After the 18" bike dies...
May 21, 2011 12:12 PM Subscribe
Please share your experience buying your kid their first multi-speed bike.
How did you decide when it was the right time to switch them from a single-speed bike (other than the fact that, say, one of their friends got a multi-speeder)? And especially for parents of athletically-challenged children: how difficult was it for your kid to make the transition to shifting gears and co-ordinating that process with hand braking? Was the extra complexity worth the trade-off in terms of easier biking up hills, etc.? I'd love to hear various experiences with this rite of passage. Thank you!
Definitely athletically challenged - got multispeed bike aged 7 I think, no problem whatsoever, so much of a non issue in fact that I just had to try to remember when I ever had a single-speed bike.
posted by koahiatamadl at 2:01 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by koahiatamadl at 2:01 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I got my first multi-speed bike when I was 8 or 9. I wasn't a particularly athletic kid, and I liked that I could make it easier to go up hills or crank it up so I could go fast without pedaling a lot. I think a lot of bikes these days (or maybe it's always been this way--I'm not a bike person) have the shifter actually in the handle, which makes it even easier to use than the thumb toggle I was raised on.
My brother, the much more athletic one, didn't have a multi-speed bike as a kid. He had a little BMX bike with pegs that he popped wheelies and hopped ramps in.
If you're not sure if your kid's ready, you can take him/her into a bike store. A small, local shop will be happy to let your kid tool around on the bikes and show him/her how to use all the different features. That way, you can pick the one that's the best fit for your kid's style. (If you want to do the whole surprise-it's-a-bike-with-a-bow-on-it-happy-birthday! thing, that doesn't really work, but I think having the chance to be part of the decision making process is really empowering for kids.)
posted by phunniemee at 2:38 PM on May 21, 2011
My brother, the much more athletic one, didn't have a multi-speed bike as a kid. He had a little BMX bike with pegs that he popped wheelies and hopped ramps in.
If you're not sure if your kid's ready, you can take him/her into a bike store. A small, local shop will be happy to let your kid tool around on the bikes and show him/her how to use all the different features. That way, you can pick the one that's the best fit for your kid's style. (If you want to do the whole surprise-it's-a-bike-with-a-bow-on-it-happy-birthday! thing, that doesn't really work, but I think having the chance to be part of the decision making process is really empowering for kids.)
posted by phunniemee at 2:38 PM on May 21, 2011
Best answer: Out 9-year-old got a bike with gears last summer (he was 9 then). It was also the summer he learned to ride a 2-wheeler, in case that helps with your benchmarking--he's definitely not the most athletically talented kid in the world. The choice of a multi-gear bike was driven mostly by the fact that he was tall enough that those were the bikes that were available to fit him when he outgrew his last bike. He had previously had a bike with hand brakes; I don't think our particular guy could have coped with both when he was younger (though a geared bike with training wheels would have been kind of hilarious).
It doesn't seem to me that younger kids would miss out on much by not having a multi-gear bike, so I suppose if I were in any doubt I'd stick with single-gear for the next bike. But I don't have any clever reasons for that.
posted by not that girl at 4:11 PM on May 21, 2011
It doesn't seem to me that younger kids would miss out on much by not having a multi-gear bike, so I suppose if I were in any doubt I'd stick with single-gear for the next bike. But I don't have any clever reasons for that.
posted by not that girl at 4:11 PM on May 21, 2011
Best answer: I wasn't particularly athletic either, and I did fine with a multi-speed bike as a kid.
However, it really wasn't necessary in the city I grew up in - not very hilly in the park where I was allowed to ride - and as a result I didn't learn what the real point of changing gears was until... like, a year or two ago when I made my first adult bike-acquirement decision.
Which turned out to be a single speed bike with coaster breaks (the back-peddling kind, just like on the first bike I ever had), because I like simple bikes, and gear changing isn't necessary for my purposes (biking about a mile to work every day in a very flat city).
posted by bubukaba at 4:21 PM on May 21, 2011
However, it really wasn't necessary in the city I grew up in - not very hilly in the park where I was allowed to ride - and as a result I didn't learn what the real point of changing gears was until... like, a year or two ago when I made my first adult bike-acquirement decision.
Which turned out to be a single speed bike with coaster breaks (the back-peddling kind, just like on the first bike I ever had), because I like simple bikes, and gear changing isn't necessary for my purposes (biking about a mile to work every day in a very flat city).
posted by bubukaba at 4:21 PM on May 21, 2011
I was 10. I fell off it and broke my arm at 11, and didn't get on one again until a couple years ago. So I'd have to say my answer is "27".
(Seriously, though if the kid is good at bike-riding and does it a lot 9-10 should be fine, depending on how big they are and if the old one is getting small).
