It's no wonder kids don't cycle



T

Tim Woodall

Guest
A couple of weeks ago I acquired a kids bike in the front garden. I rang
up the police to tell them and left it there.

It was still there today so I took it to the police station (where I was
told to take it) and then on to the tip (because the police station
didn't know why I'd been told to take it to them and I should just get
rid of it)

But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
must have been 11-13kg - around the weight of my Brompton when the front
pannier is on it. I don't know how much kids weigh but I wouldn't be too
surprised if the bike was heavier than the kid that was supposed to ride
it.

Pic here of the bike on the trailer attached to the Brompton:

http://www.woodall.me.uk/pict0001.jpg

Tim.


--
God said, "div D = rho, div B = 0, curl E = - @B/@t, curl H = J + @D/@t,"
and there was light.

http://tjw.hn.org/ http://www.locofungus.btinternet.co.uk/
 
Tim Woodall wrote:

> But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
> must have been 11-13kg -

It's the new building material for bikes, finest quality cast iRon. All
frames will be built from it soon.

> http://www.woodall.me.uk/pict0001.jpg

Chain's a bit loose, and could do with some oil.
 
In article <[email protected]>, Tim
Woodall
[email protected] says...
> A couple of weeks ago I acquired a kids bike in the front garden. I rang
> up the police to tell them and left it there.
>
> It was still there today so I took it to the police station (where I was
> told to take it) and then on to the tip (because the police station
> didn't know why I'd been told to take it to them and I should just get
> rid of it)
>
Why not Freecycle it?
 
On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:53:06 -0000,
Rob Morley <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Tim
> Woodall
> [email protected] says...
>> A couple of weeks ago I acquired a kids bike in the front garden. I rang
>> up the police to tell them and left it there.
>>
>> It was still there today so I took it to the police station (where I was
>> told to take it) and then on to the tip (because the police station
>> didn't know why I'd been told to take it to them and I should just get
>> rid of it)
>>
> Why not Freecycle it?
Because it was in the way, was already half way to the tip by the time I
got to the police station, and I don't want to register for yahoo
groups.

Tim.

--
God said, "div D = rho, div B = 0, curl E = - @B/@t, curl H = J + @D/@t,"
and there was light.

http://tjw.hn.org/ http://www.locofungus.btinternet.co.uk/
 
Tim Woodall writtificated

> But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
> must have been 11-13kg - around the weight of my Brompton when the front
> pannier is on it. I don't know how much kids weigh but I wouldn't be too
> surprised if the bike was heavier than the kid that was supposed to ride
> it.

It's 'orrible isn't it. I was surprised that even in EBC they didn't stock
any 'normal' 24" wheel bikes - only hardtails and a full susser. They all
weighed the same as the adult mountain bikes :-/
 
On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:44:03 +0000 (UTC), Tim Woodall
<[email protected]> wrote:

>A couple of weeks ago I acquired a kids bike in the front garden. I rang
>up the police to tell them and left it there.
>
>It was still there today so I took it to the police station (where I was
>told to take it) and then on to the tip (because the police station
>didn't know why I'd been told to take it to them and I should just get
>rid of it)
>
>But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
>must have been 11-13kg - around the weight of my Brompton when the front
>pannier is on it. I don't know how much kids weigh but I wouldn't be too
>surprised if the bike was heavier than the kid that was supposed to ride
>it.
>
>Pic here of the bike on the trailer attached to the Brompton:
>
>http://www.woodall.me.uk/pict0001.jpg

The poor quality of children's bikes is a major concern of mine. It
is virtually impossible to buy a simple dimond frame child's bikes in
LBSs, certainly for children aged 7 - 13. Islabikes are superb, but
the price is beyond the range of most parents (though the same parents
seem quite happy to spend twice as much on a games' console for their
child).

A parent recently bought a bike for their 8 year old child at Argos.
The bike was advertised as being suitable for children aged 7 - 11.
With the saddle adjusted so the seatpost was at it's absolute maximum,
the bike was still too small for the 8YO, who was of average size. I
then sat the smallest 11 year old girl in the school on the bike and
it was waaaay too small. So how Argos can get away with advertising
for 7 - 11 year olds is beyond me. The mum was taking it back last
weekend - I wait to hear how she got on. I have promised to write a
letter if they refuse to take it back.

