and we can then hit the trails! We've both watched the video, some useful advice
Correction: Specialized Hotrock
@@theimperialangler My boys started on the 12" Hotrock and worked their way through the range to the 24" as they got taller - superb, solid bikes that gave my boys a really good start in mountain biking.
Exactly the bikes my kids are riding. Good choice! 🤘
These are all spot on from my experience! Keep up the kids content!
Loved this. This is the kind of content that's relevant to my life now.
My advice would be the opposite of Neil's. Go big too soon!
I bought my then 8yo daughter a nukeproof cub scout 24" last year and she's outgrown it already. She's nearly 10 now and spent summer bombing about on my size large cube stereo hybrid and specialized turbo Levo, so I just bought her a size small nukeproof giga mullet.
Ok, she's tall for her age, but a dropper fixes a lot of size issues. It also depends massively on the type of biking they do, but I find for kids' confidence a big bike works better than a small one. Adult bikes are also far far better value for money than a dedicated kids bike which are, to be honest, a rip off.
Yes 100% yes
They grow fast. Dont over spend. Buy used.
Thanks - this is useful content Neil!
I’ve been waiting for a video like this to drop.
There seems to be plenty of clothing out there for 8+ year olds, but always so difficult to find for 3, 4, 5 years olds
Agree, it takes a lot of effort finding clothes that fit. As for shorts, pants and jerseys I found Dharco, use it for my 3 year old daughter and used it for my oldest when she was 5 and 6 years old. Age 7 and up you get more choice. Commencal also has some nice race jerseys that fit a 3 year old. Gloves was a total pain to find, Woom makes besides bikes also gear, and I found their smallest gloves actually fitting my 3 year old. Good luck!
A good sunblock!
Just been rebuilding a 14” wheel. Spooky
👀👀👀
If your young one is struggling with a grip-shift then try gloves! Stops their hand slipping on the grip.
Lol, on video wrong height of seat.
U
hi
👋 Hi!
I don't have kids and I mainly came here to see the Don Jrs.
I don't know about all that Neil, sounds like your kids aren't gonna settle for anything under a Santa Cruz CC at this rate 😂
I love this video! I actually bought an e-gravel bike so I could try to keep up with my son (now 17) who first had his training wheels off at 6 y/o (ua-cam.com/video/72r6_Z2ad3w/v-deo.html) and there's no way I can keep up with him. But I'm SO glad that kids these days have so many options and ways to get into this life-long sport.
I stopped reading at "How to choose the right kids..."