Choosing the right bike for a teenager is not always easy. Children at this age grow up very quickly, so you can hardly buy a bike that a teenager could ride from 8 to 15 years old.
For a teenager to be able to get the most out of riding a bike, you should pay attention to a number of important points.
Deciding on the type of bike
First of all it is necessary to decide where and how the teenager will ride. On this basis, and will have to choose the type of bike. At this age the choice will be between folding road bike and mountain bike.
For a folding bike is likely to be inclined by many parents because of its practicality and the low price. When folded, it does not take up much space and is easy to pack and store in the winter.
The second plus of this type of bike is a low price. It can be many times lower than the cost of mountain bikes, thanks to the simplicity of the device bike.
But these bikes have a number of disadvantages, which may already be significant for teenagers, especially those who like to ride off-road and fast.
Folding roadster is great for leisurely rides on smooth pavement, but it is very difficult to ride on it off-road. The usual folding road bikes do not have a suspension fork.
The next disadvantage is the lack of a high-speed transmission. Some models have a 5-7-speed cassette, but it’s still not enough for a fast ride, and many teenagers just love it at their age.
Another important part of a teenage bicycle is the appearance of the bike. Mountain bikes look much more aggressive and cooler than road bikes with a folding frame.
Given all of the above pros and cons of the two opposites, as well as taking into account the mandatory preferences of your child, parents can opt for road or mountain bike. But this is not the end of the choice of bike.
Height
Choosing the right girth bike – a guarantee of a comfortable ride. If the frame size is not appropriate, it will have a serious impact on control and even on the health of the teenager.
Constant cycling with a wrong and unnatural fit can cause pain in the back, neck, arms and legs.
If the choice of frame size folding bike almost no problem, but the selection of speed bicycle requires a more serious approach.
On a folding bike without an upper frame tube, you can get by with handlebar adjustment and saddle height adjustment, but on a speed bike that may not be enough.
So, when choosing a mountain bike, it is best to start by paying attention to the height and frame size correspondence tables for mountain bikes. You should pay attention to the fact that there are also women’s frames that have a slightly different height than men’s frames.
But every person is an individual, so you can not always rely on height charts. Moreover, we should not forget about the geometry of the bike. Different bikes can have different tube angles, which also greatly affects the fit.
A good way to determine the height of the bike is to get on the bike, stand with your feet on the ground and measure the distance from the top tube of the frame to your groin. Ideally it should be 10-12 cm.
It is worth to start with the size of the wheels. Teenagers, depending on growth and age, should choose bikes on wheels 20, 24, 26 inches. High may go even nainer – bikes with 29-inch wheels. Many teenagers between the ages of 14-16 years may suit and adult bikes.
Or maybe something special?
Do not drive a teenager into a framework for choosing a bike. Perhaps a teenager will want something unusual. For example, in recent years, teenage children are increasingly riding an extreme style of BMX. The choice of such a bike is specific.
It is impossible to pick any one formula, so the child will have to decide on a specific model on which it will be easy and comfortable to ride.
Perhaps the bike will be a fatbike. This type of bike has become increasingly popular in recent years. Unlike a regular bike, it has wide-profile wheels, which have a positive effect on cross-country mobility.
Almost everyone wants to stand out among their peers with something. So it is better that it is something good and useful. A teenager will look very cool on such unusual bikes.
What else should you pay attention to?
When choosing a bike for a teenager, you should definitely pay attention to the following:
- The frame material should be aluminum. The most budget bikes with a steel frame will be cheaper than aluminum models, but they are much heavier;
- Frame type should be a hardtail (without rear shock absorbers). On the budget models the rear shock absorbers are made more for looks than for comfort. From the usual steel springs will be more problems than good. In addition these two-pods will weigh 3-4 kg more than similar hardtails;
- Not all mountain bikes are equipped with fenders. It is therefore advisable to spend extra 400 rubles and buy a set of fenders.
As far as attachments are concerned, on teenage bikes their level does not play a big role. Unless, of course, the teenager is an athlete.
Cheap derailleurs will quickly fail and require repairs or systematic adjustments, while more expensive equipment needs proper care, which teenagers are unlikely to be able to provide.
Brand
It’s not worth getting attached to a particular brand when choosing a teenage bike, either. All bikes in the same price range will be about the same no matter whose logo is affixed to the frame.
The manufacturer only makes the frame. Attachments are installed by other brands, and it is mostly Shimano.
Some consultants may name the birthplace of the brand rather than where the frame is made. Almost all bicycles today are made in Taiwan or neighboring Asian countries, so the quality will always be about the same.