On another note, when I was in China at Christmas I bought two
children's bikes, one for my 5 year old neice and one for my three
year old nephew. They are both half Chinese and live in China. The
two bikes cost a grand total of £19, including bells, baskets,
mudguards and racks.
 
> Tim Woodall writtificated
> It's 'orrible isn't it.  I was surprised that even in EBC they didn't stock
> any 'normal' 24" wheel bikes - only hardtails and a full susser.  They all
> weighed the same as the adult mountain bikes :-/

Indeed, a rare breed are they not?

Faced with the same dilemma for my 8 YO daughter, I reluctantly
resorted to
a Carrera Subway 24 hybrid from Halfords.

Against expectation, it's a fantastic bike for her. Light, no
suspension, easy
to operate brakes and gears, full mudguards and 100 PSI road tyres.

Excellent value as well.


Ivan
 
Tim Woodall said the following on 27/01/2008 12:44:

> But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
> must have been 11-13kg

I've recounted before the sorry tale of a colleague who bought a pair of
bikes from Sterling House for a ton. Price and weight...

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/
 
On Jan 28, 10:19 am, Paul Boyd <usenet.is.worse@plusnet> wrote:
> Tim Woodall said the following on 27/01/2008 12:44:
>
> > But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
> > must have been 11-13kg
>
> I've recounted before the sorry tale of a colleague who bought a pair of
> bikes from Sterling House for a ton. Price and weight...

Do you have his email address? I could do with a new anchor for the
boat.

...d
 
Tom Crispin wrote:

> On another note, when I was in China at Christmas I bought two
> children's bikes, one for my 5 year old neice and one for my three
> year old nephew. They are both half Chinese and live in China. The
> two bikes cost a grand total of £19, including bells, baskets,
> mudguards and racks.

How did the quality of bikes sold for children in China compare to the
BSOs - presumably made in China - sold to children over here?

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; I put the 'sexy' in 'dyslexia'
 
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:49:18 +0000, Simon Brooke
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Tom Crispin wrote:
>
>> On another note, when I was in China at Christmas I bought two
>> children's bikes, one for my 5 year old neice and one for my three
>> year old nephew. They are both half Chinese and live in China. The
>> two bikes cost a grand total of £19, including bells, baskets,
>> mudguards and racks.
>
>How did the quality of bikes sold for children in China compare to the
>BSOs - presumably made in China - sold to children over here?

Absolutely appalling. Made from steel they were very heavy. The
cheap plastic caliper brakes are close to useless, the worst I have
ever seen. The chopper style handlebars had a thin piece of steel
running between them, so that if a child fell onto it, it would cut
into their chest. This was well padded. There didn't seem to be caps
on anything.

However, the bell was of excellent quality.

My brother and I spent some time fixing things so that the bikes were
safer. They will only be used in the apartment compound and on the
beachfront promenade, not on any sort of hill.
 
On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:45:02 -0800 (PST), David Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Jan 28, 10:19 am, Paul Boyd <usenet.is.worse@plusnet> wrote:
>> Tim Woodall said the following on 27/01/2008 12:44:
>>
>> > But I couldn't believe it when I picked it up. I did't weigh it but it
>> > must have been 11-13kg
>>
>> I've recounted before the sorry tale of a colleague who bought a pair of
>> bikes from Sterling House for a ton. Price and weight...
>
>Do you have his email address? I could do with a new anchor for the
>boat.

Your boat is big then?
 
On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:
> Islabikes are superb, but
> the price is beyond the range of most parents

And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
seem to answer e-mails :-(

Unlike Puky, who reply quickly and efficiently to e-mails in a foreign
language.

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis
 
Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:
> > Islabikes are superb, but
> > the price is beyond the range of most parents
>
> And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
> seem to answer e-mails :-(

I'm surprised. They responded swiftly to the emails I sent them in
November. My daughter is now exceedingly happy with her Beinn 20"

Cheers,
Luke

--
Red Rose Ramblings, the diary of an Essex boy in
exile in Lancashire <http://www.shrimper.org.uk>
 
On Mon, 28 Jan, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 28/01/2008 07:14, Tom Crispin wrote:

> > Islabikes are superb, but the price is beyond the range of most
> > parents
>
> And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
> seem to answer e-mails :-(

Strange - they answered mine. I sent it 11:30 am on a Saturday, had
an answer just before 12:45 the same day (from Isla Rowntree). I
subsequently spoke on the telephone twice on Monday morning (once to
Isla, once to someone else) and ordered Monday afternoon.