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:26 PM on May 21, 2011
(Seriously, though if the kid is good at bike-riding and does it a lot 9-10 should be fine, depending on how big they are and if the old one is getting small).
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:26 PM on May 21, 2011
I had a BMX bike single speed. When I was tall enough I inherited my mum's bike (she didn't ride lots and there wasn't much scope for purchasing bikes) It had a thumb lever gear change.
I used to get annoyed when cycling with my Dad (boy's version of mum's bike) that he wouldn't be putting in much effort at all and I was really pushing hard to keep up on the single speed. We would do one big ride a year on "day of the pedestrian" where all cars were banned from the roads and everyone could cycle down the middle of the highway. :) So I was keen to upgrade to a geared bike.
There was a stretch of cobble-stone road (maybe about 200 meters? down the property that I lived on that started with a cement down the middle of the first 50m, then cobble stone. I used to use the concrete path to pedal as hard as I could, then have a crazy-fast bumpy ride down the smoothest bit of the cobblestone road, followed by a dramatic brake blues-brothers style spin at the end (also on concrete). This was hilariously fun and adrenaline pumping for a 8-12 year old, on my single speed BMX bike.
Cut forward a few years. Because they had to raise the outside level of the ground, they needed to add a large ramp at the front gate of the property, which lead to the concrete path etc. Ramp meant MORE SPEED! By this time I had upgraded to the big, geared bike. ( My sister used the BMX. )
This is the story of my last childhood ride. Perhaps my childhood guardian angel had retired now that I was well into my teens, or I was just over confident, or bigger/heavier, or just plain stupid.
Remember: I understood gears as: "make you go faster". Speed is what I wanted, so I concocted a plan. I would use the low gear to accelerate on the concrete path, then I would change gears and go faster down the road, buzzing my adrenal glands by risking near certain collision with the steel gate down the other end. This was going to be awesome.
Making sure there was no one around, no kids to get in the way, no parents to stop me; I precisely lined up my bike on the top of the path. Taking a deep breath I launched down the slope, pedalling as hard as I could. I was going FAST. I hit the cobble stones and steered to where the road was a bit smoother, it was still bumpy (bumpier than I remembered.) I reached forward to change the gear and due to the bumps, not knowing how gears worked and laziness, I just tugged on the lever- flipping it all the way!
CLUNK. The chain fell off. I wasn't getting any power when I pedalled! the bike was out of control! the bumping got worse and I struggled to stay on the bike. Braking wasn't working, and I didn't want to brake too harshly or risk wiping out on the cobblestones. I lost total control of the steering, and the bike leaped a 20cm concrete wall...
The last thing I remember is a tree getting closer and closer - zooming right in I could see the texture of the bark, the little beads of sap. I was perfectly lined up with the skinny, tall tree. Then black. The next thing I remember is waking up under my bike. (no idea how long I was out cold for!) I called out for help, some guys from the nearby construction site picked me up; and I limped home. And freaked out my parents. ("what do you mean you don't remember falling?")
Concussion, bruises, cuts and scrapes, a trip to the doctor. (and then you should have seen the bike!)
I never did that speed ride again.
tl;dr
Kids do stupid things on bikes. Make sure yours knows how gears actually work, and that they aren't just a magical "go faster" button. :) (thanks for letting me relive the memories!)
posted by titanium_geek at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
I used to get annoyed when cycling with my Dad (boy's version of mum's bike) that he wouldn't be putting in much effort at all and I was really pushing hard to keep up on the single speed. We would do one big ride a year on "day of the pedestrian" where all cars were banned from the roads and everyone could cycle down the middle of the highway. :) So I was keen to upgrade to a geared bike.
There was a stretch of cobble-stone road (maybe about 200 meters? down the property that I lived on that started with a cement down the middle of the first 50m, then cobble stone. I used to use the concrete path to pedal as hard as I could, then have a crazy-fast bumpy ride down the smoothest bit of the cobblestone road, followed by a dramatic brake blues-brothers style spin at the end (also on concrete). This was hilariously fun and adrenaline pumping for a 8-12 year old, on my single speed BMX bike.
Cut forward a few years. Because they had to raise the outside level of the ground, they needed to add a large ramp at the front gate of the property, which lead to the concrete path etc. Ramp meant MORE SPEED! By this time I had upgraded to the big, geared bike. ( My sister used the BMX. )
This is the story of my last childhood ride. Perhaps my childhood guardian angel had retired now that I was well into my teens, or I was just over confident, or bigger/heavier, or just plain stupid.
Remember: I understood gears as: "make you go faster". Speed is what I wanted, so I concocted a plan. I would use the low gear to accelerate on the concrete path, then I would change gears and go faster down the road, buzzing my adrenal glands by risking near certain collision with the steel gate down the other end. This was going to be awesome.
