tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post4631188098356490955..comments2023-07-01T10:21:32.918-05:00Comments on Chicargobike: Buying a bike for your childChicargohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-41185027189384961382011-11-20T19:21:05.226-06:002011-11-20T19:21:05.226-06:00Hi David-
We found also that the balance bike free...Hi David-<br />We found also that the balance bike freed our oldest to just get really comfortable getting the feel of how to ride. His friends with training wheels definitely had a harder time -- though every kid is different. Our middle guy wouldn't give up the pedal free bike for some time after he could ride on two wheels. He just liked the feeling of it too much!Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-33185543207729257402011-11-20T19:05:57.357-06:002011-11-20T19:05:57.357-06:00The 12 1/2" wheels are the key. You mentione...The 12 1/2" wheels are the key. You mentioned that the child's feet need to be flat on the ground when the sit on the bike. This is what will let the kid forget his/her fear and jettison the training wheels. The bike will not last long. Once the child is riding without training wheels he or she will soon want a bigger bike. Its well worth having a bike that is not used very long. I started my oldest on 16" wheels and she did not lose the training wheels until she was 6. My youngest started on the little wheels and was riding without training wheels at age 4.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06926707667113472388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-35052596058918080942011-11-18T20:19:51.342-06:002011-11-18T20:19:51.342-06:00It's a Typhoon, it's just air.It's a Typhoon, it's just air.Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-49157454296507824362011-11-18T16:07:05.558-06:002011-11-18T16:07:05.558-06:00As opposed to the Typhoon which they can twirl eff...As opposed to the Typhoon which they can twirl effortlessly above their heads.Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12340920411498031715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-9973028874015186472011-11-18T07:51:50.478-06:002011-11-18T07:51:50.478-06:00I was thinking about this and remembered that (if ...I was thinking about this and remembered that (if price is no object) Bike Friday builds custom sized folding bike frames. You could get one for your 5 year old! It's out of our price range though. I think a 5 year old would need lots of lightweight titanium to be able to lift it...Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-78671718228190501642011-11-17T23:41:58.201-06:002011-11-17T23:41:58.201-06:00Yes, I guess so, but it depends on the model a lot...Yes, I guess so, but it depends on the model a lot. It would probably work after a fashion if you fiddled enough. <br />I looked at the Dahon site, and they have pretty non-adjustable stems, especially in terms of forward and back angle. Old ones didn't adjust up and down, I think.<br />It's true that you can fit different swept back bars on most folders but there are extra problems compared to other bikes. Even changing the angle of the standard bars often messes up the fold, and lots of folders don't have adjustable (enough) stems, so the special bars might have to point down and back. And sometimes these bikes just don't adjust at all. <br />The stem/handlebar area is quite variable - R20 had welded (or not) stem/bar combo, Birdy had 2 options, one adjustable the other not, Bike Friday handlebars separate in two... <br />Maybe you get more play if you set the seat forward?<br />I think you can make most folders work for smaller kids in an emergency but it seems like a kludge until they get big enough to ride comfortably, and even then I'd wait til they are good responsible riders before handing over the keys to the Brompton.Chicargohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03166650767505966551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682899986857040901.post-72580868284724027642011-11-17T22:04:08.284-06:002011-11-17T22:04:08.284-06:00Are the bars on a Dahon easily modifiable? If the ...Are the bars on a Dahon easily modifiable? If the top tube is too long could not a set of albatross or other equally back swept bars fix that issue? As long as the bars are narrow enough for the child's body type (like a VO Belleville bar) and not so exaggerated as to affect handling I'd think folders would be a solid option for kids as young as 6 or 7.Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12340920411498031715noreply@blogger.com