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Should I let him be too tall, or get a new bike?

April 22nd, 2008 at 08:25 pm

I have a biking delema. My son decided to grow dramatically from last fall to now. His bike that was just the right size then is way to small, his knees are bent when he is sitting on the seat and his feet are flat on the ground.

I read a couple different places that the proper fit is toes on the ground when sitting, which is almost what we bought him. Maybe half a foot not just toes.

So now less than a year later we are looking at him thinking he is too tall. BUT we tried him on an 18 inch bike...(we think, it was a friends, no measuring tape) and he can't control it, tough his toes do touch.

So is it just that my kid can't handle the transition quickly and he will get it eventually or that he is too young to handle a big bike?

To complicate matters he will be part of a 'Bike Rodeo' with the cub scouts in July..do I let him get the big bike and practice for a month, or do I leave him on the small one so we know he can ride? I would hate to ruin his confidence by being around other boys and barely being able to control his own bike..especially since he worked so hard to learn to ride 'like a big boy' with no training wheels.

5 Responses to “Should I let him be too tall, or get a new bike?”

  1. littlemama Says:
    1208894191

    I recently bought my youngest son a new bike for his 7th birthday. He can barley touch the ground with ONE foot. He has learned quickly how to adjust to his new ride. Smile

    I think you should go ahead and get the bigger bike asap so he can have more time to learn.

    Just my 2 cents...Smile

  2. nanamom Says:
    1208895648

    Can the seat be raised any? Or the handlebars and seat? For some reason the local teens tend to ride bikes that are too small by my standards, I wonder if that is better for control? Not a biker so I am not sure but it is a thought. I got a 20 inch on freecycle for 20 dollars (yeah I know free and the money makes no sense but not the point). Now my grandson is riding it after his grandfather put the seat lower. Occasionally he needs a hand to balance for a second but otherwise does great and is really ready for the bigger bike. My son is still in training wheels though so he can't use it yet.

  3. littlemama Says:
    1208907204

    I believe those smaller bikes the teens are riding are trick bikes. They are usually 20". That is what I bought for both my 7 yo and my 13 yo.

  4. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1208914729

    Don't buy him the too big bike. A bike he cannot control is a danger. Let him grow some more. Let him have his familiar bike for the rodeo.

  5. princessperky Says:
    1208963795

    well he couldn't control his own bike when we first got it..and it certainly wasn't too big...so he does need to learn sometime....

    No the seat and handle bars cannot be raised.

    So we have one for .... one against, and two no votes Smile

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