Making sure there was no one around, no kids to get in the way, no parents to stop me; I precisely lined up my bike on the top of the path. Taking a deep breath I launched down the slope, pedalling as hard as I could. I was going FAST. I hit the cobble stones and steered to where the road was a bit smoother, it was still bumpy (bumpier than I remembered.) I reached forward to change the gear and due to the bumps, not knowing how gears worked and laziness, I just tugged on the lever- flipping it all the way!
CLUNK. The chain fell off. I wasn't getting any power when I pedalled! the bike was out of control! the bumping got worse and I struggled to stay on the bike. Braking wasn't working, and I didn't want to brake too harshly or risk wiping out on the cobblestones. I lost total control of the steering, and the bike leaped a 20cm concrete wall...
The last thing I remember is a tree getting closer and closer - zooming right in I could see the texture of the bark, the little beads of sap. I was perfectly lined up with the skinny, tall tree. Then black. The next thing I remember is waking up under my bike. (no idea how long I was out cold for!) I called out for help, some guys from the nearby construction site picked me up; and I limped home. And freaked out my parents. ("what do you mean you don't remember falling?")
Concussion, bruises, cuts and scrapes, a trip to the doctor. (and then you should have seen the bike!)
I never did that speed ride again.
tl;dr
Kids do stupid things on bikes. Make sure yours knows how gears actually work, and that they aren't just a magical "go faster" button. :) (thanks for letting me relive the memories!)
posted by titanium_geek at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2011 [4 favorites]
I was also athletically challenged, and it was such a relief when I got a multi-speed bike (around age 10). Suddenly I could bike all the way up hills that before I had to get off and walk up. It actually helped me catch up to the faster/stronger kids and made me more confident about biking.
posted by synchronia at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by synchronia at 5:18 PM on May 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
My son was 7. He was not the best rider on the street and all the other kids were riding BMX. Some even competetively. When he outgrew the one speed he was used to, I insisted on a 5 speed mountain bike with gripshift. He seemed intrigued by the concept of gears and it did take a few weeks for it to sink in, but he loves it now and we can ride together. Something we couldn't do before, as he wasn't keen on expending a lot of effort on pushing pedals. God help me, the apple didn't fall far from slackerdad
posted by Redhush at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2011
posted by Redhush at 6:45 PM on May 21, 2011
Best answer: I was athletically challenged as a kid, and I started riding a multi-gear bike when I was 8 or 9 (a 10-speed; this was shortly after the '70s bike boom). I didn't have any problems figuring out the gears, and this was in the days of friction shifting. I liked the freedom that having multiple gears gave me to go further without getting tired.
Depending on your budget and how much time and effort you want to put into this, you might consider starting with a simplified system: either a 3-speed internally geared hub, where you only have high, normal, and low gears (i.e. downhill, flat, and uphill), or a bike with a rear derailleur only, so that there aren't two shifters to operate. Or get one of Shimano's new 11-speed internally geared hubs, which are simple to operate and have an excellent gear range. Might be overkill for a kid's bike, though, unless you're planning long rides together.
You can even get a 3-speed internally geared hub with a coaster brake. But I wouldn't recommend it: most braking power comes from the front brake, so if your child is going to be riding faster, it's best to teach him or her how to use a front brake safely.
The late Sheldon Brown's advice on gearing is well worth a read, as his advice on braking and turning.
posted by brianogilvie at 9:11 AM on May 22, 2011
Depending on your budget and how much time and effort you want to put into this, you might consider starting with a simplified system: either a 3-speed internally geared hub, where you only have high, normal, and low gears (i.e. downhill, flat, and uphill), or a bike with a rear derailleur only, so that there aren't two shifters to operate. Or get one of Shimano's new 11-speed internally geared hubs, which are simple to operate and have an excellent gear range. Might be overkill for a kid's bike, though, unless you're planning long rides together.
You can even get a 3-speed internally geared hub with a coaster brake. But I wouldn't recommend it: most braking power comes from the front brake, so if your child is going to be riding faster, it's best to teach him or her how to use a front brake safely.
The late Sheldon Brown's advice on gearing is well worth a read, as his advice on braking and turning.
posted by brianogilvie at 9:11 AM on May 22, 2011
I got my first multi-speed bike when I was 10 or 11, and had no clue how the gears worked, despite being a pretty darn smart kid. I mean, I had the vaguest notion of upshifting and downshifting from hearing my parents talk about driving, but I had no clue how to put it into real-world practice while riding the bike. So I never changed gears, and didn't really learn about how to shift until this year, when I got my first bike as an adult--and I'm still working out the finer points. I would have really appreciated a brief lesson from my parents, or (even better) the guy at the bike shop, when I got my bike as a kid.
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:39 AM on May 23, 2011
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:39 AM on May 23, 2011
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posted by SMPA at 1:04 PM on May 21, 2011