Daughter is very happy with the bike too.

As has been noted, the price is a little more than a basic childs
bike, but I don't think it's actually beyond the range of most parents
- it is within the price range of other toys / hobbies / recreational
gear. The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid (110 if you don't want mudguards) - but
a Raleigh 16" girls bikes are not much cheaper - 'Kool Miss' is 95,
and a 'Molly' is 100. Admittedly, if you want tassles, sparkly pink
bell and dolly seat on the back that will put the price of the
Islabikes up, and you'll need to fit them yourself.

A Nintendo Wii is apparently more than twice the price, and most
parents seem to think that's affordable...

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 
On 28 Jan 2008 20:40:31 GMT, Ian Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

>The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid

How do you find the bike? I have found that many children find it
difficult to use. They cannot set the pedal to start off, and the
back pedal brake confusing to use, especially for beginners.
 
On Mon, 28 Jan, Tom Crispin <> wrote:
> On 28 Jan 2008 20:40:31 GMT, Ian Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >The Cnoc 16 is 123 quid
>
> How do you find the bike? I have found that many children find it
> difficult to use. They cannot set the pedal to start off, and the
> back pedal brake confusing to use, especially for beginners.

My daughter (a small 5.5 yr-old) sorted it out with minimum
difficulty. Her previous bike had a freewheel and she was already
used to moving the pedals backwards to get them to position to set
off, but she quite quickly got used to rolling the pedals forward
while walking the bike forward instead. To be honest, she more often
launches herself onto the bike and gets the pedals sorted in the first
few moments in the saddle while she's still upright.

Just occasionally there's a problem if she instead tries to scoot the
bike up to speed then start pedalling - I think the back-pedal brake
doesn't release on its own if you have it lightly engaged and try and
scoot. This means she feels the drag, and doesn't get up to speed, so
never starts pedalling, so the brake continues dragging, so she
continues scooting and never starts pedalling, so the brake continues
dragging ...

It has taken about a month (she got the bike for christmas) of fairly
frequent riding for her to start using the back pedal brake, but she's
recently come round to using that to slow and the lever on the front
to stop, and does most of her adjusting speed on the back-pedal brake.
She's discovered for herself that on wet tarmac down a steep hill it
locks the wheel quite easily but doesn't slow you down much.

She's now riding it to school every day that she's allowed (some days
she's walked to school by another mother, some days my wife walks
other children to school - on those days daughter has to walk).

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|
 
On 28/01/2008 20:36, Ekul Namsob wrote:
> Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
>>And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
>>seem to answer e-mails :-(
>
> I'm surprised. They responded swiftly to the emails I sent them in
> November. My daughter is now exceedingly happy with her Beinn 20"

I sent one 3 weeks ago and haven't had a response. Perhaps I should try
resending it, otherwise I'll have to get round to phoning them. It's
reassuring that at least 3 urc regulars have received prompt responses.

One of the things I wanted to know was how far in advance I might need
to order. My son's birthday is at the beginning of April.

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis
 
Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 28/01/2008 20:36, Ekul Namsob wrote:
> > Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> >>And if a parent wants to ask a question before buying one they don't
> >>seem to answer e-mails :-(
> >
> > I'm surprised. They responded swiftly to the emails I sent them in
> > November. My daughter is now exceedingly happy with her Beinn 20"
>
> I sent one 3 weeks ago and haven't had a response. Perhaps I should try
> resending it, otherwise I'll have to get round to phoning them. It's
> reassuring that at least 3 urc regulars have received prompt responses.
>
> One of the things I wanted to know was how far in advance I might need
> to order. My son's birthday is at the beginning of April.

It's often useful to remember that email is perhaps the least useful
means of ensuring the delivery of a message.

Cheers,
Luke


--
Red Rose Ramblings, the diary of an Essex boy in
exile in Lancashire <http://www.shrimper.org.uk>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
3 minute wonder - the bicycle
Replies
7
Views
226
UK and Europe
Rob Morley
R
G
I wonder what the gear ratio is on that...
Replies
2
Views
389
UK and Europe
Phil Clarke
P
E
Mmmmm I wonder ?
Replies
0
Views
345
UK and Europe
ELAINE MCEWAN
E
T
I wonder?
Replies
6
Views
290
UK and Europe
JohnB
J
T
I wonder?
Replies
1
Views
394
UK and Europe
Just zis Guy, you know?
J
Top Bottom Back